“I refuse to be silenced because you’re afraid of change”
The Guardian published the following opinion piece, By breaking the silence about patriarchy, men can help end violence against women. I copied the first few paragraphs below. If you don’t find its stereotyping abhorrent, consider the two rewrites that follow, which I consider abhorrent. To clarify, my goal is to increase equality between sexes, not endorsing political views.
I am pointing out one simple observation: the article’s treatment of one group for an accident of their birth or based on others’ stereotypes would be seen as abhorrent for other groups. I contend it’s equally abhorrent to do it with men. More than abhorrent, it perpetuates sexism, presumably what people want to stop.
If you feel compelled to point out differences, of course I know there are differences. No two things are identical. Comparison means finding common patterns among different things.
By breaking the silence about patriarchy, men can help end violence against women
Harry Ferguson
The issue of violence against women and girls is being widely discussed following the death of Sarah Everard: women are expressing exhaustion at feeling afraid, and anger and frustration at the same old conversations and being told to change their behaviour. Yet while it is men who perpetrate most of the violence, many have generally maintained a public silence.
This does not mean that men are not saddened and repulsed by sexual and domestic violence. A minority have expressed their disgust about misogyny on social media, or shown support for the women close to them, but this is alongside those whose reaction is defensive, insisting #NotAllMen are violent or are dismissive or hostile, claiming that men are being demonised.
All men, whether we like it or not, have become symbols of danger to women. This is not the same as saying that all men are potential rapists, murderers or abusers. It means rather that individual men’s violence keeps all women in a state of fear and self-monitoring because women can never be sure that it will not be this man who will stalk, rape, attack or attempt murder. Women are rendered cautious and subordinated by patriarchy, which gives men the social power and legitimacy to make the rules and to police them.
The patriarchy ties violence and gender relations firmly to issues of power, and it is crucial to the struggle for solutions that we see this larger picture. Men gain a dividend from patriarchy in terms of honour, prestige, the right to command, as well as a material dividend. The global average of women’s income is about half of what men are paid, while just 11.9% of the world’s 2,825 billionaires are women.
Switch to other stereotypes:
By breaking the silence about physical strength, blacks can help end violence against whites.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
The issue of violence against whites is being widely discussed following the death of []: whites are expressing exhaustion at feeling afraid, and anger and frustration at the same old conversations and being told to change their behaviour. Yet while it is blacks who perpetrate most of the violence, many have generally maintained a public silence.
This does not mean that blacks are not saddened and repulsed by theft and muggings. A minority have expressed their disgust about racism on social media, or shown support for the whites close to them, but this is alongside those whose reaction is defensive, insisting #NotAllBlacks are violent or are dismissive or hostile, claiming that blacks are being demonised.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
All blacks, whether we like it or not, have become symbols of danger to whites. This is not the same as saying that all blacks are potential thieves, murderers or muggers. It means rather that individual black’s violence keeps all whites in a state of fear and self-monitoring because whites can never be sure that it will not be this black who will mug, steal, attack or attempt murder. Whites are rendered cautious and subordinated by race, which gives blacks the social power and legitimacy to make the rules and to police them.
Physical strength ties violence and race relations firmly to issues of power, and it is crucial to the struggle for solutions that we see this larger picture. Blacks gain a dividend from physical strength in terms of honour, prestige, the right to command, as well as a material dividend. The top most paid players in the NBA and NFL are black.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
By breaking the silence about terrorism, Muslims can help end violence against Christians.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
The issue of violence against Christians is being widely discussed following the death of []: Christians are expressing exhaustion at feeling afraid, and anger and frustration at the same old conversations and being told to change their behaviour. Yet while it is Muslims who perpetrate most of the violence, many have generally maintained a public silence.
This does not mean that Muslims are not saddened and repulsed by terrorism. A minority have expressed their disgust about bombings on social media, or shown support for the Christians close to them, but this is alongside those whose reaction is defensive, insisting #NotAllMuslims commit terrorist acts or are dismissive or hostile, claiming that Muslims are being demonised.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
All Muslims, whether we like it or not, have become symbols of danger to Christians. This is not the same as saying that all Muslims are potential terrorists, murderers or muggers. It means rather that individual Muslim’s violence keeps all Christians in a state of fear and self-monitoring because Christians can never be sure that it will not be this Muslim who will bomb, attack or attempt murder. Christians are rendered cautious and subordinated by terrorism, which gives Muslims the social power and legitimacy to make the rules and to police them.
Terrorism ties violence and religious relations firmly to issues of power, and it is crucial to the struggle for solutions that we see this larger picture. Muslims gain a dividend from terrorism in terms of honour, prestige, the right to command, as well as a material dividend. 9/11 was committed by Muslims.
[Note: This piece substitutes one stereotype for another in the original. I consider the sentiment in both abhorrent. I’m writing this fictional derivation to draw attention to the abhorrence in the original.]
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