In addition to the men who are pushing these laws are the women who have bought into the same misogyny and support women being forced to stay in marriage. Frequently the same women who oppose abortion rights.
It is primarily men, but they wouldn’t be successful without that support.
The fact that there are women who support this bullshit is something my mind can’t comprehend. Are they sociopaths, sycophants, brainwashed… or all of the above?
I try to be mindfully empathetic and attempt to understand differing opinions even if i disagree…but I really struggle with this one. I just can’t get there.
Ok, so I know this is about the most obvious suggestion possible on this subject, but if you haven’t, and if you get a chance, read The Handmaid’s Tale and its sequel, The Testaments.
They both have some really fascinating portrayals of women being or becoming complicit in the oppression of other women by a male-dominated system (while still also being oppressed themselves - their complicity is often a way of surviving in that system).
They’re obviously not the be all and end all of the subject, but they really made me think about the kind of people you’re describing, because I have (and still do) often felt the same - how can they do these things to other women?
Thank you for the suggestion!
I’ve been meaning to read handmaid’s tale, and I didn’t know there was a sequel. I’ll have to get them as audio books to listen to at work. Anything to help me understand what’s going through their heads.
In addition to the men who are pushing these laws are the women who have bought into the same misogyny and support women being forced to stay in marriage. Frequently the same women who oppose abortion rights.
It is primarily men, but they wouldn’t be successful without that support.
The fact that there are women who support this bullshit is something my mind can’t comprehend. Are they sociopaths, sycophants, brainwashed… or all of the above? I try to be mindfully empathetic and attempt to understand differing opinions even if i disagree…but I really struggle with this one. I just can’t get there.
Ok, so I know this is about the most obvious suggestion possible on this subject, but if you haven’t, and if you get a chance, read The Handmaid’s Tale and its sequel, The Testaments.
They both have some really fascinating portrayals of women being or becoming complicit in the oppression of other women by a male-dominated system (while still also being oppressed themselves - their complicity is often a way of surviving in that system).
They’re obviously not the be all and end all of the subject, but they really made me think about the kind of people you’re describing, because I have (and still do) often felt the same - how can they do these things to other women?
Thank you for the suggestion! I’ve been meaning to read handmaid’s tale, and I didn’t know there was a sequel. I’ll have to get them as audio books to listen to at work. Anything to help me understand what’s going through their heads.
No problem, and I’m thrilled to have recommended it to someone who hasn’t read it yet! :-)
The sequel is good, but not as good as the original IMO. The original is magnificent. Devastating at times, but definitely one to read.