Member-only story
Do Women Want Equality — or Special Treatment?
Tackling the sexist (and racist) fallacy that “equal” means “same”
There’s something I’ve noticed in the six years since I’ve been an online presence. There’s a huge subset of men who are incredibly put out by women (and Black people, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, etc.) who are vocal about the kinds of social changes they want to see implemented — changes that would address the inequities these groups face and create a more equal society.
These men really don’t like this. Not one little bit. They are absolutely convinced these ideas and conversations are creating actual oppression — against them.
And when I say this is a subset of men, I don’t mean a minority of them. Unfortunately, as anyone who is actually paying attention (including men) will notice, this group either represents the majority of men or is just remarkably louder than the rest of them. And when you think about it, either version of that is pretty problematic — and in the very same way.
This large and loud group has made it clear that the men in it feel incredibly disenfranchised. Abused. Overlooked. Cheated by every system.
And when women propose their ideas for addressing the inequities of being a woman, these men respond in anger.
