For hundreds of years, women have been reduced to nothing but a uterus. They have been spoken over, owned, taken for granted and degraded for generations. Yet, they are still constantly presented with the promise that not all men are the same and eventually, they will find someone that doesn’t abuse them for the simple fact that they are a woman. With such repeated cycles of mistreatment, why should women sit and wait in the hopes that one day they will be given basic respect? Many in the past and present have had this realization and concluded that they must take things into their own hands.

Women’s rights have been a prominent issue since 1869, marking the beginning of women’s suffrage gaining traction. The presence of misogyny has been around for decades and with that there have been thousands of dedicated women fighting to create a fair space for themselves in a world that has continuously diminished their values. While misogyny is not a new issue, the approach to it has changed with the use of technology- leading to misandry. 

Since the pandemic, more women have become irritated by society’s inability to call out misogyny as well as the lack of change in mindset. This resentment for not being able to walk alone at night or constantly having to peer over their shoulder, has led many to use misandry as a response against men, especially in recent years.

Misandry is the act hating and showing prejudice towards men, something that has stemmed not as a belief, but a reaction to misogyny. A reaction with its own set of flaws and detriments.

Tik Tok has been a platform where many individuals promote misandry, often in jokes reducing men to wallets. One of the more popular sayings on the app has been “kill all men”. These posts often generate criticism from men because they believe that women shouldn’t be portraying ideals of men being harmful monsters and wishing death upon them. 

Women call out the fact that men have been doing the same thing for hundreds of years, and have time and time again been given support or even a platform for these harmful beliefs.

A prime example for a celebrity being given attention for misogyny is former kickboxer Andrew Tate. Tate has garnered attention from immense social platforms for his negative beliefs about women, in addition to his takes on women having little to no “no value.” While he has received criticism, Tate has also amassed hundreds of followers, influencing countless young people, and sadly, he is not the only one to do so.

The problem with people like Andrew Tate is not just the fact that he is an influencer with a platform, but more so the effects of his influence. Voicing such harmful misogynistic beliefs have led women to live in a state of fear, not just because of Andrew Tate but because of the hundreds of other men he represents. Men that truly could do serious harm to women.

Although some men disagree with Andrew Tate and have criticized him, those same men still share a collective anger towards misandry, believing women are taking it too far and viewing their actions as extremism. Misogynistic or not, misandry creates a great divide between men and women, taking away men’s respect for women for an entirely different set of reasons.

There will always be good amongst the bad. Not all men are inherently evil simply because they are men. Unfortunately, women do not have the privilege to put themselves at risk just to find out. Charlotte Smith*, a student at Green Hope, stated that, “I know it’s not all men, but with everything happening, I can’t be too careful.”

“I think the fact that a lot of men who have this ideology are terrifying. A lot of men in my experience who are like this have either pointed things out about my body or have threatened me with rape or just hurting me because I’m just a woman and I can’t do anything about it.” (Charlotte Smith*)

According to the CDC, 1 in 5 teen girls in the U.S. have been sexually assaulted, an increase of 20% since 2017. 

The CDC as well as other medical organizations state that the most important part of preventing sexual assault is promoting an environment in which there is a “safe space”.

Green Hope High School has students who participate in Women-lead clubs such as Women’s Shelter, Women in Politics, and the Period Project, founded to be a safe space for women interested in helping other women feel safer and find a community within the school.

While it is important to be conscious of the things said online, and to promote change in a way that is not harmful, it is also important to consider actively helping to combat misogyny rather than criticizing women for being angry after they have been ignored time and time again.

Phrases such as “kill all men” should not be taken seriously, but should also not be popularized. However, it is important to remind oneself that no matter how many people chant “kill all men” no man will ever be slaughtered just for being a man, but women are constantly facing the knife just for existing. 

*name changed to protect the privacy of the student.