Wow thank you so much Sayani! An article of mine that touches on internalized misogyny quite a bit is “In Defense of the Mean Girl,” which touches on the trope of hyper-femininity being associated with evil in film/TV. It was one of my first articles. Here’s a link if you’re interested: https://madisonhuizinga.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-the-mean-girl
I’ll confess upfront I just skimmed this. But you’re digging into a thing that frustrates me-- there’s money to made telling women to put their sexuality upfront, and money to be made shaming them for it. And I’ve seen people argue that putting their sexuality upfront is empowering, and I’ve seen people argue that it just reinforces patriarchy.
In short, the patriarchy seems to make it possible to take virtually any position about women’s sexuality and profit by claiming your position is the only correct one.
As a man, I’m doing an inadequate but sincere job of trying to recognize the bind that puts women in, while also trying to be relaxed about whichever position a woman may choose. I don’t say the situation for a man is even remotely as bad-- obviously it could never be-- but I do say that it’s confusing for any man who’s trying to negotiate the landscape of mixed messages. Thanks for writing these pieces-- it helps.
I appreciate your insight here Karl - you’re touching on the unique issues that patriarchy and capitalism intersect to create. The two systems feed into each other well! Women being able to express sexual freedom without it being exploited for capital gain (of which they often receive the least returns) is an interesting contemporary paradigm, as is the balance of being too desirable and not desirable enough. Capitalism has made it so that women have to view themselves and their bodies as marketable commodities - leaning into that can reap both power and harm. In the long run, I think dismantling both systems of oppression is the way out.
Yes, agreed! Capitalism weasels its way into both patriarchy and the fight against it. “Take your top off or keep it on: we’ll make a buck out of it either way.”
i am subscribed to so many newsletters and none of them resonate with me quite like yours madison :) you have a way with perfectly wording feelings i've had in my head for years eloquently and sophisticatedly. biiiig fan, never stop!!
I can’t tell you how much that means to me to hear Roan <3! Being able to help myself and others make sense of how crazy the modern world is what it’s all about. I hope to never stop! Thank you for your support :)
I was also wondering if you wrote something about another one of Hydra's head called internalized misogyny?
Wow thank you so much Sayani! An article of mine that touches on internalized misogyny quite a bit is “In Defense of the Mean Girl,” which touches on the trope of hyper-femininity being associated with evil in film/TV. It was one of my first articles. Here’s a link if you’re interested: https://madisonhuizinga.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-the-mean-girl
One of your best essays, Madison.
I’ll confess upfront I just skimmed this. But you’re digging into a thing that frustrates me-- there’s money to made telling women to put their sexuality upfront, and money to be made shaming them for it. And I’ve seen people argue that putting their sexuality upfront is empowering, and I’ve seen people argue that it just reinforces patriarchy.
In short, the patriarchy seems to make it possible to take virtually any position about women’s sexuality and profit by claiming your position is the only correct one.
As a man, I’m doing an inadequate but sincere job of trying to recognize the bind that puts women in, while also trying to be relaxed about whichever position a woman may choose. I don’t say the situation for a man is even remotely as bad-- obviously it could never be-- but I do say that it’s confusing for any man who’s trying to negotiate the landscape of mixed messages. Thanks for writing these pieces-- it helps.
I appreciate your insight here Karl - you’re touching on the unique issues that patriarchy and capitalism intersect to create. The two systems feed into each other well! Women being able to express sexual freedom without it being exploited for capital gain (of which they often receive the least returns) is an interesting contemporary paradigm, as is the balance of being too desirable and not desirable enough. Capitalism has made it so that women have to view themselves and their bodies as marketable commodities - leaning into that can reap both power and harm. In the long run, I think dismantling both systems of oppression is the way out.
Yes, agreed! Capitalism weasels its way into both patriarchy and the fight against it. “Take your top off or keep it on: we’ll make a buck out of it either way.”
"it's a race without a finish line" -- yes!
i am subscribed to so many newsletters and none of them resonate with me quite like yours madison :) you have a way with perfectly wording feelings i've had in my head for years eloquently and sophisticatedly. biiiig fan, never stop!!
I can’t tell you how much that means to me to hear Roan <3! Being able to help myself and others make sense of how crazy the modern world is what it’s all about. I hope to never stop! Thank you for your support :)
I will die on this hill
Glad this resonated with you Jenn! :)
So good
Thank you for reading! <3