The negative stereotypes of we men cannot be resolved until women are considered equal to us in every way, so we guys need to commit ourselves to eradicating this cultural bias. Easy to see how back when might was right–when the guy with biggest club set down the laws you must obey, women, being physically weaker than men, got little say. Fast forward to today where intellect trumps might and women have proven themselves our equals in every way so this cultural bias should have long since disappeared.
Unfortunately it has not and we are growing more aware that rational persuasion does not carry the same clout as do emotionally charge words. For instance, an anti-abortionist can scream “murder’ to great effect emotionally but a pro choice person cannot say that abortions are the greatest gift since salt- they have to condition their response by stating under what conditions is an abortion desirable. The former impresses itself on the subconscious, the latter not. Evolution trumps reason.
How then, are we going to eradicate this cultural bias? I think the best way we can do this is to focus specifically on the misogynist and then we have to use emotionally charged words to belittle them No words can be too harsh and invent new words where needed. I’m talking” air-head, moron, mommy’s boy, dull witted, cowards”–point out how dealing with women scare the pants off of them. Having trouble focusing on misogynists? Try those Republicans who say women can prevent pregnancy if raped.
I’m hoping better minds than mine can come up with better ways to shame these idiots
And remember what neuroscience teaches us, repetition, repetition is needed to get through to the unconscious. Note how effective attack ads have proven to be. Where there is money we should get our attacks on TV and certainly hit twitter and Face book big time.
The only way to destroy a cultural bias is by digging it up and laughing it out of existence.
Cheers
Andy Mulcahy