A Brief History of Misogyny

1. Misogyny: The Pervasive and Persistent Prejudice

What history teaches us about misogyny can be summed up in four words: pervasive, persistent, pernicious and protean.

Ubiquitous hatred. Misogyny, the hatred of women, has been a constant throughout human history, transcending time, culture, and geography. It has manifested in various forms, from subtle discrimination to outright violence, affecting women's lives in countless ways.

Adaptable prejudice. Unlike other forms of prejudice, misogyny has shown remarkable adaptability, evolving to fit different societal contexts while maintaining its core of contempt for women. This protean nature has allowed it to persist even as societies have progressed in other areas of human rights and equality.

Key characteristics of misogyny:

• Pervasive: Found in virtually all cultures and societies
• Persistent: Enduring throughout history despite social progress
• Pernicious: Harmful in its effects on women and society as a whole
• Protean: Adaptable and shape-shifting to fit different contexts

2. Ancient Origins: Greek and Roman Roots of Misogyny

For we are the inheritors of an ancient tradition, going back to the origins of the great civilizations of the past which have so profoundly shaped our consciousness, and fashioned the dualism that lies behind our efforts to dehumanize half the human race.

Classical foundations. The roots of Western misogyny can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman societies, where influential philosophers and writers laid the groundwork for centuries of female oppression.

Mythological justification. Greek mythology, particularly the stories of Pandora and Helen of Troy, portrayed women as the source of human suffering and conflict. These myths, along with philosophical works by thinkers like Aristotle, who viewed women as "deformed males," provided a powerful justification for female subordination.

Key ancient misogynistic ideas:

• Women as the source of evil (Pandora's box)
• Female inferiority (Aristotle's biological theories)
• Women as property (Roman law)
• Exclusion from public life and education

3. Religious Reinforcement: Christianity's Role in Perpetuating Misogyny

The history of misogyny demonstrates that dualistic systems of thought tend to be unfavourable to women, none more so than the Fall of Man myth and its claim that man enjoys a privileged relationship to the rest of nature but one that woman undermined.

Biblical blame. Christianity, building on Jewish tradition, further entrenched misogynistic attitudes through its interpretation of the Fall of Man story, which blamed Eve for humanity's expulsion from Paradise.

Theological justification. Early Christian theologians, such as Tertullian and Augustine, developed complex arguments that positioned women as morally and intellectually inferior to men, using religious doctrine to justify their subordination.

Christian contributions to misogyny:

• Original Sin and female culpability
• Emphasis on female chastity and purity
• Exclusion of women from religious leadership
• Idealization of virginity and motherhood (Madonna-Whore complex)

4. Medieval Madness: Witch Hunts and the Demonization of Women

The witch craze which ran from the late fourteenth to the late seventeenth centuries and resulted in the deaths of unknown thousands of women retains the ability to shock us largely because it is the only known instance in the history of persecution in which to be a woman was to be a chief suspect in a vast conspiracy and the grounds for imprisonment, torture and execution.

Hysteria and persecution. The witch hunts of the late Middle Ages and early modern period represent one of the most extreme manifestations of misogyny in history, resulting in the torture and execution of thousands of women.

Institutionalized misogyny. The witch trials were not merely isolated incidents of violence, but a systematic persecution backed by religious and secular authorities. This period saw the publication of influential texts like the "Malleus Maleficarum," which provided a pseudo-scientific and theological basis for the identification and punishment of witches.

Key aspects of the witch hunts:

• Disproportionate targeting of women (80% of victims)
• Association of female sexuality with evil
• Use of torture to extract confessions
• Scapegoating of marginalized women (widows, healers, midwives)

5. Enlightenment and Beyond: Challenging Misogyny in Modern Times

The ideals of the Enlightenment, with their emphasis on the individual's equality and autonomy, seemed secure throughout Western Europe, the United States and in nations that were their off-shoots.

Rational challenge. The Enlightenment period saw the first sustained philosophical challenges to misogyny, with thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft arguing for women's rights based on reason and equality.

Slow progress. Despite these intellectual advances, practical improvements in women's status were slow to materialize. The 19th and 20th centuries saw gradual gains in areas such as education, property rights, and suffrage, but deep-seated misogynistic attitudes persisted.

Key milestones in challenging misogyny:

• Publication of "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792)
• Women's suffrage movements (late 19th-early 20th centuries)
• Access to higher education for women
• Legal reforms (property rights, divorce laws)

6. The Biology of Bias: Scientific Justifications for Misogyny

Freud admitted in Some Psychical Consequences that his theories of female sexuality were based 'on a handful of cases'.

Pseudo-scientific sexism. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw attempts to use scientific and medical theories to justify misogynistic attitudes, with influential figures like Sigmund Freud developing theories that positioned women as inherently inferior or psychologically flawed.

Biological determinism. These "scientific" justifications often relied on simplistic interpretations of biological differences between men and women, ignoring social and cultural factors that shape gender roles and behavior.

Examples of scientific misogyny:

• Freud's theories of female psychology (penis envy, Oedipus complex)
• Craniology and brain size comparisons
• Evolutionary arguments for female subordination
• Medical pathologization of female behavior (hysteria)

7. Cultural Variations: Misogyny Across Different Societies

Misogyny is far from unique to Western civilization. That became clear to Europeans as, from the early sixteenth century onwards, they began expanding into regions of the world with which before they had little or no contact.

Universal prejudice. While misogyny has taken different forms in various cultures, it has been a near-universal phenomenon, found in societies across the globe and throughout history.

Cultural specificities. The manifestations of misogyny vary widely between cultures, from the foot-binding practices of traditional China to the sati custom in India. These practices often reflect local beliefs and social structures, but all serve to reinforce female subordination.

Examples of cultural variations in misogyny:

• Female genital mutilation in parts of Africa and the Middle East
• Dowry system and bride burning in South Asia
• Honor killings in various cultures
• Veiling and seclusion practices in some Islamic societies

8. The Backlash: Resistance to Women's Progress

As in Plato's Republic, males and females had different biological functions and therefore anatomical differences but these were regarded as relatively unimportant in terms of behaviour and psychology. Any attempt on the part of women to highlight or draw attention to sexual differences was at best frowned upon, and at worst among the more fanatical regimes punished as evidence of possessing vicious bourgeois tendencies.

Reactionary resistance. As women have made gains in rights and social status, there has often been a backlash from conservative elements seeking to maintain traditional gender hierarchies.

Modern manifestations. This resistance to women's progress has taken various forms in the modern era, from political movements opposing women's rights to cultural pushback against feminism and gender equality.

Examples of backlash against women's progress:

• Anti-suffrage movements in the early 20th century
• Opposition to reproductive rights and access to contraception
• Rise of men's rights movements
• Online harassment and misogyny in digital spaces
• Religious fundamentalism emphasizing traditional gender roles

9. Misogyny in Popular Culture: From Literature to Media

For their part, the rakes' attitude to women was at once decorous and coarse, oscillating between adoration and contempt, which was usually born of disappointment or rejection.

Cultural pervasiveness. Misogynistic attitudes have been deeply embedded in popular culture, from classical literature to modern media, often reinforcing negative stereotypes and attitudes towards women.

Evolving representations. While overt misogyny has become less socially acceptable in many contexts, subtler forms continue to pervade popular culture, shaping societal attitudes and expectations about gender roles.

Examples of misogyny in popular culture:

• Objectification of women in advertising and entertainment
• Stereotypical portrayals of women in film and television
• Sexist themes in music lyrics and videos
• Underrepresentation of women in media production and decision-making roles
• Online misogyny in gaming communities and social media

10. The Path Forward: Confronting and Overcoming Misogyny

Perhaps we are close to waking from the long-lived fantasy that is at the core of misogyny and are at last learning to treat it, the world's oldest prejudice, with the contempt that it deserves.

Ongoing struggle. While significant progress has been made in challenging misogyny, it remains a persistent problem that requires ongoing efforts to address and overcome.

Multifaceted approach. Combating misogyny requires a comprehensive approach that includes legal reforms, education, cultural change, and individual awareness and action.

Strategies for confronting misogyny:

• Promoting gender equality in education and employment
• Challenging misogynistic attitudes and behaviors in personal relationships and social interactions
• Supporting women's leadership and representation in all sectors of society
• Addressing systemic barriers and discriminatory practices
• Fostering intersectional approaches that recognize the diverse experiences of women
• Engaging men and boys as allies in the fight against misogyny

Last updated: October 8, 2024