Why do you think so many women are silenced when voicing opinions or experiences that make some

[boston bean]

feel uncomfortable due to their own biases?

What makes it so prevalent? Why is it something that just gets a pass.

Why do places where women post feel so elboldened to silence womens voices.

Take a look at what happened to Rose Mcgowan on twitter. She gets silenced for speaking an uncomfortable truth.

Its fucking crazy this shit still happens in 2017.

[elleng]

1. 'Bullies' with more physical strength have done it forever,

'habit,' custom. The empowered don't give up their power.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. What Elleng said.

Men have physical strength that allows them to dominate. And while I know that many men do not behave that way, it only takes a few to ruin it for everyone else.

And for some women, getting along with the dominant culture means they can't allow any cracks in the facade.

I just watched the movie "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio". For those of you who don't know it, it's about a mother of 10 who kept the family together by entering contests and winning lots of them. The husband/father is an abusive alcoholic, and all the way through all I can think of is, LEAVE HIM! But I know that this is taking place in the 1950's and '60's, and they're Catholics (hence the ten children) and so divorce is unthinkable.

I'm of Irish Catholic background, one of six children. My father was an alcoholic who became steadily more abusive. My mother was an RN, and when I was fourteen she packed up the five children still at home (oldest brother was in the Army) and moved us some 2,000 miles across country to start a new life. I never appreciated how much courage that took until some years later I was in a decent marriage with two kids. I'd think about my mother and marvel at what she did for us.

We constantly read or hear stories of an abused woman and constantly ask, Why doesn't she leave? And even though from the outside it's obvious she should, from the inside it's more complicated and difficult.

The same is true with silencing, especially self-silencing. It can be extremely hard to speak up under any circumstances. Think of the times you've remained silent when some questionable comment is made, because you just don't want to make waves. Or you absolutely feel you can't speak up when your boss is behaving badly. And on and on.

[angstlessk]

3. When I was in AA I mentioned my rape

and another woman berated me. I have mentioned it here, but in real life no one I know knows I was raped.

Telling people does not make it go away...I am sure each woman has guilt feelings that it was their fault...that some how they had led the asshole on.

[Retrograde]

4. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't

If you complain, you're a whiner, can't stand the heat, want special privileges, can't compete without affirmative action, using your looks to get a head, you're exaggerating (hey, it was just Good Old Boys acting like they do), you're a castrating bitch, you were asking for it anyway. If you don't, you're weak, you probably started it, you acted like it was OK, you were asking for it anyway.

[mcar]

5. #WomenBoycottTwitter 10/13

24 hours to protest unequal treatment.

[Madam45for2923]

7. Count me in! Boycotting twitter TODAY!

[MineralMan]

6. It's the patriarchy at work.

It doesn't seem to matter what the venue is, there are always those who seek to silence the voices of women. All too often, as we see frequently, they succeed.

I'm so sorry!

Keep speaking out. Don't stop.