IMO chauvinism is a manifestation of misogyny.

[redqueen]

In another thread here the author writes the following:

Misogyny, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a hatred of women.” That’s it. Nothing subtle, just a hatred of women. Unfortunately, the word is often applied in situations where it’s not really warranted. People may confuse chauvinism (“an attitude of superiority toward members of the opposite sex”) with misogyny, or simply not understand it means a person who hates, not just a person who thinks they’re better than someone else.

This kind of minimization is understandable, given how vigorously most people shout down anyone attempting to discuss feminist issues, and how viciously many people argue against raising awareness of the same.

The truth is that chauvinism (an outdated term which in this context is better described as sexism) is one of many manifestations of misogyny. It's true that it's not as severe as physically abusing women, raping women, etc. However, it is based on the same patriarchal belief that women are less than men.

We can draw distinctions between sexism/chauvinism and misogyny, etc. However they aren't entirely separate. Misogyny is more than its dictionary definition. Encouragingly, an Australian dictionary has updated its definition.

[ismnotwasm]

1. I believe people forget the historical context

In the thread about misconception about women's body's, Aristotle said that a woman was an "incomplete male". Now, centuries later Thomas Aquinas put forth the same idea. MANY people believed this.

Misogyny exists always, when women step out of what a patriartical system considered the proper role for women-- which is, at it's heart to serve and satisfy males. Women, with very few exceptions, who have done this were written out of history. EvenIn this small group, how many of are surprised at women we have never heard of who accomplished things out of women's roles.

People also forget in Christendom the attitudes toward women regarding "the fall"--you don't have to go farther that certain religious or philosophical writings to find a real hated for women-- reinforced for centuries.

In fact I have never found a religion where women weren't considered inferior, but that's not the point. Historically women were denied any kind of rights, prostituted out, treated as property commodities, held in contempt, raped, beaten--hated.

To this day, boys are preferred over girls and we have a very slippery slope anti- choice assholes exploit when it's pointed out that China is facing a gender disparity because girls are aborted.

[redqueen]

4. Philosophy, religion, science...

all have been used by men to further the patriarchy. Misogyny isn't inherent in any of them, it's put there by the men who used them as vehicles to advance an agenda when it was convenient to do so.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Exactly!

[geek tragedy]

2. Yeah, chauvinism isn't a useful term.

The history of the word isn't even gender-specific IIRC.

I would say there's:

1). Misogyny
2). Sexism
3). "Has issues with women"

(3) obviously implicating both sexism and misogyny the vast majority of the time (perhaps always) plus whatever psychological elements exist.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. iow, misogyny can be manifested as chauvinism ... correct?

Chauvinism is a tactic employed to further a misogynistic cause.

Going forward it is determined that sexism is a term that better defines the tactic.

[redqueen]

5. That's how I see it, yes.

Chauvinism could include views that could be examples of either benevolent or hostile sexism. Both hostile and benevolent sexism, IMO, are manifestations of misogyny.

Many feminists prefer to save 'misogyny' as a label for only the most egregious forms of bigotry against women. I don't agree with them.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. ok, thanks for clarifying and expanding on this terminology.

really helps me and, I hope, others as well.

[redqueen]

7. I keep thinking back to that incident at the checkout counter...

where a lighter-skinned mixed-race woman stood up for her darker-skinned sister, when the cashier treated her unfairly.

That unfairness, I don't know about others, but I would call it racism. I don't see the benefit of watering down terms. Not about racism, and not about misogyny.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. good point. yes.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Only in Connecticut

where we all know and agree that Noah Webster is infallible, and the undisputed god of the English language. ;^) Otherwise you must realize that some unenlightened individuals will consult Oxford and find

dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women:

for which it would be hard to argue that Chauvinism was not a part/subset of Misogyny.

Note: We Nutmeger's hold that Noah was in fact correct however a functionary in the years since his passing changed the entry. Hence Noah is absolved of ever possibly having created any error. And certainly Bob Steele will back up this claim.

[redqueen]

11. LOL!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. now I understand why I was confused about all this. Thanks.

[YoungDemCA]

12. It's all based on the idea and assumption that half the population is inferior...

...and exists at the pleasure of the other half.

Whether the justification be religious, cultural, philosophical, economic, or scientific in nature, the sexism, hatred, bigotry, and contempt for a vast part of humanity should shock everyone-but it doesn't, because it's so normalized and conditioned into our very own thought processes, the way we learn, and the way we identify ourselves and each other.

That's why feminism is fundamentally a human rights issue, in addition to being a public health issue and a moral issue (your morality may vary, but if you can't recognize how all forms of oppression violate human dignity...well, I just don't know what to tell you).

[redqueen]

13. I love this post so much.

Thank you.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. that is how I ended up here ...

... feminism is fundamentally a human rights issue ...