#NotAllMen is Indian male's lame defence against Bangalore mass molestation
Few things in the world are as fragile as the male ego. For the male ego cannot, even for the teensiest of moments, let go of their privilege and quietly listen to the tirades of women, who are tired of living in fear and having to listen to uncooth politicians blaming victims for the crimes committed against them.
Every time an incident like the one in Bangalore takes place, one immediately sees a rise of sanctimonious men who claim to be against rape and molestation, but somehow take this particular opportunity to talk about how not all men are at fault here. The #NotAllMen hashtag is one of the more petty attempts by the male gender to steer the conversation about gendered violence and sexual assault towards men, by making themselves look like the victims of a generalisation, conveniently ignoring the fact that sexual assault and gendered violence are a product of toxic masculinity, systemic oppression of women, internalised patriarchy and plain apathy.
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| Photo: Reuters |
So, to all those who suddenly feel the urge to say #NotAllMen when a woman is talking about sexual harassment or just the fear of it, don’t. Keep your mouth shut. Don’t make it about you. Don’t make it about men.
Women know and understand that not all men are rapists or molesters. But a surprisingly large number of them are. An even larger number of them are enablers of sexual assault, thanks to casual victim blaming, rape jokes and general sexism. And a really scarily huge number of them turn into the defenders of men’s rights only when women decide to talk about assault. So maybe not all men, yes; but a boatload of men, for sure.
Let’s take a look at all those who, for the benefit of the public, are dismantling the idea of #NotAllMen and how!
"not all women get harassed"*thousands of women start sharing their experiences*"UGH WHY CANT THEY JUST STAY IN THEIR KITCHENS"
— mrdl (@Psilosophy) January 3, 2017
I hope y'all appreciate the irony that attacking womans dialogue/experience with 'not all men' is just attempting to silence them again.
— π (@pi_alize) January 4, 2017
#NotAllMen pic.twitter.com/I8IbdI2V7Y
— Sanitary Panels (@sanitarypanels) January 3, 2017
Women:Teach men to not rape.Men:WELL TEACH WOMEN TO NOT TO NOT *splutters, looks around, darkness looms over face* have valid points ????
— Shibesh (@lordoftheshibs) January 4, 2017
indian women: guys, please stop molesting usindian man: i am the victim here pic.twitter.com/7L5lNcCrkG
— fluffy (@curiousgawker) January 3, 2017
Logic of #NotAllMen pic.twitter.com/AeRb3NckJ4
— Sherlock (@engineerology) January 3, 2017
Good afternoon, good folk of Twitter. Even you, not all men. Yes, you're severally innocent, but frankly, we are ALL collectively guilty.
— Febin Mathew (@FebWin) January 3, 2017
1/ What people (both women and men) need in times of distress is empathy. With #NotAllMen hashtag, men have conveniently run away from it.
— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) January 3, 2017
2/ The #NotAllMen hashtag aims to protect a few men's perspective on gender, when women want acknowledgement of violence and swift justice.
— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) January 3, 2017
Saying "Not all men" in response is only acceptable when women say "Men look so hot with a beard".
— Ripper (@Ace_Of_Pace) January 2, 2017
#NotAllMen have a sense of perspective when it comes to crimes dealing with sexual assault.
— Peglet (@PedestrianPoet) January 3, 2017
#NotAllMen realise that their idea of 'protecting' women undermines the right ro public space that's inherent to all women.
— Peglet (@PedestrianPoet) January 3, 2017
#NotAllMen realise that their idea of diffusing tension with rape humor can actually be traumatic. It's not funny. Never will be.
— Peglet (@PedestrianPoet) January 3, 2017
#NotAllMen can appreciate the fact that while men and women both get assaulted, the sheer number of women getting assaulted by men is scary.
— Peglet (@PedestrianPoet) January 3, 2017
#NotAllMen grope, assault, molest, rape.Some just contribute to fuel an egoistic patriarchy.
— Kena Shree (@KenaShree) January 3, 2017
Girl: *Tweets about literally anything*Misogynist Twitter dudebro: Liberal feminists like you are good for one night stands, not marriage
— Cathartic Screams (@Just_Screams) December 29, 2016
#NotAllMen because in an incident involving the molestation of women, random men were the real victims.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) January 3, 2017
So when you do say #notallmen or don't generalise what you say is that your discomfort is a lot more important than women and their safety.
— Akshat ???? (@FarziVakeel_) January 3, 2017