It is a form of sexism that can keep women at a lower social status than men , thus maintaining the social roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practised for thousands of years. It is reflected in art , literature , human societal structure, historical events, mythology , philosophy , and religion worldwide.
An example of misogyny is violence against women , which includes domestic violence and, in its most extreme forms, misogynist terrorism and femicide. Misogyny also often operates through sexual harassment , coercion, and psychological techniques aimed at controlling women, and by legally or socially excluding women from full citizenship. In some cases, misogyny rewards women for accepting an inferior status. Misogyny can be understood both as an attitude held by individuals, primarily by men, and as a widespread cultural custom or system.
Sometimes misogyny manifests in obvious and bold ways; other times it is more subtle or disguised in ways that provide plausible deniability. In feminist thought, misogyny also includes the rejection of feminine qualities. It holds in contempt institutions, work, hobbies, or habits associated with women. It rejects any aspects of men that are seen as feminine or unmanly.
English and American dictionaries define misogyny as "hatred of women" [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] and as "hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women". The American Merriam-Webster Dictionary distinguishes misogyny, "a hatred of women", from sexism , which denotes sex-based discrimination, and "behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex.
In , primarily in response to a speech in the Australian Parliament , [ 7 ] the Macquarie Dictionary which documents Australian English and New Zealand English expanded its definition to include not only hatred of women but also "entrenched prejudices against women". Social psychology research [ vague ] describes overt misogyny as "blatant hostile sexism" that raises resistance in women, as opposed to "manifestations of benevolent sexism" or chivalry that lead women to behave in a manner perpetuating patriarchal arrangements.
