Female aggression is now increasingly being portrayed and seen as acceptable, and almost a hallmark of an empowered woman. Look for example at some of the speeches made by female celebrities following the election of President Trump in the USA.
The feminist logic appears to be:
- Women are oppressed
- Men are oppressors
- Violence against the oppressors is liberation (Source: ‘Sinisus’)
An example of this ‘it’s different when women do it’ argument can be found in this delusional post by a feminist.
In an earlier article entitled ‘Jennifer Garner: Why I Wanted My Girls to Take Karate‘ (20 November 2014), one of Jennifer’s goals for her daughters is for them “to be able to kick a guy’s ass“.
Ms Garner’s comments aren’t unusual – I have simply chosen hers as but one example of a long line of articles/comments that I have read expressing similar sentiments. This is the flip-side of a culture increasingly being moulded by feminist organisations like ‘White Ribbon Campaign’, whereby female aggression is downplayed or completely ignored whilst male-perpetrated violence is exaggerated.
In July 2014 Whoopi Goldberg started a feminist firestorm with her comments on a US talk show in which she said that women should not hit their partners, and that if they did they should not be surprised if the man hit them back. Feminists have misrepresented Whoopi’s position as being one of supporting men who hit women, but in fact she just said that she supported the position of the innocent party who was hit first (whether that be a man or woman). Her position was that neither party had the right to hit the other.
Inherent in this discussion is the view amongst many feminist women that because men are bigger/stronger [which is not always the case] that men never had the right to hit women, regardless of whether the woman struck the first blow. The video clip of Whoopi’s statement is here, and here are some discussion threads and articles: Vfm article by Paul Elam, VfM discussion thread, reddit #1.
David Webb also attracted criticism for daring to suggest that women shouldn’t hit their husbands and boyfriends. Feminist journalist Barbara Ellen thinks that women hitting men is ‘different’ and OK. Kelly Brook thinks hitting her boyfriends is OK, too. Finally the issue was nicely summed-up in this article, with which I wholeheartedly agree.
See also:
EastEnders fans open-mouthed as Shirley Carter punches Zack Hudson in the face in brutal scenes (21 June 2022) UK
Ten years in jail for ‘feisty’ mum who stabbed lover to death in Bromsgrove (22 October 2020) UK
Before you laugh, imagine it happened to a woman (4 October 2020) and a link to a related Reddit discussion thread
Real women don’t hit men (29 September 2020)
Twitter discussion thread regarding the excuse of ‘just a slap’, beginning with assertion by UK feminist organisation ‘Refuge’ that it is used to minimise violence against women (23 June 2020)
When women strike back, courts can’t always see their history of abuse (9 October 2019) Australia
This Boy Gets Suspended For Fighting Back Against The Girl Who Beat Him At School And People Are Furious (September 2019)
“I kick balls – deal with it”. Slogan used by ‘Sport England’ to promote women’s sport (April 2019) Scroll down to read about a similar 2017 Australian campaign
Layla Moran was wrong to attack her partner. But domestic violence by women is not the same as domestic violence by men (26 March 2019)
Women on the British TV show ‘Loose Women’ discuss the perceived double-standard regarding the portrayal of violence by men and by women (March 2019) Video
Old timey women stabbing handsy men (31 January 2019) Twitter thread started by Rebecca O’Neal
I did a social experiment, male versus female (16 November 2017) Reddit discussion thread
Slag (27 September 2017) Video
Beyond Atomic Blonde: cinema’s long, proud history of violent women (30 August 2017)
How can anyone excuse this abuse of a woman? (29 July 2017)
Bianca Lee Sams speaks out after being punched in face during road rage attack at Doyalson (26 July 2017)
“It doesn’t matter what the circumstances, you don’t punch women, ever”
Swiss feminist on state TV: “It’s okay for women to beat their husbands if they are being stupid (13 June 2017) Reddit discussion thread
Girl beats boy at school (1 June 2017) Article with linked video
Ouch. #MadamSecretary pic.twitter.com/ltSYw0pcsv
— Madam Secretary (@MadamSecretary) April 24, 2017
Sickening moment bouncer punches woman in the face outside Liverpool bar (18 April 2017) UK. Woman attempting to hit bouncer = not sickening, but bouncer defends himself is.
1,500 acid attacks have been recorded in London since 2011 (13 March 2017) And 3/4 of the victims were men. Reddit discussion thread here.
The secret Facebook page where women brag about violence toward men (4 February 2017) with related Reddit discussion thread here.
Women kicking balls, I’d like to see that (22 January 2017) New TV ad promoting women’s sport. Imagine an ad ‘Men grabbing pussy, I’d like to see that’. Appropriate or humorous? Didn’t work for Don Trump and this one will reflect poorly on the AFL.
I have a short story that has seriously wrecked my mood for a week now, and I need to get it off my chest (14 January 2017) Reddit discussion thread
Man asks for legal advice after slapping his physically abusive girlfriend, comments section accuses him of beating his girlfriend (3 January 2017) Reddit discussion thread. USA
In fiction, girls painfully slap their boyfriends and it’s portrayed as comedic, righteous and deserved. But when a guy does something like grab her wrist that is not nearly as painful, it’s portrayed as dark and abusive (26 December 2016) Reddit men’s rights discussion thread
Joe Mixon videos released (16 December 2016) Video. USA. NB: Hit someone and there’s a good chance you’ll get hit back. Women included. Welcome to equality.
Nova100 radio & Chrissie Swan celebrates the severing of a man’s penis (26 November 2016)
Not so safe: Roz Ward attacks Trump supporter (21 November 2016)
Punch caught on video leaves New Jersey teen fighting for her life (5 November 2016) USA
Sassy misandry is good for business – but assault on men is never funny (1 November 2016)
Viral Video Of Violent Teen Fight Raises Concerns In Vallejo (18 October 2016) Discussed in thread entitled ‘Girl attacks boy. Boy defends himself. Boy is ridiculed on Social Media for putting hands on a girl’
Normalisation of female on male violence in media? (7 October 2016) Reddit mensrights discussion thread
Why ARE modern women so aggressive? It’s been called the dark side of equality – a surge in respectable women flying into violent rages for the most trivial reasons (15 September 2016) with related Reddit discussion thread here
“In 1957, men were responsible for 11 violent offences for every one perpetrated by a woman — today, that is four to one”
“Two in five victims of domestic violence in the UK are men. The number of women prosecuted for it rose from 1,575 in 2004/5 to 4,266 in 2008/9”
Methods for downplaying or side-stepping violence against men (19 August 2016)
‘I Had to Be the Voice of Women’: The First Female Hijacker Shares Her Story (4 August 2016)
This woman hit and hit until her partner eventually lost his temper and hit back (8 June 2016) Video
Fifty shades of Tarzan! ‘Feisty’ Margot Robbie punches Alexander Skarsgard during Legend of Tarzan sex scene (31 March 2016)
I hit my boyfriend first, then he hit me back a lot harder, worse, and more, should I forgive? (August 2015) See comments
When it comes to MMA star Ronda Rousey, is there a domestic violence double standard? (12 November 2015)
Feminist collective supports violence against men’s rights advocates (14 September 2015) Australian video
Japan’s ‘Black Widow’ Arrested Again After Poisoning Her Eighth Male Victim (11 September 2015) and related reddit discussion thread
Assaulted in bar last night (August 2015)
Maxim Magazine — A publication for men — joins in the celebration of the woman who allegedly lit her boyfriend’s penis on fire for cheating (19 August 2015)
Libyan symbol of freedom now facing years behind bars (1 August 2015) and related reddit discussion thread
Patriarchy vs Facts: Domestic Violence (PART I) (23 June 2015) Video
New York City commuter fights manspreaders by sitting on them (7 June 2015)
Very important pussy (4 June 2015)
Preston boxer struck woman’s face (19 May 2015) and related reddit mensrights discussion thread
Footage shows Indian woman body-slamming man at train station (4 March 2015) Reading between the lines here, there is no reason to assume that this was not simply an unprovoked act of violence by the women … except feminism
Teen Reportedly Threw Acid on Her Boyfriend’s Penis (4 February 2015)
Don’t hit me, I’m a girl! (26 December 2011)
ISIS women recruits: What life is really like (30 January 2015)
Feminists Rely on “Men Shouldn’t Hit Women” To Get Away With Hitting Men – Compilation (25 January 2015)
Wife chops off cheating husband’s penis, twice (14 January 2015) Somehow I don’t think a story about a man cutting off his wife’s breast would be given the same whimsical treatment as per this article
The ‘Manslamming’ campaign is literally a campaign for slamming into men and then claiming they slammed into you (12 January 2015)
http://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/2pmn5w/over_in_raskwomen_femaleonmale_domestic_violence/ (December 2014)
When you’re a boy you can get beat up and it’s totally fine (3 December 2014)
#BBCtrending: Indian sisters beat up another man in new video (2 December 2014) Further developments on that incident here.
Why I won’t teach my boys not to hit girls (24 November 2014)
‘The View’ Co-Hosts On NYC Subway Brawl Video: ‘She Needed To Get Slapped Back’ (12 November 2014)
Women and violence: Society’s double standard (29 July 2014)
Have you ever beaten up a boyfriend? Cause, Uh, we have an article that appeared in Jezebel in August 2007, with commentary/rebuttal by MRA Janet Bloomfield (and here)
Woman goes crazy when man says hello (3 September 2013) Video
Researcher says women’s initiation of domestic violence predicts risk to women (17 November 2011)
‘Initiation of domestic violence increases risk of violence‘ (6 August 2009)
Other posts in this blog most closely related to this topic:
On violence carried out by women and girls
Differing public response to partner violence depending on gender of victim