‘Sunrise‘ is a popular Australian morning TV show. In an earlier post I discussed how team members of that show incensed feminists by standing up for themselves after a scathing article appeared in a pro-feminist web site.
Well a female member of the ‘Sunrise’ team, Natalie Barr, has now poked the feminist hornets nest again by writing an article in the Daily Telegraph newspaper highlighting the trend of women to blame men for problems they encountered in their lives – particularly at work. A related segment appeared on the ‘Sunrise’ show on the day the article was published (20 March 2014).
It is pleasing to note how many of the comments submitted by readers (both male and female alike) were supportive of what Nat had to say. Despite this it was still evident that further supportive comments never saw the light of day due to overly-enthusiastic vetting. I myself attempted to contribute about half a dozen comments to the online discussion, and I think the final score was two posted and four disappeared.
Of those opposed to what Natalie said, the typical responses were:
“well, that’s just your opinion” OR “so what if you have never experienced discrimination, you’re just one person”
“feminism isn’t about hating men” OR “standing up to discrimination isn’t the same as men-hating”
“how can you possibly say that there is no discrimination?” (Nat didn’t) OR “you can’t speak for all women” (she never said she did)
Those that sought to provide ‘proof’ that gender discrimination was commonplace (with of course women as victims) invariably relied upon that hoary old feminist chestnut, the male/female wage gap.
In another web site ‘Carli‘ described her disgust at those expressing support for Natalie Barr’s perspective in the following manner:
“… too many important issues being trivialised and too many bottom feeders feeling empowered … “
And here is a sampling of the other, predictably haughty & incensed, feminist response that followed:
Natalie Barr brought the ‘bitchy’ feminism backlash on herself (5 May 2014)
http://www.mamamia.com.au/social/natalie-barr-feminism/
http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/natalie-barr-doesnt-speak-for-all-women-20140320-354w6.html (and then read this rebbutal by ‘A Voice for Men’)
http://thehoopla.com.au/hating-men-ms-barr/ (This includes a video showing a panel of feminists – including the obligatory mangina – to simulate the appearance of a balanced perspective – attacking Natalie’s position)
http://www.woman.com.au/natalie-barr-got-feminism-gender-equality-wrong/
Several hundred comments were also added to the ‘Sunrise’ Facebook page (scroll to 19 March 2014), as well as many tweets to Nat Barr’s Twitter account.
Again the message is oh so clear, “don’t you dare say anything that runs contrary to feminist dogma, or else we’ll get you!” Indeed the article in ‘The Hoopla’ includes the statement:
“… all that is wrong with Barr’s pretty unhelpful contribution to the feminist debate”
Poor choice of words, I reckon they probably meant to say ‘monologue’ rather than “debate”, because in a debate people are expected to put forward alternate views and engage in open discussion – with no points awarded for shaming. Kind of like hell for feminists.
Reading the comments that attacked Nat’s position on discrimination, it is clear that many of the contributors are either woefully ignorant or in a state of serious denial about the misandric aspects of contemporary feminism. They simply can’t, don’t or won’t recognise the gap between the warm fuzzy inclusive variety of feminism that exists only within their own well-coiffed heads, and the reality of what connected feminists are actually saying and doing.
http://au.avoiceformen.com/feminism/lets-make-march-20-natalie-barr-day/
‘Women like Natalie Barr, as well as men, have a right to be heard on feminism and womens issues‘ by Sam de Brito in the Sydney Morning Herald (Great to see this in the mainstream media – well done Sam)
Why is it only women who see sexism everywhere? (21 May 2014)
What Ceiling? Prudie advises a woman puzzled by reactions to the fact she hasn’t faced much sexism at work (9 February 2015)
Some related posts within this blog:
About feminism & how it’s not about hating men
On the censorship of non-feminist perspectives and opinions
Beware the ire of an angry feminist
The myth of male/female wage disparity