What Is Misogyny and Why Women Are Considered Inferior
Misogyny is contempt for women and prejudice against them; the belief that a woman is inherently worse and less complete than a man. This idea is the foundation of patriarchy. It is what makes violence against women seem “normal.” Misogyny cements the patriarchal system and gives perpetrators free rein.
Where Misogyny Comes From
Misogyny exists because of gender stereotypes. From the moment of birth, society assigns a person to one of two polarized groups: women or men. These groups are given certain characteristics, often opposite ones, emphasizing a fundamental difference between them.
This is how the image of the strong male conqueror and the weak female keeper of the home emerged. Images that still strongly influence how social roles are formed and how people’s identities develop.
According to gender stereotypes, femininity is associated with passivity, submissiveness, “naturalness,” and emotionality. A woman is seen as a mother, a person who must meet certain beauty standards (often contradictory ones), and perform emotional labor: listening, supporting, and being “wise.” Masculinity, on the other hand, is associated with decisiveness, aggressiveness (which is not considered an emotion), and independence. A man is seen as a self-confident individual who controls his life, relies on reason and logic, and possesses “objective” knowledge about the world.
This gender construction led to the emergence of a system of power and hierarchical relationships between men and women, where violence is one of the tools used to regulate these relationships. In this system, the “man” as an authoritative and dominant figure is granted respect and credibility by default; he is expected to be respected by all women and by men lower in the hierarchy. Women, in contrast, are associated with everything that evokes disrespect or even disgust.
How Misogyny Manifests
Misogyny is one of the causes of homophobia. In a system where men are superior and authoritative, and women are inferior and less valued, their roles and positions are perceived accordingly. This is especially evident in sexual relationships, where misogynistic beliefs position women as subordinate, passive, and “lower.”
Misogyny is not only about women, but about contempt for everything considered “feminine.” Anything stereotypically feminine is devalued and regarded as inferior. This hierarchy is taken to extremes in the most closed and aggressive male communities. For example, the term “lowered” emerged, referring to a man who is raped in prison and given a female name, thereby being pushed down the hierarchy and perceived as a woman, and therefore as inferior and despised.
Misogyny is also present in everyday insults. When someone wants to humiliate another person, they may use language referring to rape or compare the person to a woman: “you’re like a woman,” “you’re like a girl.” Here, the role of a woman is associated with weakness, inferiority, and vulnerability.
Contempt for women can also be seen in so-called “benevolent sexism.” This is a set of everyday practices and rituals that appear, on the surface, to express admiration for women: exaggerated politeness in public, giving flowers, complimenting women’s “charm” and “gentleness,” and treating women as fragile beings who must be protected. All of this constructs an image of women as vulnerable, helpless, and weak, and therefore easier to control. Such attitudes do not imply equality or autonomy; instead, they present women as men’s property, as “decoration,” and as second-class human beings. This inequality forms the foundation for gender-based violence. Disrespect toward women means disrespect toward their dignity and bodily autonomy.
Misogyny harms society as a whole. It sustains a system in which women are unprotected, violence is normalized, and femininity in anyone is perceived as a sign of weakness and inferiority.