When I read, “Confessions From a Recovering Misogynist,” I was struck by the implications of the analogy the author made with the title. “Confessions of a Recovering Misogynist” - it almost sounds like he’s comparing misogyny to such things as alcoholism or drug addiction. “Recovering” makes me think of illness; does the author equate misogyny to an illness? In a way, I get it. Illness is bad, something someone wants to move past; so is misogyny, once a person realizes what it is and that they are misogynistic. However, I feel like painting any form of prejudice as an illness is discrediting the power and intention behind prejudice. Just from the title alone, I could feel the author shifting the blame or playing a pity card. The author was writing the article in a very defensive manner. Even when he was making a valid - though exxagerrated - point, he was still defensive; trying to shift the blame. He writes, “I entered Rutgers University … and my mama’s-boy demeanor advanced to that of a pimp. I learned that most males in college are some variety of pimp. … [Misogyny] is common and pimpdom reigns supreme.” The author is basically telling us that he sought after “power" because other men were also “powerful,” that, essentially, he succumbed to peer pressure. He’s blaming the other men rather than owning up to his actions. Even the line, “It was not easy for me to admit I had a problem,” asks the reader to pull a pity card. This whole mentality is something I see a lot talking to some of my male friends - “It’s not my fault because x, y, and z,” and I’m not sure to respond to it.
Where do you think this mentality comes from? Do you have male friends or family that exhibit this mentality? If so, how do you respond to it?
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