University’s Heart Challenges Hate Lecturers Take on Misogyny

Heart Challenges Hate lecturers discuss the long history of societal prejudice and hate towards women

At Sacred Heart University’s final Heart Challenges Hate lecture, the audience heard a demoralizing fact for women: “We have lived in a patriarchal society for all of our lives, and despite a woman’s right to vote, misogynistic views and actions are far from obliteration,” said psychology professor Christina Taylor.

Taylor joined theology professor June-Ann Greeley for the lecture, “Hating Women—It’s Been Around a Long Time!” which explored feminism, both past and modern, as well as the history and origin of sexism and misogyny.

The professors identified key terms to ensure everyone in the room had the same understanding. Taylor defined misogyny as “the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls”; patriarchy is “a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.”

One fact they raised to illustrate the effects of patriarchy is the wage gap between men and women. They cited a study that shows women must work 16 months to earn the same amount that a male earns in 12 months. Further, they said women are materialized; they are sexualized on screen, in magazines and advertisements. Taylor pulled a specific example of an advertisement for eyeglasses; it showed a nude woman with a male in a suit and tie.

The constant sexualization and objectification, in turn, enforces a societal view that men are superior to women, Taylor said.

Greeley defined feminism, pointing out that the term has been radicalized and gained a negative connotation. Feminism, as described by Greeley, is “the belief that biological sex does not predict anything about one’s ability, intelligence or personality, and thus demands the liberation of women and girls from stereotypical gender roles and expectations.”

While even the idea of feminism has a bad reputation, she said, the concept is about equal rights for all. Feminists are not “man-haters” or “power-hungry women,” said Greeley; feminists are people who want equality for all.

Sexism, as described by Greeley, is “prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender,” and women are suffering because of it. “Women have been declined jobs, paid less, expected to take care of children, clean the house and care for their husbands…all because they are women,” she said.

In conclusion, both professors said women-hating has been a dominant aspect of the patriarchal society, but the younger generation has the power and knowledge to end it.