‘Not a man-hater’: What research says about an enduring feminist stereotype

As part of the “Women Against Feminism” campaign that launched in 2014, social media posts have featured young women holding placards with the message “I don’t need feminism because…” listing various reasons ranging from “I respect men” to “I am not a MAN-HATER”.

This perception of misandry – a hatred of men – is perhaps the most prevalent and enduring stereotype about feminism. By this account, feminism is not really a movement to end sexism and bring about gender equality, but rather it is wholly concerned with dislike of men.

While “Women Against Feminism” was ultimately eclipsed three years later by the #MeToo movement, it reflects a wider reality that stereotypes about feminism have caused women to spurn and even publicly denounce the movement.

But is it actually true that feminists tend to dislike men? Not according to our recent research.

A root cause of hatred

Research evidence shows that awareness of negative tropes of feminists as “man-haters” reduces both women’s willingness to identify as feminists and their support of gender equality initiatives.

The idea of the man-hater also animates hatred of feminism and of women in the manosphere – websites that promote masculinity and misogyny – where it is used to promote opposition to gender equality and to justify acts of violence.

Of course, there are reasons...

Read more