Modern Feminism Has A Misogyny Problem

Chris Williamson

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Video Summary

A surprising backlash against traditional femininity is emerging from within feminist circles, with some advocating for women to adopt traditionally masculine roles while devaluing feminine pursuits. This "girlboss feminism" inadvertently creates a hierarchy where male-coded achievements are prized, and female-coded contributions like motherhood and homemaking are dismissed.

The phenomenon is illustrated by a friend who left a high-powered executive job to become a full-time mom, only to be looked down upon by working mothers. Further evidence emerges from a controversial study on hunter-gatherer societies, which critics argue manipulated data to portray women as hunters rather than acknowledging the value of gathering and domestic roles. This trend suggests a deep-seated bias that equates female worth with the adoption of male-coded behaviors, raising questions about the true goals of a movement ostensibly dedicated to empowering women.

Short Highlights

The "girlboss feminism" movement elevates traditionally masculine roles for women while devaluing feminine pursuits.
A study on hunter-gatherer societies was criticized for bias, suggesting a need to frame women's historical roles as "male-coded" to be considered valuable.
Women who choose traditionally feminine paths, like full-time motherhood, face criticism from those in career-focused feminist circles.
The "soft bigotry of male expectations" leads to celebrating women in male-coded roles but dismissing traditionally female contributions.
Even criticism of men adopting feminine traits reveals an underlying devaluation of femininity itself.

Key Details

The Rise of "Girlboss Feminism" [0:00]

Some feminists have become so extreme they are accused of misogyny.
The movement questions when empowering women turned into dictating their choices.
It highlights a generational shift where mothers' roles were devalued.

"My generation of feminists was raised to devalue what our mothers did."

A High-Powered Mom's Choice [0:56]

A friend left a high-powered executive role at a tech company after COVID-19 and having her third child.
She realized she regretted not being present enough with her first two children.
She decided to become a full-time mom, a choice met with judgment.

"And then... Coronavirus. Coronavirus. Coronavirus. You must stay at home."

Judgment from Working Mothers [1:48]

After moving, the friend joined a mom's group and was met with disdain by working mothers.
They expressed regret not knowing her "when you had a lot going on," implying her current role as a mom was less significant.
This judgment came from women who still lived the career life the friend had already achieved and left.

"You know, when you had a lot going on."

The "Myth of Man the Hunter" Study [3:35]

A 2023 study challenged the idea that men exclusively hunted and women gathered.
It reported evidence of women hunting in 79% of societies studied, with 33% hunting large game.
However, a subsequent paper found methodological failures and sample selection bias in the original study.

"It reported evidence of women hunting in 50 of 63 societies."

The Soft Bigotry of Male Expectations [5:00]

The author introduces the concept of the "soft bigotry of male expectations."
This is the idea that achievements are only celebrated if they are traditionally associated with men.
This leads to a worldview where male-coded contributions are high status, and female-coded contributions are low status.

"It's the idea that when trying to elevate women, people assume that the only achievements worth celebrating are the ones traditionally associated with men."