Misogyny and the American Dream

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“Women are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into powerlessness.” -Erica Jong

Zealously working on the new Teenedge film has done more than force me to translate my views into celluloid. It has spurred me to explore my opinions much deeper than ever. The video focuses on the use of oppressive language among teenagers and youth culture specifically aimed towards gender. Yet an important notion to consider is that youth culture is not the product of teenagers but instead adults/authority figures/role models. Adolescents look to these leaders to show how they too can participate in society and when these leaders celebrate and perpetuate oppressive and divisive views society continues cyclically.

Will misogyny always linger?

The aim of the documentary-style film is to break down the social constructs associated with the “expected” (and thus accepted) behavior and ideas regarding gender and to allow people to reconstruct their views about what is truly appropriate, socially healthy behavior and language. Essentially, we want to encourage genuine reflection about the root of social hazards such as intolerance, bigotry, sexism, and hate. When the source of gender-biased social ills are identified they can begin to dissipate. It is easy to condemn the products of perpetuated ideology but it is more difficult to identify the root— the spritz of Aqua Net to the sexist flame.

A factor that has greatly inspired this project is this: Have you ever heard teenage boys talk about girls? They are bitches. Hos. Ass. Titties. Objectifying, dehumanizing women has become an assertion of masculinity, the art of the American Dream. Men are not successful, worthy, men unless they can show power over women. If a man can show a woman as powerless than he is truly a man. It’s a right of passage. Kind of like touching a boob. Notorious B.I.G.’s “Me and My Bitch” comes to mind— a love song of sorts.

But you was my bitch, the one who’d never snitch/Love me when I’m broke or when I’m filthy — rich/And I admit, when the time is right, the wine is right/I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right

I hesitate to even mention the media, the scapegoat of all social diseases. Eating disorders, school shootings, drug use, the list goes on— are all the result of MTV, so I hear. Does that mean the media has stolen free will? It is not the media alone but rather broader complacency. Chris Matthews, for example, was not forced to call male supporters of Hilary Clinton “castratos in the eunuch chorus” but rather did so because of free will. But this free will when coupled with the overwhelming ideas of what is “supposed to be said or done” by a man or woman

Note: Men are not the only ones in support of “traditional” female values. Phyllis Schlafly comes to mind.

and bred by idle acceptance of sexism encourages the oppression of women as an entire demographic. The media, of course, is what popularizes sexist behavior but the media is the product of the individual’s free will. Sexism in the media can thus be compared to the advice passed down from father to son. It is an abstinence-only “Birds and the Bees.”

Words ultimately inspire the continuance of oppression. It is the words of teenage boys that partly inspired this film not their actions. Although awkward fumbling with beer breath can be attributed to masculine social expectations these expectations are ultimately spurred by words. These words that have infiltrated our daily lives are what dehumanize women so that men understand “No” as “Maybe”; words are what eliminate the significance of women allowing perceived female powerlessness to result in abuse; words are what denigrate the opinions, ideas, and aspirations of women as valueless; and words are what society dismisses as “just words.”

What has bothered me most about making this film is not the shocking researched statistics, the often heartbreaking interviews, or the outrageous retort of “But I meant it as a joke!” but instead the relevancy of the film. At a time when women feel nearly propelled into equality with the political success of Hilary Clinton, she faces stern opposition. Whether it’s the man holding up a sign shouting “Iron my Clothes” in New Hampshire or even my Math teacher making fun of her for crying (Her voice cracked!) it is clear that when facing the threat of the ultimate assumption to a position of power (a far cry from the female “expectation” of powerlessness) misogyny must rear its ugly head.

But when I think about my future I don’t necessarily see a female president but instead I see the generations of kids who have grown up spewing sexist slurs as our policymakers. I see the boys with the roofies and the high-fives as the new leaders of the youth culture. I see the girls with the filmed fake lesbian make-out sessions as role models to the new generation of young women. But I don’t think our future must be a bleak and rigid patriarchy, because there is still time to grow up and learn tolerance, social justice, and most importantly, the capability of women.

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