The spreading virus of misogyny

The Ryder Cup is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in golf. Why, then, was Erica Stoll, wife of champion Rory McIlroy, the target of misogynistic abuse from hecklers in the event’s crowd? In addition to verbal taunts, a cup of beer was thrown at her head during the tournament.

Alarmingly, Miss Stoll has been experiencing online abuse from golf fans for some time. The sport’s online fan communities often idolize players, and when they underperform, the fans’ frustrations are increasingly directed toward the spouses, as if they’re the ones at fault.

When the couple briefly split up last year, online trolls had a field day scrutinizing Miss Stoll, blaming her for any marital discord and her husband’s struggles on the golf course.

The virus of misogyny has been spreading, both online and in the real world. This is a massive step in the wrong direction for society, and the mental and physical toll on victims can be significant and long-lasting.

Men with a positive and healthy self-image and harmonious relationships with females (mother, wife, daughters, etc.) will feel no compulsion to belittle, denigrate, or objectify women.

On the flip side, a man with poor self-esteem, economically insecure, and who believes the system is rigged against him, is more susceptible to the lure of “alpha-male” and misogynistic beliefs and behaviors.

Some argue that the catalyst to its resurgence started with the president’s infamous Access Hollywood tape. Scholars and commentators argued that the absence of any consequences sent a message that openly degrading women carries fewer social repercussions than previously assumed.

The #MeToo movement brought to light the pervasiveness of sexual harassment, abuse, and gender-based power imbalances. However, some television and online personalities and politicians framed #MeToo as a witch hunt or an overreach, suggesting that it created a climate of fear and paranoia for men.

Throw the ideology of the “manosphere” in the mix—framing men as victims of modern society, with a belief in a cultural feminist agenda seeking to emasculate them, and you have yourself a virus of misogyny.

Other contributing factors, according to experts in sociology and psychology, include the rise of digital platforms, young men’s economic insecurity and isolation, and polarized politics.

Many scholars warn of the threat that misogyny correlates with other forms of extremism, political violence, and social instability. “The most dangerous people in the world are young, broke, lonely males. Masculinity is not about domination; it’s about responsibility, competence, and contribution,” says professor and author Scott Galloway.

Misogyny has been a part of cultures around the globe for millennia, and many factors not discussed here have contributed. I welcome your thoughts on this topic, including potential actions that can help inoculate our society against the virus.

You can read more about the Ryder Cup incident and Erica Stoll in this article from Glamour, as well as football fans’ less-than-kind sentiments toward Taylor Swift.
https://www.glamour.com/story/the-misogynistic-abuse-towards-rory-mcilro...