Soft Misogyny

Our society is getting more progressive every day. But misogyny still lingers in our society. The contempt or dislike for females is always evident in our contemporary world. Most times, misogyny is not loud. In fact, it is silent. People are not blasting hurls of insults at women. It is woven into small daily matters - so casual, so accepted that we don’t even pause to think. And if someone raises questions, they are often dismissed as overthinking or overanalysing a “normal” situation.

The pain of being called incompetent or not good enough despite consistently proving your abilities can be discouraging. A woman can earn her degree with honours, can secure that high-paying job, yet she is deemed to be less capable than a man with fewer achievements. This is often reflected within families; for example, a son who barely passes his exams is praised while a daughter who aces her exams gets less recognition. 

Society tends to glorify traditional roles without any questioning. The term “wife material” is often used to praise or compliment women. But this term carries assumptions about self-sacrifice and obedience. Such terms, over time, may indicate that a woman’s worth is tied to how well she conforms to the traditional roles. A woman is wife material only when she is submissive and obedient. These things make a woman’s worth stray away from her individuality or independence. 

One online trend I’ve seen recently is where women are refusing to get married and choosing to stay single and childfree. The amount of strong reactions, criticisms and even insults being directed at them is proof of how deeply women are expected to conform to the traditional roles. These expectations are engraved in the bones of society.

Choosing whether to marry or not, whether to become a mother or not, is a legal and personal right. Women who exercise their rights shouldn’t be seen as being selfish, but rather seen as independent and autonomous. Women are not commodities. They are humans, they are individuals with goals and aspirations, and they have the right to shape their own lives. 

Even popular culture has reflected these contradictions. The movie Barbie accurately portrayed how women are frequently expected to excel professionally while simultaneously managing their homes and families. Society tends to glorify the acts of men that women have already been doing as basic responsibilities. The difference in expectations raises concerns about how society defines responsibilities. A man taking care of his daughter doesn’t automatically make him a good father. That’s his responsibility too. 

Misogyny is often reflected in medical research. Conditions such as endometriosis affect many women, yet have received limited research compared to other medical issues affecting men. It is important to shift the focus to women’s health to ensure accurate treatment.

Soft misogyny survives because it hides in everyday behaviour - those “harmless” comments and traditions that people refuse to question. It may be quiet, but its impact is loud. Until we start acknowledging these small injustices, we will keep mistaking oppression for normalcy.