Thread by @PhD_femme, some unsorted thoughts on Leftist Men, from a Leftist Chick’s Hours in [...]

some unsorted thoughts on Leftist Men, from a Leftist Chick’s Hours in Lockdown

how do you solve a problem like leftist men? they’re the best. and the worst. the best of them still do and say terrible shit sometimes.

Or rather, it seems that way.

Enough of them let you down over time that you begin to fear that the ones that haven’t yet... well, it’s just a matter of time.

Men on the left perpetuate sexism the same way men on the right do, and they don’t acknowledge it, and it’s just as damaging—maybe moreso, b/c they gaslight us about it in really harmful ways.

Men on the left sometimes use their proximity to the altruism of leftism as cover for sexual predation. And those who don’t do so are not interested in hearing this about other leftist men, or in policing this behavior proactively.

Leftist men often expect people on the left who present as women to be the

- cleaners
- child carers
- sign-makers
- cooks
- silent helpmeets
- drudges

while the bearded menfolk carry out the real work of the movement. It’s... super fucking gross.

Next time you attend a leftist event or movement, see who is setting up, cleaning up afterwords, fetching the food, doing the logistical work, meeting with the caterer, etc.

Yet where would I be without my brothers? I’m not being corny. Male voices on the left have been in my ear, guiding me, since the beginning. And if I have been let down by specific men, I’m from a tradition that teaches me that it’s my responsibility to try and get them to learn.

Leftist men don’t generally want to learn and they don’t generally need to learn because no quantity of criticism from a woman or women is enough.

They will always be backed up by the institutional power they already have, and by other men.

Let’s discuss some specifics!

The Predatory Older Hippy
- husband of one of the brightest women filmmakers in the bay area
- has his own psychiatric practice
- preys on string of young women PAs who work for his wife

“It’s all about free love” is his response to being called out for it, and

when put on the spot, he’s able to get other wealthy bay area leftist men to vouch for him. He wasn’t aware he was doing anything wrong by cornering me & groping me—it’s the Haight, man!

the Abusive Tyrant
- leader of the student socialist coalition
- passionate speeches about Marx
- sees no reason why women need to be in leadership positions in the org and also somehow never sees their raised hands during meetings

the Creative
- public Leftist persona
- says all the right things
- for some reason can never cede any of his power or space to a woman, not when it really counts, to signal-boost her

and I think the one we’re all familiar with is the secret conservative.

this is your garden variety leftist man who just one day reveals a range of views about how women are happiest as mothers, belong in the home, aren’t attractive when we yell, etc.

this is a SUPER COMMON ONE.

It’s funny to me how a random one-off tweet I twotted yesterday about the word “goy” got like 2k likes, and it was super niche—no one really uses that word!!—but this thread, which is about a VERY URGENT PROBLEM on the left (and among twitter leftist men), is

You don’t have to be a historian to see that this has been happening since abolition days—probably before!—and there doesn’t seem to be any real soul-searching or effort to be better on the part of leftist men.

Does It’s On Us count?

https://twitter.com/El_Dritch/status/1251469394582089731?s=20

there are multiple people--not just men--who aren't clear on the obvious explanation for why this is happening

we need more and better feminist education https://twitter.com/JCCHerington/status/1251494454973865984?s=20