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Many men get offended by hashtags like #Menaretrash. Let’s get into the meaning of the hashtag and WHY hurt feelings mean nothing compared to structural and gender based violence! A THREAD:
First of all, #Menaretrash is a hashtag that was created to spread awareness on the rampant femicide occuring in South Africa. Femicide is RARELY talked about. Apple’s autocorrect doesn’t even recognize it as a WORD...so we MUST make noise. Saying #Menaretrash does just that.
“I’m a good guy, so I’m offended by y’all saying men ain’t shit”
Men being offended > being systematically oppressed.
Let’s pull some stats for y’all:
Men being offended > being systematically oppressed.
Let’s pull some stats for y’all:
“-1 in 4 North American women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime.
-80% of sexual assault incidents occur in the home.
-83% of disabled women will be sexual assaulted during their lifetime.
-Half of all sexual offenders are married or in long term relationships”
-80% of sexual assault incidents occur in the home.
-83% of disabled women will be sexual assaulted during their lifetime.
-Half of all sexual offenders are married or in long term relationships”
What do Ruth George, Mary Spears, Tamara O’Neil, Aisha Fraser, Janese Talton-Jackson, Andrea Farrington and thousands of women have in common? THEY WERE ALL WOMEN WHO WERE KILLED FOR SIMPLY REJECTING MEN! But saying #menaretrash is a little extreme? https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/11/27/us/university-of-illinois-chicago-ruth-george/index.html
If YOU’RE not trash...the saying cannot possibly offend you. Saying “Not all men...” IS SILENCING THE REALITY OF SO MANY WOMEN RIGHT NOW! Get OUT your feelings...women are dying!!
Let’s explore why #menaretrash offends you more than the idea of women being systematically oppressed and KILLED for being women. We must understand why you feel the need to defend your decency as a man rather than call out the collective bullshit of your male counterparts
Men are not oblivious to the misogyny in the community. Many women have adopted the saying “men ain’t shit” from hearing it from their OWN fathers and brothers telling them to stay away from boys because they KNOW how they are. Let’s STOP pretending!
“Patriarchy affects men too..we’ve been taught this, can’t you understand us?” Our LIVES revolve around understanding men, making excuses for men, siding with men, not holding men accountable. The way we SURVIVE in this system is by understanding you.
Even women hating, slutshaming, disrespecting EACHOTHER is a direct result of patriarchy and the misogyny we’ve been groomed to internalize. The same way that black people are groomed to internalize anti-blackness. We do this to SURVIVE!
The lack of accountability and denial is due to the REFUSAL of giving up their power and working towards destroying the patriarchal system because they KNOW how much they benefit from it. Yes men suffer from patriarchy too...not enough for them to want to destroy it though 
Do some women use #menaretrash loosely and freely and not in reference to structural violence at times? Sure. Now what? What happened? Did men suddenly lose their privilege? Are they any less safe in this society?
It’s 2020 and it’s time for men to step it up and start calling their brothers out on their bullshit. To start cutting off their friends for hurting women, for being homophobic, for being misogynists. Come on y’all. We want better for us but we can’t do it alone.
