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The TRUE meaning behind “men are trash” : part two: a thread
The entire concept of #MenAreTrash has been translated into hate speech, So imma try to clear the air and make the phrase "men are trash" more cohesive for everyone.
1- WHERE DID “MEN ARE TRASH” ORIGINATE:
In 2017, Karabo Mokoena was murdered and her body burned by her boyfriend in South Africa. In this country femicide is a chronic problem. Statistics show that a woman is murdered every 4 hours.
In 2017, Karabo Mokoena was murdered and her body burned by her boyfriend in South Africa. In this country femicide is a chronic problem. Statistics show that a woman is murdered every 4 hours.
...It is also reported that more than half of these murders (57.1%) are initiated by an intimate partner.
Karabo’s death sent chills through the country, with #MenAreTrash trend taking over social media platforms for weeks.
Karabo’s death sent chills through the country, with #MenAreTrash trend taking over social media platforms for weeks.
2- WHAT DOES “MEN ARE TRASH” REALLY MEAN:
First things first, women KNOW that not all men are trash. The hashtag and semi-social movement "Not All Men" wants us to know one thing - good men exist. And surprisingly we know that.
First things first, women KNOW that not all men are trash. The hashtag and semi-social movement "Not All Men" wants us to know one thing - good men exist. And surprisingly we know that.
...Wonderful men exist all around us in fact, we are friends with them, we are in love with some of them and we were even raised by some of them - so we really do recognize that great men exist. But the phrase "men are trash" has nothing to do with those men.
It's best explained by Jesse Vhasy Rasoesoe using a simple snake metaphor -
"We all know that snakes are dangerous, yet there are some snakes which are not deadly at all. However, you never hear people say ‘some snakes are dangerous, some are not’.
"We all know that snakes are dangerous, yet there are some snakes which are not deadly at all. However, you never hear people say ‘some snakes are dangerous, some are not’.
.....They just say, ‘snakes are dangerous’ because it is hard for the average person to tell which snakes are dangerous and which snakes are not, so they urge people to be cautious of all snakes."
.... The phrase stems from the sheer frustration and exhaust of women dealing with men who are inappropriate, entitled or simply complicit.
The phrase is used by women to voice out their frustration at a misogynistic, oppressive, toxic and patriarchal society. It is not meant to undermine men in an attempt to be a feminist, but to challenge those who defend toxic and fragile masculinity.
3- SHOULD WE STOP SAYING MEN ARE TRASH?
When it comes to the argument that we should stop saying the phrase because it's generalization or untrue and has hurt the sentiments of many men - I think we should let it stay..
When it comes to the argument that we should stop saying the phrase because it's generalization or untrue and has hurt the sentiments of many men - I think we should let it stay..
... The whole idea of the phrase is to bolt the receiving audience, to be a little rude and unapologetic so there's some form of reform. Another factor is that the phrase is a form of solidarity of the frustration and tire of women around the world -
... and we should let it stay that way because it's the one coping mechanism we have learnt to battle our everyday struggles with toxic masculinity.
We know it's not all men, and we know it may not even be your fault that you behave a certain way - but we are all capable of change and we're all capable of unlearning.
And if you don’t think there’s enough reason for women to hold this fear or can’t picture the statistics, then you’re simply not listening. Our stories of sexual assault, domestic violence and harassment are everywhere..
..If you’re not witnessing it, you definitely know someone who’s been through it. But if you can’t listen to women, you can’t believe women. And if you can’t even have faith in their stories, we’ll never come close to fixing the problem.
Men aren’t just trash to women, they’re trash to each other as well. When a man stands up to sexism and violence against women, he runs the risk of a threat ricocheting back to himself. Men fear other men, and that’s when ‘not all men’ begins to serve as a deflecting mechanism.
So men, if the phrase offends you - it should. And instead of creating the #NotAllMen defence - next time just be critical with yourself, analyze your behaviour, ask us what you can do to help create a change - maybe then the #menaretrash parade may just rest in peace.
And you want your ‘not all men’ fantasy to become a reality? I’d recommend you start with closing your mouth and opening your ears.
Credits: many articles summarized (i cannot copy and paste for some reason just search men are trash if u want more lol)
A smaller version https://twitter.com/finnaslapyou/status/1289276760010313729?s=21
