https://theintellectualist.co/republican-lawmaker-behind-reddit-group-dedicated-misogyny/
When I was eleven-years-old, I remember reading H.G. Wells’ classic novel, The Time Machine. I was enthralled with this book. Even though, at this age, I obviously was not fully able to grasp all of the highly complex and nuanced themes of the novel, the mere idea of possessing a time machine fascinated me. So often, I would imagine what it would be like to have the capability of navigating the dimension of time. I whimsically mused that if I had the power, not only would I go back in time to fix every mistake I had made in my very brief life, but I would also possess the ability to impact and even change the course of human events throughout the history of the world. I imagined how I would travel to the Roman Empire in 44 B.C. to ensure that Julius Caesar would stay clear of Pompey’s Theater on the Ides of March. I’d sail along with Christopher Columbus in 1492 and watch the dismay grow in his expression as I nonchalantly informed him that the island on which he had landed was actually San Salvador and not the East Indies. I’d beat Paul Revere to the punch during the American Revolution, shouting, “The British are coming!” from the top of my little lungs. Indeed, as a child, going back in time seemed like the most exhilarating experience that I could possibly conceive of; these days, however, I’m not so sure.
Somehow, when I read the ludicrous article that is attached to this post, my mind traveled through time to recall my child-like fascination with time-travel, and I shuddered. Whenever I hear of incidents such as this one, I can’t help but feel as though our society has retrogressed back in time to when such mortifying ideas would be considered the norm. Now, I would be able to shrug and laugh off an absurd story like this if this were one isolated event. However, it seems as though every single day, as of late, I am hearing of incidents that reveal the blatant misogyny, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and outright bigotry that pervades our society. I think the fact that remains most disturbing for me is how these bigoted ideologies have become so commonplace in our society that it seems that I am never even shocked to hear about them. Although I never want this kind of myopic mentality to become the status quo, occurrences like this cause me to fear just that.
As much as I’m tempted to laugh at this outrageous story, I also have to acknowledge that this is frightening on so many levels. First of all, the mere fact that this man had garnered so many like-minded followers on a thread that tries to convince others of the innate inferiority of women is horrifying in and of itself. It is more difficult to simply roll our eyes and dismiss this man as one contemptible, harebrained misogynist when there are so many others who share his beliefs. Secondly, one must remember that this Republican representative has the power to use his chauvinistic ideologies to help impact legislation that affects our nation. Finally, I find it absolutely terrifying and perplexing that many women will continue to vote for this man when he is up for re-election as well as other politicians who harbor these same antiquated sentiments, illustrating just how deeply this misogyny and bigotry are engrained in our society.
While I am fully aware that this deep level of prejudice has existed since the beginning of time, I never cease to be taken aback by the overt manner in which it is unabashedly displayed in recent times. More and more these days, I’m hearing about how “political correctness” is just the bane of our existence, and I could never really comprehend this. In my mind, the notion of being “politically correct” is just another way of showing equal respect for all of our fellow human beings. I could never really understand why this was viewed as being something pejorative. Indeed, when I see this amount of vitriol being spewed at all women who are simply attempting to make progress in their quest for equality and when I hear of these men so adamantly claiming to have been oppressed by women, I think of the wise words of one anonymous source: “When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”
When I was a child, the idea of being able to travel back in time seemed thrilling and euphoric. As a grown woman, I have no volition to go back in time at all, for I am appreciative of all of the progress made to bring us to where we are at this very moment. In the time machine that I conjured up in my childish imagination, I only needed to push a button to be miraculously transported back to my pink bedroom, fully aware that nothing had changed and that life would continue on as it did before. In adulthood, I realize that when we regress back in time as a society, the advancements made to better the lives of countless human beings are erased, changing the course of the future for years to come.
-- Daniella Rossi
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