Women and Gender : Empathy offers powerful tool for changing misinformed politics
In a recent study at Loyola University Chicago, researchers found that men respond well to confrontations about their sexist behavior, meaning these interactions aren’t truly as uncomfortable as we might otherwise assume.
Everything is political — every conversation, thought, idea and action is rooted in deep political views. To some, this may seem obvious. But many think the world of politics is one separate from their personal experiences. Moments from the monotony of our daily lives explain individual politics far better than how we cast votes at the ballots every four years or more.
Consider a confrontation with a chauvinistic guy. Almost every girl has been there — some guy makes an offensive comment and sweeping generalization about women. You feel awkward and uncomfortable, then feel ethically obliged to let said guy know how big of a jerk he is. Or worse, you feel compelled to confront a friend about his sexist comments or assumptions.
These experiences are far more significant and meaningful because they allow individuals to relate on a personal level to alternative political views.
The study says male participants were teamed with female partners to discuss a set of assigned ethical dilemmas in which the female partner had to confront her male counterpart for sexism. The accused men did not react with hostility or anger. Instead, they acted in a pleasant manner and mostly apologized for their remarks.
People tend to operate under the assumption that guys resist feminism and discussions around oppression because, traditionally, white males are seen as the ultimate oppressors. Although this is somewhat true, sexism and racism are so inherent in our culture that individuals are often blind to it. But Loyola’s study shows dudes aren’t always opposed to approaching this subject.
There are a number of outspoken male activists and theorists who spearhead the field of gender analysis from the male perspective: Michael Kimmel, author of ‘Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men,’ and Jackson Katz, creator of the documentary titled ‘Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity,’ offer two great examples.
One missing piece from the Loyola University Chicago study is the way in which men go about having these types of conversations regarding gender inequalities. Based on my own experiences with boyfriends and guy friends, feminism can yield long and thoughtful conversation as long as I draw on personal experience.
Young men aren’t alone in this fact — the need for a personal and relatable understanding of women’s rights is in no way specific to men. The term feminist, and all of its stereotypes and greater implications, easily scares off the vast majority of women as well.
Don’t let the stereotypes fool you — guys are open and willing to talk about gender imbalances in our society and, therefore, capable of working together with their female counterparts to cultivate resolutions to both inherent and obvious sexism. Just like women who shy away from feminism, all they need is a personal reason to care.
Krystie Yandoli is a senior women and gender studies major. Her column appears every Wednesday. She can be reached at klyandol@syr.edu.