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Sociologist Records Shocking Responses From Men And Women Regarding Protection Against Assault

Men often wonder why women are so angry and serious when there’s anything slightly related to assault or harassment. It’s not like they don’t understand that these topics are sensitive, they just don’t get why women are so uptight about it even when everything around them is completely normal. But what men fail to understand is that this is their exact same inconsiderate behavior which creates the mess. Men take these sensitive matters so lightly that it lessens their importance and as a result the problem continues to persist.

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Such inconsiderate and insensitive behavior in men is so deep-rooted in today’s world that instead of emerging as a problem it just encourages more toxicity. Try asking ten women if they’ve ever been mansplained by a guy and at least nine of them would say yes. Try rejecting a man and see how fast he goes from being a nice guy to a complete do*chebag. The worst part is, all these seemingly minor behavioral problems don’t end here, they keep piling up till they result in a more violent approach towards women. Hence, the increase in discrimination, harassment, assault and violence against women.

Jackson Katz, author of ‘The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help’, explained in one of his illustrations how big of a problem this insensitive mindset is.

He wrote:

Via: Drew McKenna

‘Men ask why women are so pissed off, even guys with wives and daughters. Jackson Katz, a prominent social researcher, illustrates why. He’s done it with hundreds of audiences:

“I draw a line down the middle of a chalkboard, sketching a male symbol on one side and a female symbol on the other.

Then I ask just the men: What steps do you guys take, on a daily basis, to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? At first there is a kind of awkward silence as the men try to figure out if they’ve been asked a trick question. The silence gives way to a smattering of nervous laughter. Occasionally, a young a guy will raise his hand and say, ‘I stay out of prison.’ This is typically followed by another moment of laughter, before someone finally raises his hand and soberly states, ‘Nothing. I don’t think about it.’

Then I ask the women the same question. What steps do you take on a daily basis to prevent yourselves from being sexually assaulted? Women throughout the audience immediately start raising their hands. As the men sit in stunned silence, the women recount safety precautions they take as part of their daily routine.

Hold my keys as a potential weapon. Look in the back seat of the car before getting in. Carry a cell phone. Don’t go jogging at night. Lock all the windows when I sleep, even on hot summer nights. Be careful not to drink too much. Don’t put my drink down and come back to it; make sure I see it being poured. Own a big dog. Carry Mace or pepper spray. Have an unlisted phone number. Have a man’s voice on my answering machine. Park in well-lit areas. Don’t use parking garages. Don’t get on elevators with only one man, or with a group of men. Vary my route home from work. Watch what I wear. Don’t use highway rest areas. Use a home alarm system. Don’t wear headphones when jogging. Avoid forests or wooded areas, even in the daytime. Don’t take a first-floor apartment. Go out in groups. Own a firearm. Meet men on first dates in public places. Make sure to have a car or cab fare. Don’t make eye contact with men on the street. Make assertive eye contact with men on the street.”

― Jackson Katz, The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help.

(The first man to minor in women’s studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. in cultural studies and education from UCLA.)’

To top it all off, the response was also shared as an infographic to better summarize the experiment.

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Via: Facebook

It’s shocking how the thought of protection against assault is greek to men. And instead of realizing their mistake, they have the audacity to joke about it. This clearly shows how the thought of NOT inflicting harm to someone (especially a woman) wouldn’t even cross their mind. So, as long as this inconsiderate and insensitive mindset will prevail, problems like misogyny, patriarchy and violence against women will only become worse.

What’s your take on this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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