‘Stop calling this a tragedy for men’

Should misogyny be a hate crime? Amid the furore around Andrew Tate, many are wondering why women are being left out of the conversation. Some say the solution should be found in the legal system.

“Young men are in crisis — and nobody seems to care,” reads one headline. “The West’s lost boys,” cries another. It is described as the “modern male struggle”, a “crisis of manhood”, a “mass entrapment.”

Behold, the real victims of Andrew Tate: men. For some, it is a confusing conclusion to draw from a story in which the alleged victims are women.¹ But men and boys have been in the spotlight since concerns were first raised about Tate, with many expressing fears that men are being radicalised by social media.

Tate, who has been arrested on charges of sexual trafficking and rape, gained prominence for lengthy misogynisticStrong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women.  rants which have millions of views across various social media platforms.²

Across the UK, schools have made an effort to educate their students about just how dangerous Tate’s views are. The focus is on young male pupils who may have been particularly susceptible to his message.

But why are we not hearing about Tate’s effect on women? After all, it is women, not men, who Tate is accused of trafficking, raping and physically assaulting.

This is a forced silence, say sexual assault specialists. People who speak out about the effects of sexual violence are often subjected to victim-blaming and accused of lying about their experiences.

“We have become accustomed to leaving them out of the narrative,” said one specialist. So when events like this happen, we tend to focus on the effect on perpetrators instead.

Now, some are calling for a cultural shift. The justice system is a key starting point. According to the charity Rape Crisis UK, only one in 100 rapes were reported to the police and resulted in a charge in 2021.

Some suggest making misogyny into a hate crime. This would allow police to record when crimes against women were motivated by their gender. It could encourage them to take gender-based violence more seriously and empower victims to report their experiences.

Others scoff at the suggestion, citing the low conviction and reporting rates for sexual crimes and saying hate crime legislation would merely add red tape to an already difficult reporting process.

Some caution against adding fuel to the idea that feminismCalling for women’s rights with the aim of achieving gender equality. is not really about equality. Making violence against women a hate crime, and not violence against men, could set a dangerous precedent.

Should misogyny be a hate crime? 

Turning tide?

Yes: We need to do everything we can to ensure that women’s issues are taken seriously. Making misogyny into a hate crime would acknowledge the ways in which women are still marginalised and offer support.

No: It is clear that misogyny is endemicCommon to a particular place or community. in the legal system. It is not fair that only 2% of allegations lead to prosecutions. Making misogyny into a hate crime would not fix this issue. First and foremost, women need a safe and fair place to report sexual violence.

Or… We should explore a range of alternative justice options. Some fear making violence against women but not men a hate crime could ultimately lead to more misogynistic views.

Keywords

Misogynistic – Strong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women. 

Feminism – Calling for women’s rights with the aim of achieving gender equality.

Endemic – Common to a particular place or community.