Why shouldn't I blame male behavior on male nature? Does this sub believe in the blank slate?
I dig this sub. There's one issue where I disagree, though. From what I can tell, this sub believes most of the behavioral differences between men and women are due to patriarchal socialization. Brain based differences are rejected as essentialist, e.g. "magic laydee brain." I agree culture plays an important role. Men have been civilized over time. But ignoring nature seems misplaced, possibly dangerous.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this sub thinks homosexuals are mostly born, not made. And it recognizes that non-conforming personality types are resistant to change despite intense social pressure. I agree. So there's no "laydee brain," but there are homosexual and butch brains?
The patriarchy loves the naturalistic fallacy to excuse male behavior, but it's trivial to flip this around. "Boys will be boys" shouldn't be a thought terminating cliche. It should be the foundation of whole arguments. Boys will be boys, so let's have girls only schools, let's have way more female leaders, let's dismantle the sex industry, don't let them in the girl's bathroom, etc.
If you think men across all cultures commit more violent crimes (especially sexual ones) due to socialization, then does this mean you think women given male socialization would act like men? They'd develop bizarre fetishes and be obsessed with porn? Form street gangs? Go to war and commit rape en masse? If not, why not?
If you look at most mammals, the male is larger, more aggressive, and will do anything to breed. Males fight each other. They commit infanticide so the female goes into heat again. They corral the female animals into harems and rape them. They don't have the excuse of patriarchal socialization. The blank slate theory says I'm supposed to believe this has no connection to the huge differences in behavior between men and women and that humanity has somehow transcended its roots. That's a religious argument trying to shield men.
In non-fem circles the usual response to this is accusations of misandry, #NotAllMen, and concern over lesbian separatism. I'm curious what you folks think.
Posted Apr 15, 2016, 2:32 AM UTC · edited