On misogyny

A woman at Susan's place made some very forthright statements accusing a onetime female blogger of misogyny.  I considered each of them.

1) Telling her blog readers that emotional and physical abuse isn’t a valid reason for divorce if you are a Christian. If I hadn’t left my first husband, he would have probably killed me by now.

Emotional and physical abuse is not valid grounds for a Christian to divorce his spouse. The only valid reason for the Christian to divorce is sexual immorality on the part of the spouse. To claim otherwise is provably false.

2) Telling readers that marital rape doesn’t exist because a husband essentially owns his wife’s body.

Marital rape doesn’t exist, not because of any essential ownership, but because consent has been given. One can no more give and withdraw consent within a marriage than one can lose and regain one’s virginity or join and quit the Army at will. If you are not giving consent by marrying someone, then your husband or wife has no more sexual claim on you than anyone else on the planet.

3) Telling readers that it’s wrong for a woman to turn down her husband sexually and that she must act enthusiastic even if she’s not in the mood. While sex is an important part of any marriage, it should never be forced.

It is wrong for either a man or a woman to turn down the spouse sexually. The only acceptable reason is for prayer, and then for a short time only. It is eminently clear that your morality, such as it is, is Churchian, it is neither Christian nor Biblical.

4) Telling readers that the 19th amendment should have never been ratified b/c women are too emotionally unstable to vote responsibly.

It is no more misogynous to assert that women should not be granted the privilege of voting than it is hateful to children or foreigners to assert neither of them should be given the privilege.

5) Calling women who have had sex before marriage sluts and calling women who are 4o and older and unmarried spinsters.

This is certainly impolite and perhaps even inaccurate. But not necessarily indicative of hate.

6) Posting numerous times about how men are superior to women in every way (intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually).

This is indicative of potential misogyny. It’s also stupid. Men are superior in many ways. And women are superior in many ways.

7) Posting that domestic violence claims are exaggerated and that men are just as likely to be victims as women.

This is not misogyny, these are simple and easily verified facts.