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Zawn Villines's avatar

Basically every interaction with a male feminist I've ever had has gone like this:

1. Dude compliments my work.

2. Dude pivots to promoting his own work.

3. Women see feminist dude, fawn all over him, and start promoting his work instead of mine.

4. Eventually, BECAUSE HE IS A DUDE WRITING ABOUT NON-DUDE ISSUES, he says something problematic.

5. I address it, trying as gently as I can to not step on his toes.

6. He freaks the fuck out.

7. He threatens me, insults me, or otherwise behaves in a completely unhinged manner.

8. He claims to feel threatened by me and depicts me as dangerous and crazy.

If I never interact with another male professional "feminist" again, it will be too soon.

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Gemma Hartley's avatar

Also, your post I quote here lives rent free in my head, as well as your method of only seeking out women as experts. It makes a difference.

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Zawn Villines's avatar

I will also forever note that everything a man could EVER say about feminism, a woman has said better, drawing on lived experience.

I have witnessed this phenomenon happen a lot with you personally, where you cogently argue something and then some douchetruck I mean dude regurgitates it and gets praised for his brilliance.

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Gemma Hartley's avatar

I see it happen to every brilliant feminist author I know, and then those men act like they are doing a favor by “promoting” our work or offering collaborations which further grant them legitimacy. Infuriating.

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