Press release from the office of the Mayor of London:
Mayor launches new campaign empowering men to challenge misogyny by saying ‘maaate’ to their mates when they cross the line
Empowering them? What, they’re so enfeebled now that they can’t say “maaate”?
But, more to the point, does that really “challenge misogyny”? Naaaaaah.
The innovative campaign aims to help men and boys confidently step-in when they witness language and behaviour towards women and girls that crosses the line.
Step-in? What’s with the hyphen? A century ago “step-ins” was a word for women’s underpants. It’s not a verb. One steps in, one doesn’t step-in. One doesn’t go-out or come-in or run-away. Just say No to superfluous hyphens.
The Mayor is clear that when it comes to ending violence against women and girls, men and boys must be the champions of change. To help illustrate that, the Mayor today joined comedian Romesh Ranganathan, social media activist Max Selwood and anti-VAWG campaigners at a café in Central London to demonstrate the vital need to call out misogyny and sexism in everyday settings – where these important conversations urgently need to be had.
Blah blah blah. Then why did this oh so clear Mayor abruptly fire Joan Smith from her role as co-chair of the Mayor of London’s Violence Against Women And Girls Board? Without explanation? And without responding to any of her requests for an explanation?
Comments
6 responses to “The mayor is clear”
It’d be funny if people started doing it in response to Genderist misogyny, though. It’s a conversation-starter! An ice-breaker!
“Empowering” was definitely the wrong verb, here. Men need no empowerment. Some of us do need some encouragement, and to the extent that this might encourage guys who, themselves, have been soft on calling out misogyny by their friends, it’s a good thing.
Doesn’t make up for the genderist bullshit, of course, but it’s still a small plus.
In the US, I suspect you could run a similar campaign with “Duuude” in place of “Maaate”.
It’s too much like “Slaaay” for my taste. There is something that Hizzoner could to to be more effective.
Apologize to and reinstate Joan Smith.
Also: Bruh
Here in San Francisco, a man got nine stab wounds for asking a stranger to stop yelling abuse at his girlfriend. And, despite the existence of disgusting ‘bro’ culture and ‘locker room talk,’ many abusive men hide their behavior from other men, showing a different face to their victims.
In today’s Guardian, by Jason Okundaye: ‘A bleated ‘maaate’ is no answer to misogyny – and not just because it’s unstoppably cringe’.