Isabelle Ouyang: Discussion must be had
The hashtag #YesAllWomen has generated controversy over not only its relevance in present-day, but also its effectiveness (or lack thereof). Full disclosure: I completely support everything #YesAllWomen stands for. I don’t think sexism died at the 19th amendment, I’m a strong believer in the power of public awareness and yes, I am a huge feminist.
But I’m not going to argue over whether sexism is a “real” issue or not, because let’s face it: If you aren’t convinced now, there isn’t much I can do in this brief space to change your mind.
Even with fundamentally differing worldviews, I think everyone agrees that the USCB shooting was devastating. That the disturbing, almost childlike mindset of 22-year-old killer Elliot Rodger was a collision of his delicate mental state and the consequently skewed perception of personal experiences—interactions with girls, friends and family all misconstrued as some kind of universal vendetta against his happiness.
In response, #YesAllWomen was coined by an anonymous Twitter user as a way to call out everyday sexism and its direct contributions to a cultural acceptance of violence against women. The argument is that the killer’s 140-page manifesto, released to the public just days after the incident and detailing his hatred for women, was a product of the undercurrents of female objectification in society.
The campaign uses social media as platform for to prompt discussion. Sure, there’s no direct attempt to raise money or target legislation, but at its core, all activism starts with discussion.
#YesAllWomen is, at its worst, presumptuous. But discussion of oppression as a factor in the crime is far more important than the discomfort of people who feel it does not apply to them. If there’s any way we can prevent tragedy, it’s worth discussing—including gun control, mental health stigmas, the power of law enforcement and yes, systematic oppression.
For every person mocking or speaking against the campaign, you’re not defending men. At best, you’re discouraging discussion. At worst, you’re excusing society and validating dangerous mindsets.
If you’d rather bring attention to gun laws, do so. But don’t silence others. We shouldn’t have to wait for another reminder to start talking about systematic flaws in our society, especially if discussion could prevent one.
Camille Testa: Tag doesn’t apply to all
I’m irritated by bloggers who complain passionately about various injustices without doing anything meaningful to fix them. I never, ever click on links to Upworthy videos. And most of all, I hate Twitter campaigns, especially the ones that, like #YesAllWomen, purport to address vast, deeply nuanced issues like misogyny.
#YesAllWomen is also problematic because, as a direct response to the Elliot Rodger shooting, it’s clearly implying that the everyday sexism it identifies led to the deaths of six people. This idea is rife with pop psychology and unsubstantiated claims of causation, and it completely ignores the likelihood that Rodger was mentally ill.
Claiming that society teaches men to feel entitled to women’s bodies, in turn leading to shootings like Rodger’s, may make for great headlines, but it’s simply not true.
The vast majority of people, including those ostensibly “taught” misogyny, do not commit mass shootings, and the majority of mass shootings are not the flashy media events Rodger’s shooting has become, but more banal robberies or drive-bys.
Not only does the hashtag group together every member of society (a messy, ill-defined term), it also purports to speak for—well, all women.
I’m fully aware that sexism still exists, even in developed countries like America. I’m also aware that, as an upper-middle-class white girl from northern Virginia, I don’t experience a lot of it. Which is why I’m so uncomfortable with a Twitter campaign that shoves anecdotal “evidence” in my face, shouts “YOU MUST BE OFFENDED BY THIS” and then turns to the rest of the world and shouts “SHE’S OFFENDED BY THIS.”
In 2013, Pew reports, Twitter was used by only 18 percent of online adults–a tiny fraction of the population. Of that fraction, an even tinier portion is devoted to #YesAllWomen, and I’m a bit unclear on what gives them the right to speak on behalf of fully 50 percent of the population.
Let me be clear: I support gender equality. And I believe that #YesAllWomen originated with people who felt similarly and meant well. But it’s leading to dangerous misconceptions.
Shootings start and end with shooters, and Twitter campaigns won’t help end violence or misogyny. Pretending otherwise is simply delusional.