Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 12:06 AM EST, November 30, 2024


CHICAGO (AP) — In the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a self-defense kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm. It’s a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump ’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online.

Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice” at women online and on college campuses. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. “The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad,” said Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin. “Women want and deserve to feel safe.”

Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank focusing on polarization and extremism, said she had seen a “very large uptick in a number of types of misogynistic rhetoric immediately after the election,” including some “extremely violent misogyny.”

The phrase “Your body, my choice” has been largely attributed to a post on the social platform X from Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust-denying white nationalist and far-right internet personality who dined at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida two years ago. In statements responding to criticism of that event, Trump said he had “never met and knew nothing about” Fuentes before he arrived.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-election-womens-rights-social-media-d5cea53480437ac8bf837aaa821e5681

[2naSalit]

1. And they...

Will be finding out, the hard way, that we are NOT going back.

[AllyCat]

2. And pepper spray is illegal in Wisconsin

But you can concealed carry which makes no sense to me.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Because women tend to be the ones carrying pepper spray.

We can't have women protecting themselves with pepper spray.
But of course men can conceal carry with no problem.

[paleotn]

8. There's no reason a woman cannot cancel carry if that's her choice.

And there's no reason why any woman cannot learn and become quite proficient with firearms.

Personally, I think we ought to adopt European style firearms laws. But that's not the world we live in, so we've adapted. I've been around firearms my whole life but was surprised back in Trump's 1st term when my partner wanted to buy a handgun. Sure, her choice of course and we don't have kids at home, but I insisted she train and become proficient. She looked at me with that look I've come to know well over 30+ years...."Well yeah, Mr. Obvious!"

[Irish_Dem]

10. It may well come to this. Women will have to carry guns to protect themselves.

I don't think women are psychologically there yet.

But yes, women get irritated when men mansplain to them that if they are going
to buy a gun they have to get proper training.

Duh we figured that one out already.

[Linda ladeewolf]

13. Posting this because

I know most ladies that don’t want to kill somone still need protection. I do not own one of these but, I might try to get one, they are non lethal weapons, I believe they are legal in all 50 states. I found this on an article I read about a week ago.

https://byrna.com/

[Sugarcoated]

26. I didn't know about these

Thanks for sharing!

[paleotn]

7. That's strange, but when has 2nd Amendment crap ever made sense.

Interestingly that does kind of follow my wife's response to the MommaBros. "My body, my Glock."

She decided in 2017 to take matters into her own hands and now concealed carries. Trained and proficient.

[cbabe]

14. Hair spray, spray paint ...

[Irish_Dem]

15. They will make it a crime for women to carry hair spray.

But carrying hair spray is a good idea.

[cbabe]

28. Spray deodorant, spray perfume ... lots of way to spray ...

[Evolve Dammit]

20. That is assanine. JHC

[Moosepoop]

23. Pepper spray is legal in Wisconsin.

Mace and tear gas are illegal, but pepper spray without those ingredients mixed in is legal in a canister containing up to 2 ounces. It can't contain UV dye (like the police use), can't be disguised as another item like a pen or lipstick, and a person must be 18 to purchase and not have a felony record.

But straight 10% Oreoresin Capsicum pepper spray is legal to purchase, own and carry within the above restrictions.

https://www.zarc.com/t-pepperspraylaws/wisconsin-47

https://www.pepper-spray-store.com/pages/wisconsin-laws?srsltid=AfmBOopiHlsXdFxooQWnnSEqBWFtMfzeZTL2B7494Xl_1yGwle_PBAi_

[AllyCat]

29. Well, that is good to hear. The word from my female friends is that the police can't tell the difference

between Mace and pepper spray so no one carries either. Mace works better.

Would like it if I could carry something that is non-lethal.

[dlk]

34. Travel sized hair spray is legal

Travel sized insect repellant is legal, as well. Women will need to be creative protecting themselves from males with low frustration tolerance.

[sop]

3. Trump's emboldening rhetoric will lead to an American version of Kristallnacht.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Trump is good at inciting violence.

Then claiming his innocence.

[Joinfortmill]

5. These BroF*ckers are not going to like what happens next. You can't put the Genie back in the bottle & women are pissed

[displacedvermoter]

18. I believe that was the thinking that led many

of us to believe there was going to be the proverbial "blue wave" election victory. Many women were not pissed enough, or not pissed at the right people.

[paleotn]

6. The Nick Fuentes who moved back to mom's house?

Ooooo....tough guy.

With a name like Fuentes, he better stay clear of the mass deportation squads. Wouldn't be a pity if the little fella got scooped up and kicked out.

[surfered]

9. Your Body My Choice!

I posted this before on DU. Seems appropriate again.

[Evolve Dammit]

21. I like it! I keep hoping Lady Liberty will show up and kick some serious ass. (sigh)

[PortTack]

12. yet there are still LOTS of ppl, that think we lost the election from something other than racism and sexism

Any questions?

[Frank D. Lincoln]

25. You're right.

And once Trump comes to power again it's going to get really bad for practically every American but especially women and people of color. But I think the white women who voted for Trump are going to regret it most of all.

[republianmushroom]

16. Total and complete stupidly, Jesus, dumb down dudes.

[lonely bird]

17. There is a typo in the headline

It should be “whiny punkosphere”.

[Aviation Pro]

19. Women should abandon social media

Let these motherfuckers praise the glory of the Roman Empire or Sparta or whatever chubs them up all by their lonesomes.

[malthaussen]

33. Funny thing, that. Recent research has revised a lot of myths about Sparta...

... that were taken for granted as proving the Spartans to be the Manliest of Men (tm). And the whining and crying and protesting about it is loud and continuous. We're taking away their heroes!

-- Mal

[GoneOffShore]

22. Josh Johnson had some thoughts on this after Weinstein got off

From about 1:30 you'll get the idea -

?si=fqUqhX97mjyi3ajz

[Figarosmom]

24. When my daughter was young

I signed her up for karate classes. Later in life she had a job teaching xops self defense. I figured she was little like me (5')and cute so it would be useful. She dot such a thrill spilling the cops that were really wise ass and saying stuff like" what can a little girl like that do to me." FAFO

I predict there is going to be a Renaissance of self defense and a lot of guys that can't get laid.

[dlk]

27. As we all know, bullies are very insecure

It’s an indictment of American culture that so many males aren’t taught to respect and appreciate women as something other than servants, and, instead are taught to demean them. They forget we’re all born the same way.

I think much of this comes from our history of slavery and never fully addressing, and reconciling with our sordid past.

Trump’s election is a giant step backward and we have ever so much farther to go.

[Mr.Bill]

30. What I could never figure out

was they didn't want black men and women using the same bathroom or drinking fountain, but they were okay with them being the mothers of their children.

[dlk]

31. Pathology isn't always logical

Much of has to do with having power over others as opposed to having equal privileges

[malthaussen]

32. Women need to go around in groups of no less than four again.

What wonderful progress we have made. It amazes me that a bunch of cowardly wimps who whine about how they can't get a girl are figures of respect and honor now, rather than ridiculed as the pathetic losers they are.

-- Mal