misogyny
mih-SAHJ-uh-nee
/mɪˈsɒdʒ.ə.ni/
Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
Can manifest as open hatred, structural hostility, sexual objectification, or enforcement of oppressive gender roles.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'misogynia', combining 'misein' (to hate) and 'gyne' (woman). The term entered English in the 17th century during debates over women's rights and education.
Word relationships
- sexism: Sexism includes any discrimination based on sex, whereas misogyny refers to targeted hatred or prejudice directed specifically toward women.
- philogyny: Feminine-directed fondness or admiration for women.
- misandry: Hatred or contempt for men.
Commonly confused with
- misandry: Misandry is hatred toward men; misogyny is hatred toward women.
Word family
- misogynist (noun): A person who hates or holds prejudice against women.
- misogynistic (adjective): Exhibiting hatred or contempt toward women.
Collocations
- entrenched misogyny
- systemic misogyny
- online misogyny
Example sentences
- "Online harassment campaigns against female journalists frequently exhibit clear patterns of targeted misogyny." Media criticism
Memory hook
MIS (hate as in mistake/misanthrope) + GYN (woman) = Hatred of women. Hate toward women.
When not to use
Do not confuse with general rudeness or disagreement; misogyny specifically targets women on account of their gender.
Fun facts
- The word appeared in a famous 1615 English pamphlet title responding to a sexist tract, establishing its English usage centuries ago.
Related words
Explore more words
xenophobia, objectification, despise, loathing, bigotry, detestation
Also appears in
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