Thursday 18 October 2012

THE GUARDIAN ON MISOGYNIST


Julia Gillard speech prompts dictionary to change 'misogyny' definition

www.guardian.co.uk › News › World news › Julia GillardShare
9 hours ago – Sue Butler, editor of the Macquarie Dictionary, admitted that, on this occasion, the .... How convenient that the official definition of the word morphs to suit the .... This seems to be the search for a euphemism without a cause.


Julia Gillard speech prompts dictionary to change 'misogyny' definition

Australian prime minister's impassioned attack on opposition leader's views of women provokes debate over word's meaning
Australian prime minister Julia Gillard accuses the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, of misogyny Link to this video
When Australian prime minister Julia Gillard launched a ferocious attack on the leader of the opposition for his repeated use of sexist language, she was feted by feminists the world over. But critics in Australia rounded on her for supposedly misusing the word misogyny and falsely accusing Tony Abbott of hating women.
Now, however, Gillard's critics no longer have semantics on their side. In the wake of the row, the most authoritative dictionary in Australia has decided to update its definition of the word, ruling that a modern understanding of misogyny would indeed imply "entrenched prejudice against women" as well as, or instead of, pathological hatred of them. Sue Butler, editor of the Macquarie Dictionary, said that, on this occasion, it had failed to keep pace with linguistic evolution.
"Since the 1980s, misogyny has come to be used as a synonym for sexism, a synonym with bite, but nevertheless with the meaning of entrenched prejudice against women rather than pathological hatred," she said in a statement.
While the Oxford English Dictionary reworded its definition a decade ago, staff at the Macquarie had been alerted to the issue only in the aftermath of Gillard's extraordinary speech in parliament. "Perhaps as dictionary editors we should have noticed this before it was so rudely thrust in front of us as something that we'd overlooked," Butler told the Associated Press.
Gillard – Australia's first female leader – accused Abbott, head of the centre-right Liberal party, of repeated instances of sexism and misogyny, including his description of abortion as "the easy way out", his apparent characterisation of Australian women as housewives doing the ironing, and appearances at political rallies in front of posters urging voters to "ditch the witch".
She told MPs: "The leader of the opposition says that people who hold sexist views and who are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. Well, I hope the leader of the opposition has got a piece of paper and he's writing out his resignation because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives; he needs a mirror."
Abbott had sparked the Labor prime minister's fury by calling for the speaker of parliament, Peter Slipper, to be sacked over a series of sexist and vulgar texts he had sent to a former member of staff. Slipper has since resigned as speaker.
Seized with indignation and pointing her finger across the despatch box, she retorted: "I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. And the government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, not ever."
In an attempt to defend himself, Abbott has claimed the attack was part of a government smear campaign. His supporters have also accused Gillard of hyperbole, citing the Macquarie Dictionary as proof that, when she claimed Abbott was a misogynist, she was saying he had a visceral hatred of the opposite sex.
Those figures have not welcomed the dictionary's decision to expand its definition, and Butler said she had received letters accusing it of a political move. "It would seem more logical for the prime minister to refine her vocabulary than for the Macquarie Dictionary to keep changing its definitions every time a politician mangles the English language," Fiona Nash, a senator in Abbott's coalition, said.
Speaking to the Australian newspaper, the manager of opposition business, Christopher Pyne, also criticised the decision. "If Macquarie changes its definition of misogyny to something other than what it is, it undermines Macquarie Dictionary in its entirety," he said. "The prime minister knew when she used the term misogyny that she was calling Tony Abbott a women hater and she should bear the burden of that vicious personal smear."
Gillard's impassioned speech endeared her to feminists throughout the world, with media in Britain, the US and elsewhere praising her for arguably the most outspoken attack on sexism in political life in history. In France, her attack was lauded as an impressive and "implacable tirade", while the New Yorker said that, while her motivation may have been political, Gillard had started a discussion about "something much more important" in the process.
In Australia, however, her performance received rather more mixed reviews, with many concerned about what they saw as her attempt to defend Slipper. Much of the mainstream media wrote off Gillard's speech as a disaster, with one commentator claiming she would "rue yet another bad call" and another decrying her "flawed" judgment, which, they said, had lost her credibility.

Comments

257 comments, displaying 
 first
  • This symbol indicates that that person is The Guardian's staffStaff
  • This symbol indicates that that person is a contributorContributor
Open for comments.  or create your Guardian account to join the discussion.
  • wittypat
    17 October 2012 1:35PM
    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by ourcommunity standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.
  • LiberalAwesomeness
    17 October 2012 1:35PM
    And next week... David Cameron mispronounces "schedule", before the Oxford English Dictionary quickly fall in line and 'update' their publications.
  • domtal
    17 October 2012 1:36PM
    Language is fluid. 
    A words usage reflects its meaning.
    Just as my football team being decimated does not mean that one in ten was shot for cowardly performances...although sometimes i wish this was the case.
  • billthecat
    17 October 2012 1:40PM
    Better do the same for misandry then, though i s'pose misanthrope will stay the same. Flag up the difference between phobia and pathy while your'e at it. Reminds me of just how quickly challenged became an insult. It wasn't the word; it was the way it was said. Something much easier to refute.
    I Sociopath.
  • citizenthirdmankane
    17 October 2012 1:41PM
    Now, however, Gillard's critics no longer have the dictionary on their side. In the wake of the row, the most authoritative dictionary in Australia has decided to update its definition of the word
    How convenient that the official definition of the word morphs to suit the Australian PM's argument. That's no way to win an argument. It would be like Nick Clegg declaring "I will not allow tuition fees to rise," before switching the definitions of 'rise' and 'fall'.
  • Ghostworld
    17 October 2012 1:45PM
    I suppose there will be a new Oxymoron version coming out called ...Positive Misandry
  • Sealion
    17 October 2012 1:45PM
    Yeah, who needs shades of meaning anyway? We don't need words to differentiate between prejudice and hate because all prejudiced people are bad and we don't need to know what they think.
    Far better to simplify language so its easier to work out who 'them' and 'us' is (and anyone who disagrees with that is just a right wing troll).
    "I'm George Orwell, and I approve this double plus good message."
  • kev67
    17 October 2012 1:49PM
    Every time I looked up the word until recently, 'misogyny' meant a hatred of women. Now it seems to mean disrespect of women. It's a more forceful, cooler-sounding word than sexist, so it was a shame not to use it more often.
    In a similar way, 'paedophile' used to be a clinical term which referred to someone who was sexually attracted to pre-pubscent children. Now it just means child molester or child porn user, including of adolescents, although possbily the term is not taken to include those people who are sexually attracted to children but do not take part in child abuse.
  • mamelon
    17 October 2012 1:50PM
    How convenient that the official definition of the word morphs to suit the Australian PM's argument.

    I think I agree. I'd prefer the dictionary people to be pointing out that she's using the wrong word, and perhaps suggesting a better one (sexist?) - rather than rushing to change the definition.
  • Kynismos
    17 October 2012 1:51PM
    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by ourcommunity standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.
  • Oldbritain
    17 October 2012 1:52PM
    Misogyny, like homophobia, is a term used by the Left to curtail political opposition. It pathologizes alternative views and beliefs to: a) categorize the Left's opponents as mentally ill and beyond the pale and b) establish their own subjective, highly contentious positions as the objective and rational norm.
    In short, it is a totalitarian tactic.
  • joffy
    17 October 2012 1:52PM
    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by ourcommunity standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.
  • PaxGrass
    17 October 2012 1:54PM
    While the Oxford English Dictionary had re-worded its definition a decade ago, staff at the Macquarie had only been alerted to the issue in the aftermath of Gillard's extraordinary speech in parliament, she added.
    Dictionaries are to Australians as barbecues are to the British - a poorly understood foreign concept that can be fatally dangerous in the wrong hands.
  • Clawed
    17 October 2012 1:55PM
    A bit of a unilateral decision based on one specific event. What word are we supposed to use for those bastards who actually hate women instead of just thinking that they are not equal to men?
  • Sealion
    17 October 2012 1:57PM
    Misogyny, like homophobia, is a term used by the Left to curtail political opposition. It pathologizes alternative views and beliefs
    If you don't like dumbed down shorthand which is used to dismiss those you disagree with out of hand, don't call people 'The Left'.
  • RodgerTheDodger
    17 October 2012 1:58PM
    I generally find that women who are quick to shout 'misogyny' are themselves deeply misandric or at the very least have serious issues. Then I read what he actually said - you're right Julia, spot on.
  • BrigadierCrispbread
    17 October 2012 1:59PM
    I think you need to draw a distinction between misogynist and sexist.
    I'd say sexist was:
    Language or behaviour implying a man perceives himself to be superior soley on the basis of gender. Hate does not have to be involved - basically you're ignorant but need not be "evil" or whatever.
    Misogyny/misogynist feels quite violent - to use misogynist when you mean sexist seems a bit harsh. Still, I suppose it might make people think a bit harder about things....
  • megra
    17 October 2012 2:00PM
    This seems to be the search for a euphemism without a cause. Surely, at the root of all discriminatory and abusive behaviour is hatred and/or fear, whatever one chooses to call it. So why not stick with misogyny. It has the merit of being gender specific and more precise therefore.
  • Knedo Denk
    17 October 2012 2:03PM
    This is akin to the expectations in Gadaffi's Libya...
    Gillard's sycophants bending to toe the line of a speaker who failed to rebuke Julia Gillard in the House of Representative for unacceptable language.
    Hate speech is not, was not, and will never be acceptable Parliamentary language.
    But in this PM's Australia of course, and the Libya of old.
    Tony Abbott does not hate women. Tony Abbott is not sexist. Gillard though has some big, big issues - and has no right to demean the House.
  • TheLawyear
    17 October 2012 2:04PM
    He may dislike women, he may not. I don't know...
    I think there is a possibility though that he (being a politician) just said those things to wind her up...and it seems to have worked.
  • Oldbritain
    17 October 2012 2:05PM
    Response to Oldbritain, 17 October 2012 1:52PM
    Misogyny, like homophobia, is a term used by the Left to curtail political opposition. It pathologizes alternative views and beliefs
    If you don't like dumbed down shorthand which is used to dismiss those you disagree with out of hand, don't call people 'The Left'.
    The tactic is virtually universal among politicians, activists, fruitloop academics and the leftist media.
  • Bobgrush
    17 October 2012 2:07PM
    Language is fluid within reason, but there is such thing as misusing words, and just because a lot of people have a poor command of their own language doesn't mean other people should accept them as correct.
    There's inventive usage and there's lazy/inaccurate/ or simply not very catchy usage.
    To decimate a football team is a metaphor of course. Not a very good one, but still a metaphor. Like "we got hammered".
  • templeforjerusalem
    17 October 2012 2:09PM
    Like Antisemitism, the term misogyny may now be used in any situation where a woman's opinion is strongly challenged. It may cause hatred as it closes the debate, projects hatred, creating an enemy, closing recourse to discussion and demands preferential untouchable status.
    It would be far better to use a term like Judeophobic or Femiphobic, as these terms affirm the first and suggest misplaced fear onto the accused, rather than projecting accusations of hatred, which in themselves are offensive, paving the way to retaliatory hatred.
    Strangely, there is no word for man hater.
  • philstyle
    17 October 2012 2:10PM
    Words do not have meaning, they only have utility.
    If the utility of the word changes (as they do) then the record keepers of our linguistics need to update their records accordingly.
  • bofbof
    17 October 2012 2:11PM
    the OED changed mysogyny to "the hatred or dislike of, or prejudice against women" yet misandry is left as "the hatred of males; hatred of men as a sex"; isn't that sexist?
  • BoredomIsPower
    17 October 2012 2:11PM
    If you hold 'homophobic' or 'misogynistic' views or beliefs then you should be held up to ridicule.
    These are not rational opinions. It is your right to hold them but don't try and pretend they're as valid as the opinions of someone less bigoted than you.
  • AlSco123
    17 October 2012 2:13PM
    This the same woman who tripped while in India and complained that men have it good by not having to wear high heeled shoes. I didn't know women HAD to wear them.
  • theindyisbetter
    17 October 2012 2:13PM
    There's an awful lot of misandry about, but no-one bats an eyelid.
    For example I've heard the phrase "testosterone fuelled" used several times in the media by female politicians and journalists in the last couple of weeks. No male politician would dare to describe a group of women as being "oestrogen fuelled", and anything along those lines like "hormonal women" would no doubt see him hounded out of office.
  • OmniGuy
    17 October 2012 2:14PM
    The predictable oppressed and downtrodden defensive MAN brigade is out in force I see.
    And another misuse of Orwell's "doublespeak". Marvellous.
    This is about the level of the Daily Mail comment threads.
Open for comments.  or create your Guardian account to join the discussion.

Today's best video

Guardian Bookshop

This week's bestsellers

  1. 1. Dogma & Disarray By Polly Toynbee
    £3.75
  2. 2. Patrick Leigh Fermor
    by Artemis Cooper £16.00
  3. 3. Jerusalem
    by Yotam Ottolenghi £16.00
  4. 4. I am the Secret Footballer
    £7.99
  5. 5. Big Screen
    by David Thomson £16.00
  • windproof umbrella promo - guardianoffers.co.uk
    Cleverly designed so they won't turn inside out. Available in a range of colours, just £9.99
  • Halogen heater - guardianoffers.co.uk promo
    Lightweight, portable halogen heaters buy one get one free,£44.99

No comments:

Post a Comment