Sexism is dead(ly)

Lately, we’ve been bombarded by social networks, media and newspapers with protests and marches related to diverse feminist groups, women that –supposedly- ask for security and people in general from all over the country in a –supposed- common purpose which is to “do something” about the “women being killed by men” issue. The aim of these movements is fair, justifiable and understandable but the problem is that there are some things that do not coincide and lead social order to crumbles.

First of all, one of the main issues here are the confusing objectives that some of those groups have. At one hand, there are pacifist groups of women that ask for social welfare, protection and the fulfillment of woman rights. These groups can be diverse and, although they can have discrepancies, their main aims coincide. But on the other hand, there are some “active” groups that tend to force society to believe and do what they do by violent manifestations and acts. The incoherence of this mixture that results from the unorganized (re)union leads to controversial social effects and destructive aftermaths like vandalism, violence towards representatives of the Estate, disruption of social order, etc.

 (Click here to read about this image)

Another issue is the “friend or foe” position in which some people want you to be. This is something that I’ve already stated in my previous entry about such competitive and bipolar country Argentina can be. If you don’t believe what they believe, then you are against. If you disagree with what they state, then you are the enemy. If you are not with us, women, you are men. And this is absolutely not the way to deal with any subject. To be organized and to reach any end, we need to take things seriously. Gender violence –and violence in general- is a delicate question to deal with and not a championship between rivals that has to be won.

The last point that I would like to express is the misconception of a “chauvinist society” that, lately, we are continuously hearing everywhere. This is not a chauvinist society. Like it or not, there are many changes that this society has gone through over decades of social evolution and revolution and we shouldn’t determine it as chauvinist. I think is a total lack of respect for the people that have fought over the years and the ones that have died for making a change. Of course that we’re still need to change plenty of things, there’s a lot to do, but “woman”, “men”, “sex”, “family” and many other concepts have changed and are consider totally different than they were ten, twenty or fifty years ago. We are in the right path, so let’s not spoil it, ok?

Here's a thought by Tomás Abraham, an Argentinian philosopher with whom I agree, about the so called "Chauvinist society". Click here!

All in all, I think that violence is an urgent and totally relevant subject to deal with and I’m well aware that women along with children and old people are the most vulnerable part of our society and that all of them have to be protected. But we need to come clean, to clear things out and to establish equality and social order to reach what we all want to reach: social welfare. Men and women as one, because "we are in this together now".

-Jorge Vallejos