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Dawkins misogeny

In Rebecca Watson's experience a blog comment by Richard Dawkins encourages Atheist men to harass Atheist women, particularly feminists who speak out. I've lost respect for him.

... he left this sarcastic comment on a friend’s blog:

Dear Muslima

Stop whining, will you. Yes, yes, I know you had your genitals mutilated with a razor blade, and … yawn … don't tell me yet again, I know you aren't allowed to drive a car, and you can't leave the house without a male relative, and your husband is allowed to beat you, and you'll be stoned to death if you commit adultery. But stop whining, will you. Think of the suffering your poor American sisters have to put up with.

Only this week I heard of one, she calls herself Skep"chick", and do you know what happened to her? A man in a hotel elevator invited her back to his room for coffee. I am not exaggerating. He really did. He invited her back to his room for coffee. Of course she said no, and of course he didn't lay a finger on her, but even so …

And you, Muslima, think you have misogyny to complain about! For goodness sake grow up, or at least grow a thicker skin.

Richard

Tags: gender bias, misogeny in Atheism, sexual harassment

3 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on November 1, 2012 at 2:39pm

Chris, does circumcision cause one to make wiser decisions?

Permalink Reply by Chris Dodds on October 28, 2012 at 12:59pm

I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out. A part of me has always considered sexism as an explicitly religious attribute so the fact that there are atheist misogenists surprises me. Here's what the gist of what seems to have happened: Rebecca Watson was apparently hit on in an elevator at a conference after talking about how she hated being sexualized at these conferences and she asked guys not to do that. Dawkins then left this blog post on a friend's blog and that seemed to give the seal of approval for a bunch of atheist men to make jokes about Watson being raped and call her a "slut". Maybe it's just my young age that prevents me from figuring this whole thing out. I still respect Dawkins when it comes to the field of biology, he is after all a professor of biology at Oxford. But now it seems that I can't respect him when it comes to civil rights and equality. The irony of course is that while many of the comments suggest that the people who left them no longer have any respect for Dawkins, but look where this discussion is posted. If you don't have any respect for Dawkins anymore, then stop bitching about how he disappointed all of you and leave the group!

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on October 28, 2012 at 1:45pm

I like him just fine - I am sure it was just human error or an oversight - and don't tell us what to do.

WE can discuss whatever we want.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on October 28, 2012 at 1:46pm

No - I am staying here. So there!!

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on November 1, 2012 at 2:19pm

We don't exclude people from Atheist Nexus because they lose respect for one prominent Atheist, Chris. People are encouraged to have open discussions without being rejected. You remember free speech, right? Everyone has learning curves on all sorts of moral issues, there are so many moral issues. If we aren't allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, how can we grow?

I find a nonjudgmental back and forth interesting. It's energizing to learn from one another, even if sometimes a bit painful.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on November 1, 2012 at 2:48pm

Christ, you wrote, "the fact that there are atheist misogenists surprises me." I like your statement; it is honest, clear, and open for discussion.

Are there atheist racists? sexists? homophobes?
If I understand definitions, atheism means those who have no evidence of god or spiritual things;
atheist means one who has no such evidence.

Race, gender, sexual orientation are not in the definition. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I think the difference between theist and atheist is that atheists have no fear of heaven or hell, they have no "backup" power that takes care of them, they don't have access to wisdom from god because there is no god, there is only critical thinking, awareness, and compassion ... or they don't have those attributes; they just find no evidence of god or spirit.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on October 28, 2012 at 2:01pm

Thank you Ruth for your discussion. It is important to discuss things. You keep up the good work.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on October 28, 2012 at 3:16pm

It seems I have been removed from this group. Why? I thought my responses have been honest, clear, and reflected my thinking and rationale. Have I offended someone? If so, please explain to it me.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on November 1, 2012 at 2:20pm

Nobody is being removed, Joan.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on November 1, 2012 at 2:53pm

I wonder why I received the notice. I know it would not have been you because you are straightforward and take action only after discussion. I never did think it was you, but I just wondered. Well, my messages seem to be getting through, and I am receiving them, so I assume it was just a glitch in the machine.
Thanks for your response.