Lucinda Donovan: University of Queensland bake sale backlash

Lucinda Donovan writes about the University of Queensland bake sale backlash.

Shortly after the event was announced, its Facebook page was flooded with threats of death and rape, both at the event organisers specifically and at women in general. Comments such as “kill all women” were popular, as well as a meme that depicted a victim of domestic violence and her abuser with the words “women deserve equal rights, and lefts”. Other comments and threats received both on the page, and in the personal inboxes of the organisers, are too foul to reproduce here.

Once again the attempts by misogynists to devalue and disprove the relevance and use of feminism has proved exactly why it is so desperately needed. Lewis's Law — that the comments on any article about feminism justify feminism — seems to be right yet again. When something as inoffensive as a bake sale is enough to provoke such hatred, what does that say about how we view women?

The hatred received for this bake sale was not just limited to a few trolls, but many commenters, some still in high school. When such vile opinions are still so readily spewed by so many, and those so young, it becomes apparent that not only do we still desperately need a powerful feminist movement, but that we also have a massive way to go.

Emphasis Mine

Oppression is not just by the ruling class. A significant proportion of the general population must also be actively involved.

A pervasive oppression means that young people readily engage in it without critical thought. This oppression flows through the education system and mass media, and encourages teenage boys to act in horrific ways.

Heterosexuality is seen as only being expressed through violent oppression of women. Thus, rape and threats thereof are seen as normal.

This rape mentality then spreads out to all outsiders: homosexuals, prisoners, protesters. Rape signifies the power relationships within any oppressive system.