So Fragile
2023
“Why is misogyny still a thing?”
John Oliver, Last Week Tonight
For many, gender inequality seemed like a thing of the past. Equal rights for men and women seemed so obvious and so integrated into our society that it didn’t even warrant a second thought. Everyone, regardless of gender, was capable of doing anything and everything they desired to do, at least in theory.
The recent rise of “toxic masculinity” – or the blatant misogyny on the internet and in the public sphere – is something that caught many off guard. Sure, this phenomenon existed in certain online communities (e.g. gaming) for a long time. But with the increase of prominent figures making sexist remarks, often not facing consequences for it and even gaining popularity through it, is something many didn’t expect to see entering the 2020’s.
The attempt to suppress and devalue women (and often other minorities) with hateful words and violence, often claiming “traditional” values as its basis, is something we see on a daily basis. One is left to wonder: is this something that some truly still believe in? Or could it be that this reaction comes from a place of fear – the fear of being phased out, being replaced or being conceived powerless by some? What exactly do they hope to achieve and gain?
This society they long for – with “masculine” and “traditional” values, without real respect and appreciation for one another – is built on an inherently fragile structure. In other words, this society would be a “house of cards”, built on oppression and suppression, about to collapse any time.
Inspired by this notion, a set of cards with the theme “so fragile” was created with four categories:
1. “Limit”
The oppression, violence and limitations set on women, textually visualised
2. “Label”
The different labels that are applied to women to degrade them
3. “Doctrine”
The sexist remarks that were made about women by prominent figures
4. “System”
The different systems “fragile masculinity” manifests in
Visual aspects, such as tear and distortion, were used to depict the idea of fragility, oppression and limitation.
Sources
Books
“Down Girl – The Logic of Misogyny” by Kate Manne
“Entitled – How Male Privilege Hurts Women” by Kate Manne
Articles
Misogyny Is the Biggest — And Most Unflattering — Trend of 2023 (Glamour)
Inside the violent, misogynistic world of TikTok’s new star, Andrew Tate (The Guardian)
61 insults, 39 women: Trump’s long history of misogyny (Vox)
What does misogyny look like? (The New York Times)
How Andrew Tate sells men on toxic masculinity (Vox)
