In today’s world, mass shootings and hate crimes are dominating the headlines. The recent occurrences of two mass shootings in a single week, alongside the disturbing rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, are profoundly distressing. A significant portion of these hate crimes is linked to male supremacy and a deep-seated animosity towards women, specifically targeting feminist ideals, and alarming trends indicate these incidents are on the rise.
This issue is not new. A report from the F.B.I. published in November 2020 revealed that hate crimes in the U.S. reached their highest levels in over a decade. Many advocacy organizations assert that the actual figures for hate crimes are severely underreported. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that around 204,600 individuals fall victim to hate crimes each year in America.
A large number of individuals who perpetrate hate crimes are younger men often tied to male supremacist ideologies. According to Statista.com, since 1982, there have been 119 mass shootings in the U.S., with an astonishing 116 of these committed by male shooters. In 2018, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) began tracking male supremacy as one of the ideologies linked to violence.
Defining Hate Crimes
The F.B.I. defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.” In essence, for a crime to be classified as a hate crime, there must be an illegal act accompanied by a motive rooted in prejudice against the victim’s protected characteristics.
While penalties for hate crimes are often harsher, the legal nuances make them challenging to charge and prove in court. Although federal hate crime legislation exists and is adopted in 47 states, the specific protections can vary widely. Notably, some states do not include protections based on gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and Arkansas, South Carolina, and Wyoming lack hate crime laws entirely.
Understanding Male Supremacy
Male supremacy is an ideology steeped in misogynistic beliefs that advocate for a return to “traditional” gender hierarchies. This perspective often involves blaming women for the perceived misfortunes of (primarily white) men and asserting that men are inherently superior to women, entitled to sexual access to them. At its core, male supremacy is fueled by a fear and resentment of declining white male dominance.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified various factions within the male supremacist movement, including:
- Men’s Rights Activists: Focused on defending men’s rights while alleging that women infringe upon them.
- Red Pillers: Who believe in a feminist conspiracy influencing society.
- Pick-Up Artists (PUA): Aiming to manipulate women into sexual encounters, often through degrading tactics.
- Involuntary Celibates (incels): Men who have difficulty attracting women and channel their frustration into violent ideation.
- Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW): Those who choose to distance themselves from women altogether.
The Dark Reality of Male Supremacist Hate Crimes
Regrettably, these ideologies have been used to rationalize some of the most heinous mass murders. For instance, a man named David Smith attempted to attack a sorority house, resulting in six deaths and numerous injuries at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In a manifesto, he expressed his desire for revenge against women he felt rejected him.
Another perpetrator, Michael Johnson, killed 10 individuals in a vehicle-ramming incident in Toronto, with a significant number of victims being women. Identifying as an incel, Johnson’s Facebook post echoed sentiments of a rebellion against perceived societal norms. Similarly, Andrew Miller carried out a shooting at a yoga studio in Florida, taking three lives and injuring five. Most recently, self-identified sex addict James Turner killed eight individuals at several spas in Atlanta.
These assailants are not isolated cases; they are often radicalized through online platforms that promote toxic masculinity and violent subjugation of women. Websites like Paul Elam’s “A Voice for Men” and “Return of Kings” are infamous for fostering such ideologies.
Data Collection and Reporting Issues
Interestingly, gender-motivated hate crimes comprise only about 1% of the hate crimes reported by the F.B.I. However, organizations that monitor hate groups warn of a surge in what they term “male supremacy terrorism.” The Southern Poverty Law Center argues that the F.B.I.’s hate crime data significantly underrepresents the issue due to several factors, including the lack of mandatory reporting from law enforcement agencies and inadequate training in hate crime data collection. Alarmingly, 87.4% of participating agencies reported zero hate crimes, and many victims do not report incidents to authorities.
Regardless of the statistics, violence stemming from extreme misogyny remains a pressing concern in the U.S. Addressing this issue is critical, as trends indicate it may worsen without intervention.
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Summary
In summary, male supremacy is a dangerous ideology that fuels hate crimes and violence against women. The rise in these crimes is alarming and indicative of a broader societal issue that needs urgent attention. Understanding the connection between these acts and their underlying motivations is crucial for addressing and preventing future violence.