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What Are Men Protecting Women From?
They create the dangers to women then present themselves as our heroes. They are both our poisons and antidote. The mind fuck is ridiculous.
Throughout history, men have often positioned themselves as the protectors of women. This role of the “protector” has permeated social, cultural, and even political spheres, reinforcing a traditional image of masculinity. However, many argue that the dangers from which men claim to protect women are, in fact, largely created or exacerbated by the same patriarchal structures. It raises an important question: what are men truly protecting women from, and who or what is the real source of this danger?
One might argue that the primary threats to women have historically stemmed from the same social constructs that reinforce male dominance. For centuries, patriarchal societies have maintained rigid gender roles, prescribing submission and passivity for women while celebrating aggression and dominance in men. These dynamics have often put women in vulnerable positions, creating a need for “protection” that would not otherwise exist. Consequently, men step in as both the source of the problem and the proposed solution, casting themselves as heroes in a narrative that they, to some extent, authored.
