Abstract

Misogyny is commonly characterized as a feeling of hatred towards women. This characterization, however, does not seem to adequately account for the nature of the phenomenon. Kate Manne (2018) has recently reconceptualised misogyny as a sanction-distributing mechanism that punishes women who violate gender norms and rewards women who comply with them. I argue that an account of this sort leaves out at least three types of cases: (i) “double bindµ cases; (ii) women who respect gender norms and nevertheless become victims, and (iii) women who are targets precisely because of complying with gender norms. This paper aims to critically assess Manne’s proposal and to draw its problematic implications regarding who may be the target of misogynistic violence. To do justice to the experiences of all its victims, misogyny should be conceived in broader terms, looking also at the role of social practices and meaning in spreading misogynous violence.