My Advice to Atheist Men

[Content Note: Misogyny.]Yesterday, I authored an item on as being a female atheist who was simply alienated from movement atheism by systemic misogyny. (And, naturally, we needed to close the thread since it got inundated with dudes keen to prove the purpose. See also: My mailbox.) It got a little of attention, including from PZ Myers, who wondered: "So what can I actually do better?"On Twitter today, I shared my advice to atheist males who truly want an response to that question...Atheist males wondering the things they can perform to alter this dynamic: Begin with not participating in misogyny her. Ex: bit.ly/16xrGQ8&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013[Note: PZ did apologize for that publish talked about in the above link and removed the look in reaction to critique.]A secure space for ladies does not mean you're able to be nasty in clearly misogynist methods to ladies who aren't "in your team."&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Also: Institute a zero-tolerance insurance policy for misogyny inside your comments. No slurs, no misogynist stories, no questioning women's agency.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Simply not needing to encounter not known as a cunt inside your comments sections is not adequate. My humanity is not a debatable problem.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Read this on why discussing "women's issues" being an abstract being active is some rank bullshit: bit.ly/16xsCUC&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013And look at this regarding how to effectively and securely contact women about women's issues: bit.ly/Ygajwt&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't play devil's advocate.Allow me to reiterate that.DON'T PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.That's not suitable for a secure space for a lot of women.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't appropriate or ignore women's resided encounters. Let women function as the experts by ourselves lives.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't treat women just like a monolith. Or any subset of ladies. Not every atheist women think exactly the same way about any problem.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't only pay attention to the ladies whose opinions support your point of view. If there's disagreement among atheist women, give consideration.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Recognize that you will find fortunate women within the atheist movement who may collude to marginalize non-fortunate women (and males).&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Extend possibilities to women inside your space -- as contributing factors, as other staff, as guest posters. Support female atheists with links.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013CHALLENGE OTHER ATHEIST Males On Their Own MISOGYNY. Silence is not adequate enough. It is not neutral: It signals tacit support.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013When you permit female atheists perform the lion's share of challenging misogyny, you are reinforcing the narrative women really are a "special interest."&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't accuse women of overreacting if we are basically responding. Don't accuse us to be oversensitive you may be not sensitive enough.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Don't suppose as being a guy enables you to "objective" on sexism. It basically provides you with another perspective, not greater objectivity.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013Listen. Listen listen listen listen listen. Listen.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013And if you are reluctant to help make the effort to create movement atheism more inclusive, don't pretend that you're. Be considered a real ally, or don't.&mdash Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) March 15, 2013