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Breaking the Silence on Misogynistic Terrorism | Sasha Wertime | TEDxHaverford College
TEDx Talksยท 2025-07-08 16:36
Core Argument - The presentation argues that violence against women is increasingly moving from the private to the public sphere and should be considered a form of terrorism, specifically "misogynistic terrorism" [2][5][6][10] - This "misogynistic terrorism" is defined as violent acts intended to intimidate or coerce women as a group, driven by a sense of entitlement to women's bodies and a desire to punish them for asserting their autonomy [5][6][10] Manifestations of Violence Against Women - The shift involves a change in the target of violence from intimate partners to any woman, the location from private homes to public spaces, and the message from a warning to one woman to a political warning to all women [2] - Examples include incel-related mass shootings (e g, the 2014 Isla Vista massacre and the 2018 Toronto van attack), acid attacks in India, and the INAM (men in their 20s) movement in South Korea [2][3] - Specific incidents in South Korea include a public bathroom stabbing in 2016 and instances of "semen terrorism" (smearing semen on women's belongings), highlighting a broader issue of misogyny and anti-feminist sentiment [3] Societal and Political Context - The presentation highlights the role of online communities (e g, incel forums) in spreading misogynistic ideologies and normalizing violence against women [2] - It also points to the influence of political movements and figures that capitalize on anti-feminist sentiment, such as the People Power Party in South Korea [3] - The spread of incel lexicon into mainstream culture, with seemingly innocuous terms masking dark and pernicious meanings, further normalizes misogynistic ideas [2] Call to Action - The presentation urges the audience to pay attention to the growing trend of violence against women and recognize it as a serious threat that knows no borders [8][10][11] - It emphasizes the need to acknowledge the randomness of violence targeting women in public spaces and to understand the underlying motivations of entitlement and punishment [2][3][7][10]