Reply #37: Seems odd, doesn't it?

[omega minimo]

Hello dear :spray:


"it is a twisted way of flirting (lol? - imagine how you would react to a boy who expressed his affections that way"

Generations of girls experienced boys "expressing affections that way" and -- despite the pain, abuse and/or humiliation-- were expected to endure as "boys will be boys" or "he LIKES you." Talk about twisted.

And in correcting these existing inequalities, there will be some messes along the way like this story. "Don't hit girls" is better than "girls are fair game" but it isn't an equitable solution. Maybe those parents aren't able to take another (non-violent) step and teach their children not to hit anyone. A progressive view might teach that child to look at the other one not as a girl, but a kid acting out. "Don't hit someone just because they hit you."

Maybe that little girl knows that men are still in charge in her world (and boys just for being boys) and it pisses her off. Like the cliche "angry white man" you invoked, the violence against her is built into the system and "s/he is not allowed to respond to this violence. Isn't that likely to build up rage and resentment, perhaps against an entire gender that s/he has suffered a lifetime of attacks from, until s/he finally snaps."

Maybe that little girl snapped. Maybe she was a kid having dinner with the family in that place while Tansy_Gold was being assaulted and everyone stood by and watched.