Brown boy misogyny and its origins

How misogyny is a very real issue in the South Asian community, though traditional beliefs may deny it.

Despite few changes, there continues to be a sexist view in the South Asian community.

Graphic by Bedansh Pandey, News Editor

Sanjana Gopu, Staff Writer

Recently, as the movement of feminism has become increasingly popular, the South Asian community has faced backlash for the misogynistic culture it breeds. While it may not be very apparent or dramatic, slight microaggressions against women may be laced within the habits of the community. This can include the narrative that women who cover up deserve more respect, the idea that women are meant to be caretakers rather than a man, and the concept of “brown boy misogyny.” 

The idea that showing less skin earns a woman more respect is one of the most common forms of misogyny in our generation today. A large majority of teenage girls go through some form of harassment or assault at some point in their life, but when reported, it’s often blamed on the victim. Whether it was the time she is out, what she wears, or how much she talks, most members of the South Asian community will find a way to divert the attention away from the true problem: the series of events that may have led up to the offense. This notion may be in efforts to protect possible victims, but it has in turn downplayed the severity of these occurrences.  

“Brown boy misogyny,” a term that was recently introduced, refers to the phenomenon where many South Asian teenage boys are misogynistic. It’s protected by a culture in which the suppression of women is normalized and hides behind “tradition.” In our community, it’s very common. Whether boys decide women aren’t actually oppressed or subconsciously talk over women, “brown boy misogyny” is an actual issue, but it doesn’t just start in our generation—it’s a taught pattern.

While most believe that it’s just the select few of boys who decide to be misogynists, these sexist beliefs actually come into fruition through parents. Most first-generation South Asian Americans spent most of their life in South Asia, where misogyny is deeply rooted. It’s been taught for generations, with movies often portraying women as weaker, assigning traditional gender roles, and promoting very obvious patriarchal values. This type of media can be detrimental to gender equality, as it creates an idea of what is “normal” for others and causes them to believe that traditional gender roles are the way things “should be.”

The reason people may believe “brown boy misogyny” isn’t a thing and has no real place in our society is because it doesn’t apply to most brown boys. Though it’s true that brown men as a whole are not misogynistic, there’s no denying the fact that sexist behavior is often passed off as normal. To be against misogyny whole-heartedly is to actively try to break it down, not just to be nice to girls. It takes more than simply stating one does not have misogynistic intent; it is a constant pattern of addressing every bit of “bad behavior” a friend may exhibit, even though it may result in difficult conversations that are necessary to dismantle that kind of mindset.