Anti-Female Terrorism: The Tools of Male Supremacy

I’ve been trying to finish this graphic for weeks, but each time I think I’m done another form of anti-female terrorism comes to my mind. I added an ellipsis to indicate that this is in no way an exhaustive list. I struggle to find a clean line of what should or shouldn’t be counted as terrorism. The more I critically analyze anti-female terror, the more I reflect on the non-physical methods such as being routinely leered at, shamed, manipulated, humiliated, coerced, intimidated, and threatened. These non-physical forms always precede physical terror, but aren’t considered “serious” or even criminal by the legal system or social norms.

What other forms of anti-female terrorism can you think of?

PLEASE SHARE THEM IN THE COMMENTS TO ADD TO THIS LIST.

📚 Resources to Explore:

• ”12. Sexual Terrorism in the Twenty- First Century” from the book “Gender Violence, 3rd Edition by Carole J. Sheffield

• ”Misogynistic terrorism: it has always been here” by Caron E. Gentry

• ”Patriarchal Terrorism and Common Couple Violence: Two Forms of Violence against Women” by Michael P. Johnson

• “Street harassment: the language of sexual terrorism” by Elizabeth Arveda Kissling

✍️ Journal Reflection Prompt:

• Do you find yourself regularly practicing vigilance to deal with anti-female terrorism?

• If yes, how can you create time and space to decompress and feel safer?

• What are some tactics to stand up to anti-female terrorism?

• What does it feel like to stand up and fight back against male terrorizers?

• Can you think of examples of when men (or women) have used sexist ideology under the guise of “jokes” or “niceness?”

  • (Ex. A man says to a woman: “I was just giving you a compliment!,” after he verbally objectifies her.)

• How does non-physical anti-female terror show up in your life? Do you label it as such?