JUST PHILOSOPHISING - ON WHETHER THE 'ENLIGHTENED' WEST IS BECOMING MORE PURITANICAL? PART 5.
A situation which throws men's and women's socialised perceptions of their respective roles in society, and towards each other, into confusion.
Since men, if the current image of them as predators and abusers of women, is to be believed, then, that raises questions about the validity of men being seen as the 'protectors' women.
Even though that cultural and traditional perspective was never as accurate as some people might have believed or wanted it to have been.
It requires men, and, yes, women, and society, to revisit men's role in society, and in their relationship with women, with females in general.
And vice a versa, since one cannot be significantly altered or change, without having a relative impact on the other. Whether it be for the good of all and society, or to their individual and/or collective detriment.
This, of course, requires informed debates. Debates which can draw on some of the populist chat on public media, the private sector media.
And the knee-jerk sound-bites and impulsive comments from politicians, and the egocentricism of the film and entertainment industry, but which should not be determined by them.
It requires debates which do not just result in seeking to proscribe and make unlawful fraternising behaviours between men and women, males and females.
Without giving serious consideration to the nature of the behaviours, their purpose, the views of the majority about them.
And the nature and extent of any harm, where it exists, arising from them. As well as which would or could arise from any prohibitive and prescriptive intervention by the the State, should it intervene.
Creating a momentum resulting in mistrust of all men being reinforced, and the suspicions and fear of men being increased. As men become increasingly uncomfortable and probably withdraw into themselves.
An atmosphere of 'sexual McCarthyism' is apparently taking hold over the once enlightened West.
To be continued!
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