QUOTE: "Considering the stereotypes that have been applied to Mills, the extent of her vilification and humiliation, it is hard not to feel pity for her at the outright misogyny that she has ended up carrying on her fragile frame. One of the aspects of this misogyny that is most interesting is how much of it has come from women who might generally be expected to recognise the female-hatred in her portrayal and rush to her defence. I ask Smith whether the extent to which women have participated in the hounding of Mills has surprised her. She says no and points out that "The same is true in rape trials - women on juries are unsympathetic to other women. The fact is that misogyny is so pervasive that it's never just men who are affected by it and schooled in it - women are brought up around misogyny too, and so they internalise it as much as anyone."
I admit that I've been feeling a smidge sorry for HM recently. I don't like her - I think she's unstable, untruthful and just plain unlikeable - but I have a sneaking admiration for her gutsiness and determination. However, the outpouring of savagery against her has been pretty brutal, and it's true that much of it has come from women. But does our harsh judgement really result from male-doctrinated misogeny? What a horrible thought. Anyone else feeling a teensy bit guilty for their part in the bullying of an underdog, or am I alone in this?
