Men Are Trash

The #MenAreTrash has probably appeared on my Twitter timeline about a million times since last year. With so many men defending themselves and trying to justify as to why they’re not trash. Some even going to the lengths of trying to turn the blame on women by claiming women themselves are trash or that women are the reason they’re trash, as if women aren’t blamed enough by society. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to promote this logic that men are indeed trash because of the fact that I’m a woman. No, I’m just merely trying to shed some light as to why so many women may feel men are trash.

From the beginning of time women have been and are still victims of patriarchy. We literally get blamed for so many things whilst being the victim. It has become so bad that we are even literally blamed for putting ourselves in situations that trigger men to act violently and selfishly. I don’t use the word ‘selfishly’ loosely as the actions involved do indeed display inconsiderate behaviour towards women. I mean think about it. Women get abused by men and are blamed for doing something that might have provoked them. They get raped and are blamed for wearing skimpy revealing outfits. They work their way to being successful and are accused for sleeping their way to the top. They get killed and still get blamed. For not being vigilant. VIGILANT?! Women literally live their lives everyday being vigilant. At their work place, at school and even in the comfort of their own homes. Fearing for their safety because the men who are supposed to love and protect them are in fact the ones inflicting harm. What's worse most law enforcement positions are populated by men who instead of ensuring justice is served, turn victimised women away by making them feel like domestic disputes are a minor issue.

Instead of society teaching men to control themselves and step up, they’re too focused on painting the real victims in the situations as the cause to the problem. Obviously I don’t speak of all men in this equation as some do indeed have better intentions than others. However how many actually stand up for women upon hearing that their friends put them in threatening situations? So it’s ok to laugh over a few beers talking about how Lerato and Chantel have a phat a** and can get it but you can’t talk about how it’s wrong to abuse and rape? See why women are mad, because men continue to be women’s worst enemies.

The men are trash trend is not an attack on men or a way to insult them. It’s a revelation for men to see just how unsafe their sisters feel in environments that expose them to men. It’s an invitation for them to start changing their patriarchal mindsets and start owning up. Men are Trash is a revolutionary movement to the emancipation of women. So instead of men trying to shift blame, why not stand together with women to help bring about change.