This article about AOC's call for "good men" to intervene to protect women from harassment appeared 6 months ago but apparently hasn't been discussed here. I love AOC for her liberal activism, but in my opinion she needs to think more deeply about gender and examine some of her assumptions.

(1) She assumes that men have a special obligation to protect women. Why shouldn't all individuals be equally responsible for intervening to protect any other individuals when necessary?

(2) She assumes that men have more influence on misbehaving men than do women. Actually, in my view women have a lot more influence on men than other men have. Men are socialized to look to women for approval and emotional support; but to compete with and be aggressive toward other men.

(3) She assumes that men have more responsibility for the existence of male misbehavior than women have. But as a group, men and women both behave largely the way they are socialized to behave as children. And women do a great deal of the socializing of boys and have a huge role in the creation of personalities that feminists describe as "toxic masculinity."

To me, this is a clear example of the double messages the men get from women. On the one hand, AOC appears to want men to meet the traditional masculine ideal -- to be tough, brave, aggressive; to suppress feelings such as fear and empathy, to dominate other men. To be "real men" when it suits her purposes, to exhibit qualities of strength and self-sacrifice that women cannot (for some reason) be expected to exhibit. Men hear that message from women loud and clear. Women express it not only verbally but also in their choice of friends and mates. But on the other hand, these same qualities are (rightly) criticized as oppressive to women and ridiculed as "toxic masculinity."

Which should it be, AOC? Are you in favor of equality between men and women, or not?

AOC asks "good men" for their advice for men who want to stand up to abusers and harassers