BACK in 2018 Erin Dej, a feminist professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, condemned homeless men for expressing “hegemonic masculinity” whilst discussing their hardships. During her study of “patriarchy in psychiatric wards and homeless shelters”, Professor Dej – that’s her in the matriarchal spectacles – interviewed 27 rough sleepers over a period of almost 300 hours and claims that she came across examples of “hypermasculinity that serve to fortify the dominance of men and ultimately subordinate women.” This, apparently, includes men who accuse their ex-wives of having stolen money from them. One man with severe anxiety was accused of “perpetuating stereotypes” when, in her own words, he confessed that “I’m ashamed that I have problems. Like, guys in our society are not supposed to have problems.”
In another example, Dej cites the case of a man who suffered from extreme depression and found himself on strong medication. Explaining that the drugs eventually led to the onset of serious breathing problems and muscle weakness, the poor chap told the professor that “I walked down the street and, like, a little girl could have killed me. That’s how weak I was.” As far as Dej is concerned, this is a blatant example of how “feminine subjectivity acts as the ultimate exemplar of physical weakness and the most absurd hyperbole of who constitutes a threat.” In her view, this proves that “He has failed to live up to the basic tenets of hegemonic masculinity.” Rather than waste time rummaging around in restaurant dustbins for his lunch, therefore, or freezing to death in a shop doorway, it is surely only right for this dangerous misogynist to send an immediate letter of apology to womankind. Not being able to afford a pen and paper is no excuse, either, and failing to comply may lead to him having his testicles nailed to the nearest Salvation Army hostel as a warning to others.
