We previously discussed the “man free” concert held in Sweden and how the concert (heralded by feminists) was a raw exercise of gender discrimination. It was a telling moment since these same advocates would be appalled by barring women from concerts or venues. Now Sweden’s Discrimination Ombudsman has declared the concern blatant discrimination. The response of feminist leaders is interesting. Rather than recognize the hypocrisy of fighting discrimination by others but not themselves, leaders denounced the ruling and ridiculed men as feeling threatened.
The event, called Statement, was held in Gothenburg, Sweden. It was billed as “the world’s first major music festival for women, non-binary and transgender only.” The ombudsman declared the entire focus of the concert to be effectively sexist and discriminatory. The finding was based on statements made before the concern. Indeed, male technicians, attendees, and managers were reportedly restricted to “man pen” areas. Could you imagine the same practice employed for any women working in any business or event?
The promoters however simply shrugged away the fact that they engaged in gender discrimination. In a Facebook statement, the promoters declared “It’s sad that what 5,000 women, non-binaries and transgender experienced as a life-changing festival, made a few cis-men lose it completely.”
Again imagine if objections to discrimination against women was ridiculed as how “a few women lost it completely” because they were hurt or insecure or threatened. The refusal to consider themselves subject to the same rules against discrimination leaves such laws are arbitrary and capricious exercises.
Organizer Swedish comedian Emma Knyckare insisted that this was merely an effort to protect women from rape and assault, but that can be done with better policing and enforcement. Instead, the organizers proudly proclaimed that men were not welcomed and effectively declared all males as an inherent threat.