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Gaya

We live in a society where the odds are often stacked <a href="https://aura.ng/news/-click-share-repeat-then-what-ending-gbv-beyond-social-media">against women</a>. Whether due to natural factors like childbearing and hormonal fluctuations or artificial ones like patriarchy, a woman must work twice as hard as a man to prove her worth.

Misogyny is not merely hatred of women. It is a set of beliefs and behaviours that positions women as inherently subordinate to men. It is often upheld, even unconsciously, by men, women, and children. 

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, take a moment to assess yourself and how you contribute to this system. Beyond status updates celebrating women in your life, look deeper. Some behaviours you may have excused as masculinity or normal dynamics between women actually perpetuate misogyny. Here are seven toxic traits that must be challenged and changed in 2026:

1.	Policing a Woman’s Tone More Than Her Argument

If you’re quick to say, “Calm down, you’re overreacting,” you’re wrong. The fact that she modulates her voice while you maintain a consistent pitch doesn’t make your argument superior. As a man or woman, weaponising traits women cannot control is cruel. So next time you get into an argument with a woman, please be more patient. Try to make her feel safe and heard by listening to understand her and not just to respond.

If you’re still intimidated by the size of her dreams in 2026, look inward. It’s more about your insecurities and not her <a href="https://aura.ng/culture/black-history-month-women-inventors-that-never-got-credit">ambitions</a>. Feeling threatened by women who strive for success stems from personal fears. In reality, there’s no such thing as “women in men’s fields". She’s not forming “hard guy” or “senior man” for refusing to depend on any man’s money. As human beings, we are all equally entitled to chase success and live our best lives.

3.	Praising Men for Behaviours Women are Shamed for

When a guy cheats, he’s often celebrated for his masculinity. But when a woman does the same, she is slut-shamed. Somewhere in the system, loyalty is reserved for women, while “that’s just how men are” excuses most of men’s actions. Even worse, society rushes to investigate what she “did to push him outside". This reflects an ingrained belief that women are inferior, which must be <a href="https://aura.ng/culture/african-women-using-art-to-fight-for-gender-equality-in-2025">eradicated</a> from our society.

Sometimes, what we call protection is actually control. Policing your partner is not care; it is suffocation. Monitoring online activity or restricting movements doesn’t build security. Culture often teaches men to lead through dominance and women to accept it as normal. But true partnership is rooted in mutual respect and autonomy.

5.	Gender-Tagging Women in Male-Dominated Spaces

A female professional doesn’t have to be referred to as a "female engineer”, "female doctor", or “female pilot". These needless distinctions in the workplace make it easier to disrespect and sideline women. Unfortunately, even women are guilty of this segregation. After years of training and hard work, women are scrutinised and criticised for the slightest errors at work…simply because they are females in predominantly male professions.&nbsp;

6.&nbsp; Expecting Women to Prioritise Family Over Career Automatically

Assuming a woman should always put family, marriage, or childcare above her personal ambitions is a glaring form of misogyny. Women shouldn’t be pressured to sacrifice their dreams for societal expectations while men face no such restrictions. Women should no longer be forced into full-time housework or caregiving. Long gone are the days when men were completely exempt from household responsibilities. Shared roles should be adopted to benefit the entire family.

7. Belittling Women Who Speak About Their Rights

Women shouldn’t be dismissed when they stand up for themselves or raise concerns about systemic gender issues. Your first line of thought should not be to assume she is lying when she speaks up about<a href="https://aura.ng/news/the-survivor-s-guide-immediate-steps-after-rape-in-nigeria"> abuse or violence</a>. We have no right to invalidate anyone’s experience without cause. Patriarchy has trained us to silence women, and now it is up to all of us to unlearn it.

You don’t have to be guilty of all seven charges to be a culprit. Even one of these is enough reason to change. We want to see a society where women are treated right. It’s about time we looked past gender and respected each other as humans.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing ladies out there. Keep breaking barriers, owning your voice, and showing the world just how powerful women truly are. You rock!&nbsp;

Discover seven misogynistic traits born from the patriarchal system of society and learn how to recognise and change them for a fairer, more respectful society.


Op-ed

7 Misogynistic Traits Disguised as Masculinity


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