Chauvinism

Chauvinism (pronounced /ˈʃoʊvɪnɪzm̩/) is extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of a group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group. Jingoism is a similar term of British derivation. A frequent^[1] contemporary use of the term in English is male chauvinism, which refers to the belief that males are superior to females. A less common term female chauvinism could mean the opposite of male chauvinism, the belief that females are superior to males, or it could refer to females who replicate male chauvinism and sexist stereotypes, as seen in Ariel Levy's book, Female Chauvinist Pigs.

Etymology

The term is derived from the undocumented Nicolas Chauvin, whose legend made him out to be a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte. He served in the Wars of Revolution (1798-1800) and the Napoleonic Wars, wherein he was wounded seventeen times and severely disabled. Despite its unpopularity in Restoration France, he was an ardent Bonapartist and was often seen wearing a violet in his lapel, the symbol of his deposed Emperor. He remained fanatically loyal despite his poverty, disability, and the abuse he suffered.

Many writers and historians falsely attribute to Chauvin the exploits of other Bonapartists. It is claimed that he served in the Old Guard at Waterloo (unlikely considering his age and the severity of his disabilities). When the Old Guard was surrounded and made its last stand at Le Belle Alliance, he supposedly shouted in defiance to a call for their honorable surrender: "The Old Guard dies but does not surrender!", implying blind and unquestioned zealous devotion to one's country [or other group of reference]. {This apocryphal phrase is actually attributed to the Old Guard's commander, who was also supposed to have answered "Merde!" ("Shit!"). Recent historical research has revealed that the Old Guard were never asked by the British and Allied forces whether they wanted to surrender and never asked for quarter; therefore both quotes are believed false.}

The origin and early usage indicate that chauvinisme was coined to describe excessive nationalism, which the original French term continues to do. The term entered public use due to a satirical treatment of Chauvin in the French play La Cocarde Tricolore (The Tricolore Cockade).

Chauvinism as nationalism

In "Imperialism, Nationalism, Chauvinism", in The Review of Politics 7.4, (October 1945), p. 457, Hannah Arendt describes the concept:

Chauvinism is an almost natural product of the national concept insofar as it springs directly from the old idea of the "national mission." ... (A) nation's mission might be interpreted precisely as bringing its light to other, less fortunate peoples that, for whatever reason, have miraculously been left by history without a national mission. As long as this concept did not develop into the ideology of chauvinism and remained in the rather vague realm of national or even nationalistic pride, it frequently resulted in a high sense of responsibility for the welfare of backward peoples.

(See, for example, white man's burden.)

The word does not require a judgment that the chauvinist is right or wrong in his opinion, only that he is blind and unreasoning in coming to it, ignoring any facts which might temper his fervor. In modern use, however, it is often used pejoratively to imply that the chauvinist is both unreasoning and wrong.

Male chauvinism

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Male chauvinism is a term used to describe the belief that males are superior to females. The word "chauvinist" was originally used to describe one who has a fanatical loyalty in one's country. The word was later applied by the "women's liberation movement" in the 1960s and used to describe men who believe women are inferior, speak to them as inferiors, or treat them negatively based solely upon their gender.^{[citation needed]}

Female chauvinism

Female chauvinism can refer to two things. It can be the belief that females are superior to males. It can also refer to women who replicate male chauvinism and sexist stereotypes.

According to Nathanson and Young, what they see as 'ideological' feminism is chauvinistic as well as misandric. They assert that many so-called 'ideological' feminists have claimed that "women are psychologically, morally, spiritually, intellectually, and biologically superior to men".^[2] They also assert that these feminists consider knowledge created by women to be superior to that created by men.^[3]

Wendy McElroy claims that in some gender feminist views, all men are considered irreconcilable rapists, wife-beating brutes, and useless as partners or fathers to women.^[4] McElroy and Camille Paglia claim that gender feminists view women as innocent victims who never make irresponsible or morally questionable choices.^[5] Other feminists such as Kate Fillion have questioned the idea that women are always innocent victims and men always the guilty victimizers when the interests of each collide with those of the other.^[6]

Ariel Levy uses the term in another sense in the title of her book, Female Chauvinist Pigs. She claims that many young women in the United States are replicating male chauvinism and sexist stereotypes about women in their embrace of what she labels "raunch culture" and traditionally masculine attributes.^[7]

See also

Look up Chauvinism in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Han chauvinism
• Internationalism (politics)
• Jingoism
• Misogyny
• Misandry
• Mosley
• One gets used to anything, except a guy
• Racism
• Sexism
• Testosterone poisoning
• Tribalism
• Women and children

References

1. ^ Columbia Encyclopedia defines Chauvinism as "fanatical, boastful, unreasoning patriotism' and by extension prejudiced belief or unreasoning pride in any group to which you belong[,]" but notes that "[l]ately, though, the compounds male chauvinism and male chauvinist have gained so much popularity that some users may no longer recall the patriotic and other more generalized meanings of the words." ^[1]
2. ^ Paul Nathanson and Katherine K. Young, Spreading Misandry: The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture, p.^[specify]
3. ^ Paul Nathanson and Katherine K. Young, Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination against Men, p.^[specify]
4. ^ Wendy McElroy, Sexual Correctness: The Gender-Feminist Attack on Women, p.^[specify]
5. ^ Guests: Camille Paglia & Christina Hoff Sommers Has Feminism Gone Too Far? Think Tank™ With Ben Wattenberg - aired: 4 Nov 1994 accessed 6 Jan 2006
6. ^ Kate Fillion, Lip Service: The Truth About Women's Darker Side in Love, Sex and Friendship
7. ^ Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture, Ariel Levy, 2006, ISBN 0743284283

External links

Female Chauvinism

• Explanation of Female Chauvinism
• The Evolution of an Antifeminist

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