If a man throws a tantrum, you might think he’s just having a bad day. If he disrespects women, you might assume he’s just an unpleasant person.

But it’s not always that simple.

Often, these men have absorbed behaviors from their upbringing without even realizing it – specifically from misogynistic fathers.

It’s like an unfortunate inheritance: some of these men have been handed down these 8 behaviors that reflect deep-rooted misogyny. And it’s not always easy to spot.

You might be wondering now – are these behaviors correctable? Can they be unlearned? Or are they doomed to repeat their father’s mistakes?

Well, the answers aren’t as straightforward as the questions. But one thing is for sure – understanding is the first step toward change.

And that’s what we’re going to do here. We’re going to delve into these behaviors, shed some light on them, and hopefully, provide some clarity on this complex subject.

So let’s get into it. Here are the 8 behaviors men often inherit from misogynistic fathers without even realizing it.

1) Disrespect towards women is normalized

This is a tricky one, but it’s often the first sign.

Men raised by misogynistic fathers often grow up with a skewed perception of women.

They might not outright hate or disrespect women – at least not consciously. But they often have an underlying belief that women are somehow less than men.

It’s subtle, and it’s insidious, and it manifests in various ways. They might interrupt women more often, dismiss their ideas, or question their competence.

They might make offensive jokes or comments about women and then brush it off as just “banter”.

And the worst part? They don’t even realize they’re doing it. It’s so ingrained, so normalized in their minds that they don’t see anything wrong with it.

This is a behavior that’s more than just unpleasant – it’s harmful, and it needs to be unlearned.

And the first step towards that is recognizing it for what it is: a symptom of deep-rooted misogyny.

2) They feel threatened by powerful women

I remember growing up with a friend, let’s call him Tom.

Now, Tom’s dad was a textbook misogynist. He believed women should be submissive, quiet, and obedient.

Tom didn’t seem to share his father’s beliefs, at least not openly.

He was respectful towards women and had plenty of female friends.

But then something changed.

We were in high school when our class got a new teacher – Mrs. Johnson. She was confident, assertive, and didn’t take nonsense from anyone.

And Tom… well, he didn’t like her. He called her bossy, controlling, even a ‘bully’.

I realized then that despite his outward respect for women, Tom felt threatened by powerful women.

When confronted with a woman who didn’t fit his idea of what a woman should be – submissive and quiet – he felt the need to tear her down.

And that’s when I saw it – the behavior he had inherited from his father.

He didn’t even realize it, but his discomfort around powerful women was a reflection of his father’s misogynistic views.

3) They struggle to express emotions healthily

Here’s something you might not know: boys who grow up with misogynistic fathers often learn to suppress their emotions.

Misogyny isn’t just about devaluing women, it’s also about upholding toxic masculinity.

In many cases, boys are taught that expressing emotions is a sign of weakness, something that women do.

So they grow up believing they should always be strong, always be in control.

They learn to bottle up their feelings instead of expressing them, which often leads to outbursts of anger or frustration.

This lack of emotional expression isn’t just harmful to them, it also affects their relationships with others.

It makes communication difficult, creates misunderstandings, and can even lead to emotional abuse.

Understanding and acknowledging this behavior is a crucial step towards breaking the cycle of misogyny.

4) They have unrealistic expectations of women

Men raised by misogynistic fathers often grow up with a distorted image of what a woman should be like.

They tend to expect women to conform to traditional gender roles – to be nurturing, submissive, and focused on their appearance.

This isn’t just unfair to women, it’s also harmful.

It puts unnecessary pressure on women to meet these unrealistic expectations and can lead to feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt when they fail to do so.

Moreover, it creates a power dynamic where the man feels superior and the woman feels inferior, which can lead to a toxic and unhealthy relationship.

The key here is learning to see women as individuals with their own strengths, desires, and ambitions, rather than seeing them as mere extensions of their gender.

5) They struggle with vulnerability

This one hits close to home for me. I’ve seen it in friends, colleagues, even family members.

Men who were raised by misogynistic fathers often struggle with vulnerability.

If you think about it, it makes sense. In a misogynistic worldview, being vulnerable is often equated with being feminine.

And in their minds, being feminine equates to weakness.

I’ve seen men go to great lengths to avoid showing any signs of vulnerability.

They hide their fears, their insecurities, even their hopes and dreams because they’re afraid it will make them look weak.

The irony here is that vulnerability isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

It takes courage to open up and expose your true self to others.

Acknowledging this behavior is the first step towards challenging it and learning to embrace vulnerability instead of shying away from it.

6) They may actually be overly dependent on women

Here’s a twist. While men raised by misogynistic fathers often disrespect women or hold them to unrealistic standards, they may also be overly dependent on them.

Growing up with a father who saw women as caretakers might lead these men to expect the same from the women in their lives.

They might rely on them for emotional support, household chores, and other responsibilities, without reciprocating or acknowledging their efforts.

This dependence isn’t about valuing women. It’s about seeing them as tools to meet their needs – and that’s a classic sign of misogyny.

Breaking this pattern involves learning to see women as equals, not as caretakers, and acknowledging their needs and contributions.

7) They often have difficulty respecting boundaries

Boundaries are essential in any relationship, but men raised by misogynistic fathers often struggle to understand and respect them.

These men often grow up in households where women’s boundaries are frequently disregarded.

They may see their father dismiss their mother’s feelings, invade her personal space, or ignore her requests for alone time.

Over time, this behavior becomes normalized, and they start to believe that it’s okay to disregard women’s boundaries.

This lack of respect for boundaries can lead to invasive behavior and can even escalate to harassment or abuse.

Recognizing this behavior and learning to respect and value women’s boundaries is an important step towards breaking the cycle of misogyny.

8) They can change

This is perhaps the most important thing to remember. Men who were raised by misogynistic fathers and have inherited these behaviors are not doomed to continue them.

Change is possible. It may not be easy, and it will require commitment, self-awareness, and often professional help.

But with time and effort, these men can unlearn these harmful behaviors and replace them with respect, empathy, and equality.

Remember, understanding is the first step toward change. And acknowledging these behaviors is the first step towards understanding.

Reflections on change and understanding

If you’ve made it through this list, you might be feeling a range of emotions – anger, sadness, perhaps even recognition.

The behaviors described are uncomfortable to confront, but they are an important part of understanding misogyny and its impact.

Remember, the men who exhibit these behaviors are not inherently bad or irredeemable. They have been shaped by their upbringing and their environment.

Understanding this is not about excusing their behavior, but about acknowledging its roots. And this acknowledgment is a crucial step towards change.

Change takes time and effort, but it is possible. Anyone can unlearn harmful behaviors and replace them with respect and empathy.

Misogyny is not a life sentence. It’s a pattern of behavior, and patterns can be changed.

So let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s keep learning and growing.

Because understanding is the first step towards change, and change is the first step towards a more respectful and equal world.