The Second Sexism

The Second Sexism examines discrimination against males and argues that this constitutes a widespread but largely ignored form of sex-based discrimination. Author David Benatar presents evidence of male disadvantage across areas including conscription, custody rights, criminal sentencing, and education. Through case studies and statistical analysis, Benatar challenges the view that sexism exclusively or primarily affects women. The book addresses potential objections and explores why discrimination against males receives less attention than discrimination against females in academic and public discourse. Benatar analyzes how traditional gender roles and expectations harm both men and women, while maintaining a focus on documented instances of anti-male bias in social institutions and practices. The text includes extensive notes and citations to support its central claims. The work contributes to gender studies by expanding the conversation beyond conventional feminist frameworks to examine how sexism operates bidirectionally. Its systematic approach raises questions about blind spots in current thinking about gender-based discrimination and equality.

Readers note that Benatar presents research and statistics about discrimination against men in areas like military conscription, custody rights, and workplace deaths. Many appreciate the systematic approach to documenting these issues with empirical evidence rather than anecdotes. Positive reviews highlight the book's neutral tone and careful distinction between sexism faced by men versus women. Multiple readers praised Benatar's clarification that acknowledging discrimination against men doesn't diminish or compete with feminist concerns. Critics argue the book understates the role of patriarchal systems in creating these problems. Some reviews point out a lack of intersectional analysis considering race and class. Several readers wanted more discussion of solutions rather than just documenting problems. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (243 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (92 ratings) Common review themes: "Well-researched but academic in tone" "Important topic but incomplete analysis" "Clear arguments backed by data" "Needs more focus on root causes"

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🔹 Author David Benatar argues that while sexism against women is widely recognized, discrimination against men is often overlooked or dismissed, particularly in areas like military conscription, custody rights, and workplace deaths. 🔹 The book sparked significant controversy upon its 2012 release, with some feminist scholars criticizing it as anti-feminist, while others acknowledged it as an important contribution to gender studies discourse. 🔹 Benatar's work includes extensive data showing that men face higher rates of violent victimization, harsher criminal sentencing, and greater workplace fatalities compared to women in most developed nations. 🔹 The author is also known for his philosophical work on anti-natalism, arguing in his book "Better Never to Have Been" that bringing new people into existence always causes harm - a perspective that adds depth to his analysis of gender-based suffering. 🔹 Despite addressing discrimination against men, Benatar explicitly states in the book that he is not denying the reality of discrimination against women, and argues that both forms of sexism deserve serious attention.