Misogyny means hatred , contempt, or deep prejudice against women or girls. It shows up both in attitudes (what people think and say) and in behaviors (how they treat women in everyday life). It is considered a form of sexism that helps keep women in a lower social or power position compared with men.

Simple meaning

  • Misogyny is strong dislike, distrust, or hostility toward women as a group.
  • It can be open (like openly insulting women) or subtle (like always assuming women are less capable).

How it shows up day to day

  • Making degrading jokes or comments about women, or using sexist slurs.
  • Treating women as less intelligent, less logical, or less suited for leadership just because they are women.
  • Trying to control women’s behavior, choices, or freedom, including in relationships, workplaces, or public spaces.

Misogyny vs “just being mean”

  • Being rude to one person is not automatically misogyny; misogyny targets women specifically because they are women.
  • A pattern of comments, policies, or actions that consistently put women down or keep them “in their place” is a sign of misogyny.

Why the term matters now

  • The word is used a lot in current news and online discussions when people talk about gender-based abuse, harassment, or discrimination.
  • Naming misogyny helps people call out harmful behavior and push for more equal, respectful treatment of women and girls.

TL;DR: “What is misogyny mean?” → It means hatred, contempt, or unfair prejudice toward women or girls, shown through beliefs, language, and actions that try to keep them in a lower position.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.