EL PAÍS met with the famous thinker in Berlin. Known for his short sentences, the author of ‘The Burnout Society’ works at night and sleeps during the day
I don’t think that Han is taking a pro sexual assault position here. But others should judge with the full passage as context
spoiler
Uncomfortable with the typical interview format, he embraces his freedom at all times, often choosing what he wants to talk about. He starts by talking about a case of sexual assault that has recently gripped Spain, after star footballer Jenni Hermoso was forcibly kissed by the president of the Spanish Football Federation upon winning the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
“If I think about a kiss philosophically, that wasn’t a kiss… because he [Rubiales, who has since resigned] kissed her and she didn’t kiss him. That’s violence. This whole #MeToo movement was good. Fighting back against sexual violence is good. But now, this movement against sexual violence has turned into violence. It has destroyed eros, it has destroyed seduction. I know many actresses, who are very independent — and many feminists — who reject this [#MeToo movement], because it destroys seduction.”
Even with the context, it is still pro sexual assault. Maybe he doesn’t see it that way, but he is still spreading rape culture. “The movement against sexual violence has turned into violence” is calling anti-sexual violence action violence. That is simply not true. He goes on to elaborate: "It has destroyed eros, it has destroyed seduction. " That’s what he’s calling violence. That’s what he’s saying is as bad as rape. He’s saying that getting someone’s consent before touching them is tantamount to violence to the toucher because it’s “destroying eros” and “destroying seduction.” Those things are really not equal at all. Getting consent before touching someone is mandatory, and if someone finds it a burden, that’s not violence being done to them, not even close. This guy is promoting rape culture, full stop.
Edited to add: if this type of reasoning fools you, you should do some self-work regarding feminism. His reasoning is basically the same as someone saying " 1. Example of something vaguely feminist" 2. That feminist thing I just said was ok in the past, but now things have gone too far" 3. Promotion of sexual violence. 4. It’s ok, I have women friends who are misogynistic and agree with me." He’s packaging this whole thing to promote rape culture values. If you’re not able to see that, you should do some self-work around feminism.
I don’t think that Han is taking a pro sexual assault position here. But others should judge with the full passage as context
spoiler
Uncomfortable with the typical interview format, he embraces his freedom at all times, often choosing what he wants to talk about. He starts by talking about a case of sexual assault that has recently gripped Spain, after star footballer Jenni Hermoso was forcibly kissed by the president of the Spanish Football Federation upon winning the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
“If I think about a kiss philosophically, that wasn’t a kiss… because he [Rubiales, who has since resigned] kissed her and she didn’t kiss him. That’s violence. This whole #MeToo movement was good. Fighting back against sexual violence is good. But now, this movement against sexual violence has turned into violence. It has destroyed eros, it has destroyed seduction. I know many actresses, who are very independent — and many feminists — who reject this [#MeToo movement], because it destroys seduction.”
no, he definitely is. tw: sexual assault
spoiler
Even with the context, it is still pro sexual assault. Maybe he doesn’t see it that way, but he is still spreading rape culture. “The movement against sexual violence has turned into violence” is calling anti-sexual violence action violence. That is simply not true. He goes on to elaborate: "It has destroyed eros, it has destroyed seduction. " That’s what he’s calling violence. That’s what he’s saying is as bad as rape. He’s saying that getting someone’s consent before touching them is tantamount to violence to the toucher because it’s “destroying eros” and “destroying seduction.” Those things are really not equal at all. Getting consent before touching someone is mandatory, and if someone finds it a burden, that’s not violence being done to them, not even close. This guy is promoting rape culture, full stop.
Edited to add: if this type of reasoning fools you, you should do some self-work regarding feminism. His reasoning is basically the same as someone saying " 1. Example of something vaguely feminist" 2. That feminist thing I just said was ok in the past, but now things have gone too far" 3. Promotion of sexual violence. 4. It’s ok, I have women friends who are misogynistic and agree with me." He’s packaging this whole thing to promote rape culture values. If you’re not able to see that, you should do some self-work around feminism.
I appreciate your detailed response, it’s pretty convincing. If you’re willing to give some reading material on this topic, I’m all ears