If the average American were asked what they imagine the priorities of the feminist movement are these days, most people would likely cite concerns like “fighting abortion bans” or “getting justice for sexual violence victims” or boring mainstays like “equal pay for equal work.” But if you listen in to the world of right-wing social media influencers, they have a different answer. To them, feminists are single-mindedly obsessed with destroying women who identify as “tradwives.”
Being respectfully incorrect doesn’t make someone correct or their opinions worth entertaining. But it does make it seem like their bullshit opinions have merit. Respectfulness is the British accent of online discussions, it lends credibility regardless of whether the credibility is merited.