Bettina Arndt says feminism is a ‘destructive force’ in our society

Australian author Bettina Arndt is fed up with feminists who she claims are attacking innocent men.

Arndt — who shot to fame in the 1970s as one of Australia’s first sex therapists — spoke to 2GB host Chris Smith on Tuesday morning about her new book #MenToo and took a direct shot the women she says have turned feminism into a crusade against men. 

“It’s really designed to get up their nose,” she told Smith. “I’m just fed up with the feminists controlling the public discourse around important issues to do with men and women.”

The 69-year-old said her new book is designed to highlight the problems that face men today, and claimed men’s lives are being destroyed by the global #MeToo movement.

Arndt went as far to label feminism as a “destructive force in our society”.

“I just think feminism is such a destructive force in our society, and it’s really dangerous what’s happening to men,” she said.

The #MeToo movement was sparked in October 2017, after allegations first broke against Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein, with dozens of women coming forward with stories of alleged abuse and harassment at the hands of the powerful movie producer. 

Allegations against a slew of leading men followed, with women launching complaints against US actors Dustin Hoffman, Steven Seagal and Ben Affleck, while in Australia Don Burke, Craig McLachlan and Geoffrey Rush were accused of harassment and bullying. All those men, with the exception of Affleck, have denied the allegations against them. 

Read more: Liam Neeson calls MeToo campaign a ‘witch hunt’

Now, Arndt is encouraging women who have men in their lives to start speaking out against the movement, which she says has demonised men and tarred with all with the same brush as the sordid few.

“Sadly, the lives of men and boys have become an unmentioned topic,” she said.

.@thebettinaarndt says the #MeToo movement has “Given women a licence to destroy men on the basis of the most trivial accusations”.

Do you agree that we now live in a male bashing society? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/sWmAAlUXuQ

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) December 3, 2018

Arndt also made mention of an interview she did with Sunrise presenters Sam Armytage and Natalie Barr last Tuesday, which led to the two Channel 7 personalities being slammed by multiple media outlets. 

In the chat, both Amrytage and Barr appeared to agree with Arndt’s point of view, with newsreader Barr saying she was worried for her two sons. 

Many viewers took to social media to slam the two women, with one writing: “No, I don’t agree at all. This was heartbreaking and difficult to watch.”

However, many agreed with the discussion, with one writing: “Good to see Sunrise actually listening to facts for once. Happens to blokes too.”

What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Bettina Arndt?