Last month I wrote a column about fighting all forms of antisemitism. I have written a few columns about misogyny as an insidious and acceptable form of oppression in many societies including ours. Over the years, I have had this nagging feeling that antisemitism and misogyny have much in common, and this is my attempt to begin to write about it. I wonder if they are two sides of an old coin.

Yasmine Mohammed wrote “Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam” in 2019. Her father was born in Gaza, and she was forced into marriage at age 19 with an al-Qaeda operative who regularly abused her. In her book, Mohammed notes that we in liberal society regularly criticize feminism but are reticent to criticize Islam for fear of being seen as racist or xenophobic. She writes that this is some form of inverse racism as we lower expectations for change and improvement because we accept barbarism from Arabs or Muslims. This could partially explain the bizarre lack of shock or criticism at all for the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

Mohammed has had to keep her whereabouts and true name hidden over the years as she dares to point out that antisemitism has been an acceptable element of radical Islam from the start — with Jews as “the other” to be annihilated.

She has said that throughout the Quran, Jews are referred to as the enemies of God. Mohammed’s mother reminded her throughout the abuse she endured that the Quran is clear her husband had every right to beat her because she was his property.

I attended a talk by the renowned Rabbi David Wolpe at Temple Beth El in Springfield last month. He explained that antisemitism remains persistent because Jews are not seen as victims. Despite being kicked out of towns and countries, being tortured, raped, killed and being threatened with annihilation over and over again throughout the centuries, Jews have had the audacity to carry on. Jews run the gamut from poor to wealthy as other demographics, yet the stereotype of the privileged Jew persists. How dare you do well in your life when you are supposed to be dead.

Similarly, women have survived the brutality of patriarchy in many forms over time. For centuries, women were scapegoated for starting plagues or for casting spells if a neighbor’s cow died or for equally absurd reasons. They were “the other” when they did not follow the common religion or way of life. Even today, women get maimed or “honor” killed as a matter of normative custom in too many places. When women are not seen as full human beings, dehumanization leads to the justification of everything from oppression to severe abuse.

Historically, Jews have been objectified as less than human as well. They have been referred to as animals such as rats or pigs. Women are called bitches or whores when they defy patriarchal persecution. Both demographics are held liable for the failings of dominant cultures.

Instead of criticizing patriarchal refusal to share power, we are told that feminists are to blame for letting down women. Women who are economically successful, independent, or empowered are threatening the family unit rather than men being responsible in any way.

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When capitalism or socialism are not functioning optimally, Jewish bankers or Jewish communists must have caused the failures despite the fact that Jews account for just 0.2 percent of the world’s population.

There is no logic in these arguments, so why do people believe them at all? Why do people revise reality to portray marginalized groups as perpetrators rather than victims?

On Oct. 7, 2023, the horrific intersection of antisemitism and misogyny was orchestrated by Hamas in Israel. My wildest imagination about violence against women would not have conceived what Hamas monsters did to women and girls in Israel, and I will not get into the shocking details here. I recommend reading “Screams Without Words,” a New York Times article by Jeffrey Gettleman and others (Dec. 28) if you are able.

On Christmas morning, a billboard in Worcester that stated, “Let’s Be Clear: Hamas is your problem too” was vandalized to read instead “Hamas is freeing Palestine.” In reality, Hamas has oppressed Palestinians in Gaza and they simply want to kill all Jews and to specifically torture, rape and kill Jewish women in unthinkable ways.

When supposed feminist and progressive organizations choose complicity with Hamas in the guise of righteousness, misogyny and antisemitism thrive. Is this the canary in the coal mine suggesting that democratic principles of decency and justice are rapidly disappearing around the world? How is it that self-described leftie and feminist college students and others are doing the heavy lifting usually carried out by neo-Nazis and Proud Boys? Hamas must be laughing and celebrating as the people they hate do their dirty work. We must do better.

J.M. Sorrell is a feminist who is usually optimistic about the capacity for human kindness and empathy. These days, she vacillates from deep despair to appreciation for moments of light.