Sexual violence claims against Diddy and Jay Z: A reminder of ‘himpathy’ concept
Jay Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs. The two are accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl.
What you need to know:
The Concept of "Himpathy" was introduced by philosopher Kate Manne to refer to excessive sympathy for male perpetrators of misogyny and sexual violence, coupled with victim-blaming and discrediting.
The writer reflects on the media's complicity in perpetuating himpathy by humanising perpetrators and victim-shaming, inadvertently reinforcing patriarchal norms.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, a multiple award-winning artist, has been headlining the news world over for all the wrong reasons. He’s been accused of kidnapping, drugging and coercing women into sexual activities. The latest claim, where he’s accused of defiling a 13-year-old girl, allegedly alongside fellow rapper Jay Z, is particularly shocking.
If your thoughts and feelings about the two rap stars are still coloured by even the tiniest hue of sympathy after reading this information, then you may be experiencing something called “himpathy.” Kate Manne, an Australian philosopher, used it to describe the “excessive sympathy shown to male perpetrators of misogyny and sexual violence”. Conversely, it can also refer to the anger directed towards the victims of these crimes.
“Must you always listen to the other side of the story even in cases of sexual violence and gender-based violence?” a friend asked me recently during the launch of a report on how the media covers sexual and reproductive health and rights.
My first instinct was to defend the media, as our job is to bring to the public matters that interest them, and to deliver balanced news, even if it means giving perpetrators space that they don’t deserve. But then I remembered the times the media has also been “himpathetic” by carrying headlines that seemed to respect and humanise monstrous humans.
When a young man drove from Thika carrying an axe and hacked down his girlfriend in Eldoret, a newspaper headline referred to him as a “quiet worker and teetotaller” as if to suggest that the victim must have provoked him because he had no vices to speak of before the provocation.
According to Ms Manne, one of the consequences of “himpathy” is “herasure,” where the female victim’s testimony is always discredited. You may already know those diabolical questions like: What was she wearing? What was she drinking? Why was she there? What did she do to provoke him? Often end up victim-shaming the accuser, sometimes cornering them into silence. And as Ms Manne puts it, this is all fuelled by misogyny.
We’ve witnessed “himpathy” at play many times here in Kenya when powerful men accused of the most heinous forms of misogyny and sexual violence still get to hold prestigious positions in government and the private sector. We’ve seen cases against these people shrivel up and die because of “himpathy” and “herasure”.
The victim in the lawsuit against the rappers, now an adult, will have to contend with both aspects of “himpathy” and “herasure”, which might end up damaging her further.
Most of us are guilty of “himpathy,” as that’s how our patriarchal society designs it to be. But we can choose not to side with perpetrators, ever. It is the least we can do to help the victims.
The writer comments on social and gender topics (@FaithOneya; [email protected]).
