Writer Mora tells Spanish men to pull themselves together: no sympathy deserved
24% of Spanish women take antidepressants. Writer Mora (Najat El Hachmi) tells men they deserve no sympathy. The reaction: insults and death threats.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Sarracena to men: pull yourselves together, you deserve no sympathy
24% of Spanish women take antidepressants, according to figures from the SINC agency. That figure puts into context the recent statements by the writer Sarracena (Najat El Hachmi), who in an article called Spanish men "privileged" and urged them to "pull themselves together" and not expect any sympathy. The reaction was swift: insults, threats and a wave of criticism combining visceral rejection with accusations of interference from a Muslim woman.
Sarracena's controversial statement
In her article, published in a national outlet, Sarracena argues that Spanish men enjoy gender privileges they fail to recognize, and that they should take responsibility for inequality. The phrase "you deserve no sympathy" caused an earthquake on social media and forums, where numerous users called her a "filthy Moor" and threatened to kill her. The tone of the responses reveals a radicalization that, according to some analysts, is fueled by the crisis of traditional masculinity and hostility toward immigration.
The context: women's mental health in Spain
The figure of 24% of women on antidepressants is not trivial. According to the same source, the proportion is double that of men (12%), indicating a widespread malaise that goes beyond individual cases. For Sarracena, this figure is a symptom of a social structure that oppresses women, which is why she asks men to stop playing the victim and take on their share of the change. Her critics, however, believe that using this figure to justify an attack on Spanish men is demagogic and contemptuous.
Reactions: between visceral rejection and minority support
While racist and sens insults dominate on social media ("let her father read it when he finds her", "she can preach to the desert"), a more moderate sector points out that the author is partly right, even if they criticize her tone. Most responses, however, are unanimous in condemning what they see as interference by a woman of Maghrebi origin in Spain's gender issues. "Talking about patriarchy in Spain when in her own country women can't even drive," goes one of the recurring arguments.
The background: immigration, feminism and double standards
Sarracena's nationality is a key factor in the rejection. The fact that a Muslim woman criticizes Western men is seen by many as a paradox, if not outright hypocrisy. Others, however, see in that criticism a chance to re-examine their own prejudices: if a woman from a more patriarchal culture points at Spanish machismo, perhaps the problem runs deeper than people are willing to admit. The debate, in any case, remains open and poisoned by polarization.
What no analysis quite explains is why, with all the facts on the table, the debate almost always descends into insults and threats. The question left hanging is whether Spanish society is ready to hear uncomfortable criticism without resorting to verbal violence.
Related discussions in the forum
24% of Spanish women take antidepressants, according to figures from the SINC agency. That figure puts into context the recent statements by the writer Sarracena (Najat El Hachmi), who in an article called Spanish men "privileged" and urged them to "pull themselves together" and not expect any sympathy. The reaction was swift: insults, threats and a wave of criticism combining visceral rejection with accusations of interference from a Muslim woman.
Sarracena's controversial statement
In her article, published in a national outlet, Sarracena argues that Spanish men enjoy gender privileges they fail to recognize, and that they should take responsibility for inequality. The phrase "you deserve no sympathy" caused an earthquake on social media and forums, where numerous users called her a "filthy Moor" and threatened to kill her. The tone of the responses reveals a radicalization that, according to some analysts, is fueled by the crisis of traditional masculinity and hostility toward immigration.
The context: women's mental health in Spain
The figure of 24% of women on antidepressants is not trivial. According to the same source, the proportion is double that of men (12%), indicating a widespread malaise that goes beyond individual cases. For Sarracena, this figure is a symptom of a social structure that oppresses women, which is why she asks men to stop playing the victim and take on their share of the change. Her critics, however, believe that using this figure to justify an attack on Spanish men is demagogic and contemptuous.
Reactions: between visceral rejection and minority support
While racist and sens insults dominate on social media ("let her father read it when he finds her", "she can preach to the desert"), a more moderate sector points out that the author is partly right, even if they criticize her tone. Most responses, however, are unanimous in condemning what they see as interference by a woman of Maghrebi origin in Spain's gender issues. "Talking about patriarchy in Spain when in her own country women can't even drive," goes one of the recurring arguments.
The background: immigration, feminism and double standards
Sarracena's nationality is a key factor in the rejection. The fact that a Muslim woman criticizes Western men is seen by many as a paradox, if not outright hypocrisy. Others, however, see in that criticism a chance to re-examine their own prejudices: if a woman from a more patriarchal culture points at Spanish machismo, perhaps the problem runs deeper than people are willing to admit. The debate, in any case, remains open and poisoned by polarization.
What no analysis quite explains is why, with all the facts on the table, the debate almost always descends into insults and threats. The question left hanging is whether Spanish society is ready to hear uncomfortable criticism without resorting to verbal violence.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (25 replies).
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