Researchers: Men who don't comply with mask rules 'more likely to commit sexual harassment'

It was way back in 2015 when New York police made their first arrests for “manspreading” — the practice of a man sitting on the subway with his legs apart, blocking the seats next to him. We hadn’t heard much about manspreading since, but Kara Alaimo (it’s always a professor) has a piece on CNN’s website comparing the refusal to wear a mask to manspreading and also links it to sexual harassment. It was apparently inspired by Justice Neil Gorsuch’s refusal to wear a mask.

"We as a society have to demand that men stop using their positions of power to keep women from exercising our own power and participating fully in our society," writes @karaalaimo https://t.co/Cdv0XHrZj8

— CNN Opinion (@CNNOpinion) January 18, 2022

In my latest opinion piece for CNN, I discuss the gender politics of masking up in public places. https://t.co/8ZckA9LU7e

— Kara Alaimo, Ph.D. (@karaalaimo) January 18, 2022

She writes:

Gorsuch’s choice not to mask up was an act of the same variety as men who “manspread” on the subway by sitting with their legs apart so there isn’t legroom for the person next to them or use “bro language” like referring to their sexual exploits in the workplace. This kind of behavior often makes women feel uncomfortable and even unwelcome in public settings, including their places of work. In the case of Gorsuch’s disregard for Sotomayor, it was particularly inappropriate because not wearing a mask posed a potential threat to her health.

…

… Stanford researchers also recently found that men who refuse to comply with Covid rules such as mask wearing are also more likely to commit sexual harassment and have sexist views. This makes perfect sense, since they’re all outrageous displays of entitlement.

She concludes by calling the refusal to wear a mask in public places “a display of staggering entitlement that should leave people of all genders outraged.”

A thoughtless ridiculous piece based on nothing except the author’s blinded bias.

— Brian Cowan (@bri_cowan) January 18, 2022

“People who don’t wear masks in public places like supermarkets show shocking disregard for the welfare of children under age 2, who are too young to wear masks themselves,” she writes. “Because masks aren’t mandated in my local supermarket, I don’t feel safe bringing my baby inside to pick up groceries. Therefore, like many moms of little ones, when I’m not at work, I practically live under house arrest these days.”

“The behavior of people who refuse to mask up belies a very masculine-oriented, individualistic understanding of ‘freedom.'”

Why does Kara Alaimo want to date Neil Gorsuch? https://t.co/GW59nkhetJ

— Jason M. Kates (@JasonMKates) January 18, 2022

The author sells PR and reputation management consulting, publications,and education. The article is not meant to express her opinions as much as it is to demonstrate her skill at crafting communication strategies to appeal to an ultra-left audience. This is marketing.

— Lee Fletcher (@LeeFlet93084333) January 19, 2022

How perfectly silly. If women want to “exercise their own power,” perhaps they’d be better off focusing on important issues, rather than whining about every petty little “gender-based” triviality that comes along.

— Maresydoats (@prolifevoterfl) January 18, 2022

Manspreading opinion pieces are so 2011. Trans rights are the hot topic right now, the time for feminist pet peeves has passed. https://t.co/Y2bli5Zp9N

— 深圳 VAPE AND BITCOIN SOLUTIONS (@LitteraCanis) January 18, 2022

Delete your account, nut job.

— cloudyeller (@cloudyeller2) January 18, 2022

We’d really like to know more about the methodology behind that Stanford study that linked mask-wearing to sexual harassment. Is this like that research study that proved that “dogs are a tool of white supremacy and gentrification”?

Related:

‘Your terms are acceptable’: Virginia public school teacher says she’ll resign if Gov. Glenn Youngkin forces issue of masks in schools https://t.co/TzvmVK4fjs

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 17, 2022