In the world of young male video gamers, a character in the popular game MapleStory sparked controversy when players accused her of making a derogatory feminist hand gesture. Darim, a proud animator, faced a barrage of abusive messages after posting a trailer of her work on social media. The gamers targeted her, claiming she was a feminist and demanding her firing. This incident is part of a disturbing trend in South Korea, where men launch vicious online attacks against women suspected of having feminist beliefs.
These witch hunts, often led by young male gamers, have a chilling effect on women in South Korea, who are now afraid to openly identify as feminists. The backlash against feminism has led to baseless accusations and career repercussions for women in various industries. Companies have caved to these demands, removing artwork and even suspending employees based on unfounded allegations of feminist activities.
Minsung Kim, a former anti-feminist turned advocate, has set up an organization to support victims of these witch hunts. He helped Darim keep her job and fight back against the abusive messages. The prevalence of these attacks highlights the deep-rooted gender discrimination in South Korea, where women face discrimination both in the workplace and at home.
The rise of anti-feminist sentiment among young men in South Korea has been fueled by online forums and radical caricatures of feminists. These men feel threatened by the increasing vocalization of women’s rights and have misconceptions about feminism. The backlash against feminism has even been supported by political figures, further legitimizing discriminatory attitudes towards women.
The financial and social costs of these attacks are significant, as companies fear losing revenue and capitulate to the demands of anti-feminist gamers. The authorities in South Korea have also failed to protect women from these attacks, with police initially refusing to investigate Darim’s case. The situation highlights the urgent need to address gender discrimination and protect women from online harassment and abuse.