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For the specific type of man the phrase "white knight" applies to, the motivation isn't infantilization but rather objectification. The men engaging in that be

For the specific type of man the phrase "white knight" applies to, the motivation isn't infantilization but rather objectification. The men engaging in that behaviour don't do so because they think the woman is in need of protection, but rather because they think being protectors in that sense is what will make women have sex with them. Again, it's not a criticism of, or term describing, men who defend women. It's a criticism of a particular kind of man who defends women in a particular way with an expectation of a sleazy reward. That's not to say the term isn't abused; it is. I'm not arguing with tptacek's assertion that use of the term tends to lower quality of discourse, but rather with the implied assertion that the term itself is invalid or in some way offensive. As I said in my original comment, it fairly specifically describes a particular phenomenon, and if it didn't exist some other term would be invented to take its place.

skylan_q 13y ago
White knighting is probably a big reason women don't get into tech. Being turned off by the desperate geeks they meet from the time they're 14 to 22 probably has an impact on their decisions on what to do in life.
tommorris 13y ago
I've been accused of being a white knight and been told that certain opinions I hold are held only because they will enable me to sleep with feminist women. Strangely enough, the sort of person who says this will also happily engage in gutter-level homophobic abuse when they find out that I really have no interest in sleeping with women, feminist or otherwise. God forbid that I could have opinions formed from reasoned evaluation of evidence.
eridius 13y ago
The main problem with the term "White Knighting" is it's nearly always misused as a way to dismiss someone's valid argument. It's a discussion killer, and contributes nothing at all constructive. Even if the term really does apply in a given case (and that will almost never be true), it still doesn't help to use it.

skylan_q 13y ago

White knighting is probably a big reason women don't get into tech. Being turned off by the desperate geeks they meet from the time they're 14 to 22 probably has an impact on their decisions on what to do in life.

tommorris 13y ago

I've been accused of being a white knight and been told that certain opinions I hold are held only because they will enable me to sleep with feminist women. Strangely enough, the sort of person who says this will also happily engage in gutter-level homophobic abuse when they find out that I really have no interest in sleeping with women, feminist or otherwise. God forbid that I could have opinions formed from reasoned evaluation of evidence.

eridius 13y ago

The main problem with the term "White Knighting" is it's nearly always misused as a way to dismiss someone's valid argument. It's a discussion killer, and contributes nothing at all constructive. Even if the term really does apply in a given case (and that will almost never be true), it still doesn't help to use it.