I think it is useful to point out hypocrisy but in the service of looking at the cause of inconsistencies rather than as a 'gotcha.'
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Eg, if a feminist claims to oppose socially conservative ideas abt dress that unfairly burden women but is positive abt hijab & niqab...
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...it can be tempting to call her a hypocrite & claim she only cares abt equality & freedom for white non-Muslim women ...
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...but that is an easy 'gotcha' designed to hit home and is almost certainly not what's going on in her head.
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The person accusing is seeing the situations as the same & requiring same response whilst the feminist is seeing them as different.
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Universal liberalism vs cultural relativity. And that's where the problem actually is & what needs discussing.
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Of course, some ppl genuinely are hypocrites. Eg pastor says homosexuality is wrong & disgusting. Has secret boyfriend.
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And other ppl don't seem to realise that hypocrisy is going against your own stated values, not those others think you shld have
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Eg 'You claim to be an atheist but you support Muslim reformers. Hypocrite!' One illogical accusation I've had.
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Or they think hypocrisy is having views inconsistent with dominant views of your group/government/party.
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Eg 'You go on abt freedom of speech to Americans whilst UK has shit record on it, hypocrite!' Yes. I am not the uk. I'm Helen.
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But when plausible accusations of hypocrisy are made, most often there are different distinctions being made & cognitive dissonance.
End of conversation
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