You've probably heard the word "misogynist" thrown around in every corner of the internet lately. It’s a heavy label. It’s someone who harbors a deep-seated prejudice or even hatred toward women. Naturally, if you’re trying to describe the "good guys" or the people who actively fight for gender equality, you might find yourself wondering: what is the opposite of a misogynist?
The answer isn't as simple as a single dictionary entry.
Language is messy. While a misogynist is defined by a specific type of hate, the flip side isn't always just "love." It’s more about respect, advocacy, and a complete lack of that weird, internal hierarchy some people carry around. Depending on who you ask—a linguist, a sociologist, or just someone on Twitter—you’re going to get different answers like "misandrist," "philogynist," or "feminist."
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But honestly? None of those words perfectly mirror the weight of misogyny. We have to look at the nuance of how people actually behave in the real world to find the true opposite.
The Technical Term You Never Hear: Philogyny
If you want to get strictly academic, the direct linguistic opposite of a misogynist is a philogynist.
It comes from the Greek roots philo (love) and gyne (woman). On paper, it sounds great. It’s the "love of women." But here’s the catch: the term has some baggage. In the 19th century and early 20th century, philogyny was often used to describe men who were "fond" of women in a way that felt kind of patronizing. Think of the "chivalrous" guy who opens every door but doesn't think a woman should have a bank account.
It’s an old-school vibe.
Most modern scholars, including those like bell hooks or Allan G. Johnson, wouldn’t really use "philogynist" to describe a champion of equality. Why? Because putting women on a pedestal is still a form of "othering." If you "love" women as a category rather than seeing them as individual humans with the same flaws and rights as anyone else, you’re still not quite the opposite of a misogynist. You’re just a different flavor of biased.
Is a Feminist the Real Opposite?
This is where most people land. If a misogynist is someone who wants to keep women down, a feminist is someone who wants them to have equal rights and opportunities.
It makes sense.
But feminism is a political and social movement, whereas misogyny is a psychological state or a set of behaviors. You can be a man who isn’t a misogynist but doesn't necessarily identify with the "feminist" label because of how it's been politicized. Conversely, there’s the "Sneaky Misogynist"—the guy who says all the right feminist things but still talks over his female coworkers in every meeting.
True equality isn't just a label. It's an action.
When we talk about the opposite of a misogynist in a 2026 context, we’re usually talking about an intersectional ally. This is someone who understands that the struggle for women’s rights isn't just about "women" as a monolith. It involves race, class, and sexuality. It’s about dismantling the "Patriarchy," a term popularized by thinkers like Gerda Lerner in her seminal work The Creation of Patriarchy. To be the opposite of a hater, you have to be a builder. You have to actively work against the systems that the hater thrives in.
Misandry is Not the Opposite (And Here is Why)
Let’s clear this up right now because it's a huge misconception on Reddit and TikTok. Many people think the opposite of a misogynist (a woman-hater) is a misandrist (a man-hater).
They’re wrong.
That’s just the same coin flipped over. If a misogynist is "A" and a misandrist is "B," they both live in the same house of "gender-based prejudice." They are counterparts, not opposites.
The true opposite of a negative is a positive.
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If you’re looking for the person who stands furthest away from a misogynist, you aren’t looking for someone who hates men. You’re looking for someone who views gender as irrelevant to a person’s worth. You’re looking for an egalitarian.
The Egalitarian Perspective
Egalitarians believe in fundamental human equality. It sounds simple. It’s actually quite radical when you apply it to every facet of life—from who does the dishes to who gets the CEO position.
The "Nice Guy" Trap
We can’t talk about this without mentioning the "Nice Guy" phenomenon. You’ve met him. He’s the guy who thinks because he isn't actively shouting insults at women, he is the opposite of a misogynist.
He’s not.
Often, this is what sociologists call benevolent sexism. This was a concept famously detailed by researchers Peter Glick and Susan Fiske in their 1996 study. Benevolent sexism is the "good" kind of prejudice. It’s the belief that women are "purer" than men or need "protection." While it feels nicer than misogyny, it’s still rooted in the idea that women are different, weaker, or "lesser" in terms of agency.
The opposite of a misogynist doesn't protect women because they are "fragile flowers." They respect women because they are people. Period.
Why the Word "Ally" is Taking Over
In recent years, the term Ally has become the go-to for what people actually mean when they ask for the opposite of a misogynist.
An ally isn't just a bystander.
If a misogynist uses their power to diminish women, an ally uses their privilege to amplify them. It’s a shift from a "state of being" to a "state of doing." In workplaces, this looks like sponsorship. According to research by the Harvard Business Review, women are often "mentored" (given advice) but men are "sponsored" (given opportunities).
The person who is truly the opposite of a misogynist is the one who sponsors women. They’re the ones saying, "Actually, Sarah had a great point," when Sarah gets interrupted for the third time in a boardroom.
Practical Ways to Embody the Opposite of Misogyny
So, how do you actually live as the "opposite"? It’s not about wearing a t-shirt. It’s about the micro-decisions you make every single day. If you’re trying to move away from any inkling of misogynistic behavior—even the accidental kind—here is how the "opposite" actually operates in the wild.
Audit your influences. Who are you listening to? If your podcast feed or YouTube history is a wall of "alpha male" influencers who talk about "high-value women" like they’re used cars, you’re soaking in misogyny. The opposite of a misogynist seeks out female expertise. Read books by women. Watch movies directed by women. Listen to female economists. Broaden the map of whose voice matters to you.
Check your "default" settings. When you imagine a "brilliant scientist" or a "tough negotiator," who pops into your head? If it’s always a dude, you’ve got some internal work to do. The opposite of a misogynist has trained their brain to see competence as gender-neutral.
Call out the "locker room talk." This is the hardest part. Misogyny survives because other men stay quiet when a friend makes a degrading joke. The opposite of a misogynist is the guy who makes it awkward. He says, "Hey man, that’s actually pretty gross," or "I don’t get it, why is that funny?"
It kills the vibe. And that’s the point.
Share the invisible labor. In the home, the opposite of a misogynist doesn't "help out" with the kids or the cleaning. Helping out implies it's someone else's job that you're just visiting. The opposite takes ownership. They know when the toilet paper is low, when the kid needs a dentist appointment, and when the trash needs to go out without being asked.
The Cultural Shift of 2026
We are seeing a massive shift in how we define masculinity. For a long time, being "one of the boys" meant participating in a certain level of woman-hating, even if it was subtle.
That’s dying out.
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The new "alpha"—if we even want to use that silly word—is the man who is secure enough in himself that he doesn't need to step on anyone else to feel tall. This is what the American Psychological Association (APA) touched on in their 2019 guidelines regarding "traditional masculinity." They noted that while some traditional traits are great, the ones involving dominance and aggression toward women are actually harmful to men’s mental health too.
Basically, being a misogynist makes your own life worse. You end up lonely, angry, and disconnected from half the population.
Moving Forward: Your Action Plan
Being the "opposite" isn't a destination you reach. It’s a practice. If you want to move the needle in your own life, start with these specific steps today:
- The Interruption Rule: Next time you're in a group setting, count how many times women are interrupted versus men. If you see it happening, jump in. "I'd really like to hear the rest of what Jane was saying." It’s simple, it’s polite, and it’s incredibly powerful.
- Diversify Your Feed: Go to your Instagram or Twitter following list. If it’s 90% men, hit unfollow on the ones who don't add value and find female experts in your hobbies—whether that’s woodworking, coding, or fitness.
- Listen Without Defensiveness: When a woman talks about a negative experience she had with a man, don't say "Not all men." We know it’s not all men. The opposite of a misogynist listens to the "what" and the "why" of the experience rather than trying to protect their own ego.
- Redefine Strength: Stop associating "strength" with dominance. Start associating it with empathy, reliability, and the courage to stand up against the status quo.
The world doesn't need more "philogynists" who put women on pedestals. It needs people who are willing to stand on level ground with them. That is the true opposite of a misogynist. It’s someone who is simply, finally, seeing women as equals.