Gynophobia

Gynophobia, also spelled gynephobia, is a morbid and irrational fear of women, classified as a type of specific social phobia. References to the fear appear both in ancient mythology and in modern clinical and cultural accounts, and a small number of researchers and authors have proposed possible explanations for why it develops. Gynophobia is distinct from misogyny, which is hatred, contempt for, and prejudice against women, a social rather than a pathological orientation, although the two terms are sometimes used loosely and interchangeably. The opposite of misogyny is philogyny, meaning love, respect, and admiration for women. Gynophobia is considered analogous to androphobia, the extreme or irrational fear of men, and one recognized subset of gynophobia is caligynephobia, a specific fear of beautiful women. Internationally, the condition is classified under the ICD-11 as Gynaephobia, grouped within the broader category of social anxiety disorder, coded 6B04.