History Main / MistakenForMisogynist

Character A (usually male, but not always) says or does something that can be reasonably interpreted as treating [[AlwaysFemale Character B]] unequally or unfairly due to her gender. However, when Character A explains the actual motivation behind the preferential or discriminatory treatment, it's not a belief that Character B is less capable or deserving because of her gender. The true reason is far more benign and may range from being overly protective because Character B is [[LongLostRelative secretly family]] or Character A is [[AllLoveIsUnrequited in love with Character B]] or Character A is using ToughLove because they really want Character B to succeed or because Character B is new to the field and genuinely [[YouAreNotReady needs the preferential treatment for their own safety]] even if they don't want it. This trope specifically requires that Character A not actually be bigoted, despite the way their actions come across to Character B.

** Daryl "Harvard" Becker in "Harvard's Education". When PJ Richards is assigned to a joint FBI-Navy task force team, she catches a lot of flack for being the only woman. When Harvard expresses his disdain, she assumes it's because she's a woman and reams him for assuming she's less than capable. Turns out Harvard is from a family of strong, progressive, action-oriented women and only dislikes working with PJ and the other federal agents because he thinks the entire task force is a waste of time and his unit is ham-stringed by being forced to work with [[PowerfulAndHelpless Feds who aren't trained for the tasks his unit specializes in]]. However, h does think PJ is the best of the four candidates the team was sent.

* ''Literature/ImmortalGuardians'': The vast majority of Immortal Guardians are male Gifted Ones who survived being transformed by vampires. However, Gifted Ones can be transformed by getting a blood transfusion from a Immortal with the gift of healing and the males often do this when they find their mate. Etienne asks Seth, the most powerful Immortal, to transform Krysta. Seth says he can't because it would make Krysta as strong and powerful as he is. The ladies all bristle, asking why that would be a problem. Seth assures them he has no problem with the idea of powerful women but it took him thousands of years to master his abilities. Krysta would abruptly have all of his abilities but none of his control, far too dangerous to risk.

* Stella Gibson from ''Series/TheFall'' is a female version of this. A no non-sense IronLady detective, she seems like a FemaleMisogynist, bristling any time her colleagues try to give her the traditional deference given to women and eschewing things that might be considered overly feminine or weak. However, this is soon revealed to simply be a result of her constant attempts to make sure her professional competence is not overlooked in favor of her natural beauty or attributed to feminine wiles. Stella is actually quite feminist and doesn't think less of other women. When given the opportunity to promote and mentor beat cop Danielle Ferrington who displays flashes of brilliance, Stella does so, explaining the trial-and-error rules she's created for being treated as an equal in a traditionally chauvinistic field.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': While searching for [[VillainOfTheWeek Mariah]] in a bathroom, Joseph and Avdol search the stalls, frightening each women until they get chased out.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureJoJolion JoJolion]]'': When investigating Kira's apartment, Yasuho finds a photo-book depicting falsified pictures of Kira engaging in misconduct and mistaking Josuke for Kira caused Yasuho to flee in disgust.

* ''WesternAnimation/PeepoodoAndTheSuperFuckFriends'': When Tuffalo and Kevin spy on the witch, Peepoodo asks what they are doing and voices his concern when they tell him. When the witch catches them (due to Peepoodo arguing with his friends), she punishes all three of them.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E9HomerBadman Homer Badman]]", Homer is accused of sexual harassment by a woman who thought he was trying to cop a feel. He was actually grabbing for a piece of candy stuck on the woman.

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* In WesternAnimation/WhatsNewScoobyDoo, the San Franpsycho turned out to be girl trying to sabotage the second annual Grind Games because they wouldn't let her compete; she thought it was because she's a girl but it was actually because she can't keep her balance on a skateboard.

* In WesternAnimation/WhatsNewScoobyDoo the San Franpsycho turned out to be girl trying to sabotage the second annual Grind Games because they wouldn't let her compete; she thought it was because she's a girl but it was actually because she can't keep her balance on a skateboard.

Contrast StrawFeminist where Character A is very pro-women but it is played for comedy or so their beliefs can be dramatically undercut. Contrast FemaleMisogynist where Character A ''is'' a misogynist, but also happens to be ''female''. Contrast the NobleBigot who is sexist but views deferential treatment or exclusion of otherwise qualified women as [[PositiveDiscrimination chivalrous.]]

* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The season 2 episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS02E06NoExit No Exit]]" centers around [[TheBabyOfTheBunch Jo Harvelle]] who wants to be a hunter [[LikeFatherLikeSon like her deceased father, Bill.]] Her mother, [[AdultFear Ellen, doesn't want her to be in the field]] because she is afraid Jo will die like Bill. Jo finds a case and her mother gives it to Sam and Dean instead. Jo sneaks out to work the case anyway. Jo is irritated when Sam and Dean insist on helping her work the case, but on more than one occasion Dean has to point something out that Jo doesn't know. Eventually, when Dean insists on accompanying Jo to investigate a lead but lets Sam go off on his own, Jo accuses Dean of being sexist and treating her [[DoubleStandard like less than a hunter because she's a woman]]. Dean insists women can be hunters and that he's treating her like a rookie with no experience, unlike Sam who's been hunting since he was a pre-teen. Sure enough, [[DistressBall Jo is kidnapped]] by the MonsterOfTheWeek and has to be rescued although she does ultimately assist in [[DeliberatelyDistressedDamsel defeating the baddie]].