public backlash against the discovery that theropods were feathered isnt just anti science like lmao of course its misogynistic

birds are seen of as feminine and a metaphor for women. sparrow, songbird, dove, little bird, feathers go on womens clothes, eat like a bird, harpy/harping, etc.

reptiles are masculine because theyre “primitive” and violent, snakeskin boots, crocodile tooth hats, etc. an alligator purse is a gender subversive article of clothing for women, or at least one that suggests an unusual demand for power/notice.

dinosaurs are cool “monsters” with a hypermasculine culture around them (not in small part thanks to the hypermasculine paleontological and film industries) and to be confronted with the idea that they may have been more bird than reptile, or even a little visibly avian, is an affront the masculinity reptiles and large toothy carnivores are supposed to represent. people arent mad about raptors with feathers because theyll “look dumb.” they think the feathers will look dumb because they have a feminine connotation. theres a fear dinosaurs will be “corrupted” by traditionally girly shit. the public finds it insulting. the binary forces genders onto every symbol available and cant stand when the unnatural division is challenged by nature.

tl;dr if you think dinosaurs dont look cool with feathers it’s because you hate women