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If you saw the move “The Matrix” when you were young and impressionable, like I did, and you’re also one of the “lucky” people who’s been awakened to the wonderful world of profound injustice in one way or another, this comic probably resonates with you.
The plain definition of patriarchy is a system run by and for men, but in practice it’s so much more than that – it encompasses sexism, racism, ableism, and too many other -isms to count. There are Feminism 101 blogs that do an adequate job of explaining some of the basics, but if you really want to jump in feet first you should probably go check out I Blame the Patriarchy.
If you want a well-organized and pocket-sized approach to learning about patriarchy, you should probably read “The Dialectic of Sex” by Shulamith Firestone. This book pretty much changed my life.
If you have found a good way to explain patriarchy to the Uninitiated, please do let me know in the comments.
My 'aha' moment came in a women's studies class in college. I can't quite remember when it happened, but after that, my eyes were open.
ReplyDeleteI can't quite remember my epiphany...but I remember it came when I was about 15. I remember being absolutely furious at the patriarchy's existence afterwards, though.
ReplyDeleteTo explain the patriarchy, I normally concentrate on the objectification of women, since that's what made me aware of the patriarchy's existence in the first place. 'Course, very few people listen to me and I have to explain it to them in little tidbits, but it's a start.
Women's studies - everyone should take it in college. That, and sociology. And probably personal finance, now that I think about it.
ReplyDeleteVivat: Anger is the only logical reaction, in my mind. Also: I concentrate on that, too - little surfacey things are much easier to point out to the uninitiated than meta-stuff. They add up over time, and one day a switch will go off in their heads. Hopefully.
AWESOME POST
ReplyDeleteA comic with Matrix inside, i'm in =D
ReplyDeleteI saw The Matrix when I was old and impressionable. That is a very good point, about being so formed and immersed in the system that you can't see it.
ReplyDeleteI would add that people who may appear not to know their situation often do but simply can't do anything to change it and just have to carry on as best they can.
Growing up the 50's taught me and also taught me that pressure for change is slow but effective. Whenever a breakthough happens it's because there are years of work behind it. Nothing really happens overnight.
Education is the first step, action the second.
Hang in there. It's way better than it used to be.
Pardon the syntax and typos. They too could be improved.
ReplyDeleteKate and Plop, thanks for stopping by and saying hi!
ReplyDeleteHattie, I should remind myself of that more often. Most if not all of us have to do our best to carry on in spite of everything.
I wonder if you'd throw class into the mix (racism, ableism etc.) I see patriarchy everyday, and not in any grand evil mechanism but in mens magazines, movies and sexist jokes. It'd be damn hard to shift because we're so infused with it. But I'm working class, I feel like I've not achieved my potential, feel like I'm not some privaledged minority keeping the rest under my grimy boot. I'm ever aware of my place in a narrative which stems from Peterloo, the working class canon fodder of World War One, and the ignored masses in the depression of the thirties. I don't exact any command over any females in my life, and have never treated a woman with anything but respect - but I remember an occassion when I worked as a waitor in a very expensive day school which hosted functions in the evenings. A woman I was serving at an all-woman business networking event was looking for the answer to a question regarding the school building and it's age, she asked me if I went to the school - and before I could answer the woman opposite replied, of course he didn't, he's a waitor.
ReplyDeleteSo to me there's a class heirarchy, to an afro-caribbean there's a white dominance, and I'm sure you wouldn't tar yourself as being part of that evil white system? Do we all pick our own scapegoats? (funnily enough I took women studies at college - I was the only guy, and did a feminist module at MFA level, made me sad that I'd never heard of any of the philosophers and writers.)