Why is the patriarchy still alive and well?

[Anonymous]

What's the reason? Why feminism couldn't achieve true global equality even when population numbers for both genders are equal?

[Anonymous]

I dunno. Men are bad or something. Who knows.

[Anonymous]

Cuz men bigger and stronger and shit

[Anonymous]

Because no one wants the alternative. Not women, not men.

[Anonymous]

Because some women uphold it. Particularly mothers of sons.

[Anonymous]

I know we like to blame men, and that's definitely a big part of it, but I think we need to look at the issue other women bring to it as well. This forum is a good example to see how women play a part in contributing to the patriarchy. Shaming women for working, shaming women for putting themselves first, shaming women for staying at home, shame, shame, shame. Im real life, I've dealt with female managers trying to tear me down because the big boss has liked my ideas. I've seen people talk shit about a female boss for no reason other than she was a powerful female.

So yes, men play a huge role. But ignoring how we contribute to it too will never get the issue solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because some women uphold it. Particularly mothers of sons.

And mothers of daughters. And women who are not mothers. And guys, too. But mostly women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because some women uphold it. Particularly mothers of sons.

What does this even mean? I don't have sons but are you saying that if I had one and I treated them the same way (raising them to be confidenty, successful, strong, independent) that I would be contributing to the patriarchy instead of just wanting my kid to have a good life?

[Anonymous]

Read the book The Power. It’s a (fictional) take on what happens when women have more physical power than men. I found it a compelling lens on the patriarchy.

[Anonymous]

Because our societies would collapse without it. Women working unpaid or underpaid jobs is what keeps us going.

[Anonymous]

Because it works

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know we like to blame men, and that's definitely a big part of it, but I think we need to look at the issue other women bring to it as well. This forum is a good example to see how women play a part in contributing to the patriarchy. Shaming women for working, shaming women for putting themselves first, shaming women for staying at home, shame, shame, shame. Im real life, I've dealt with female managers trying to tear me down because the big boss has liked my ideas. I've seen people talk shit about a female boss for no reason other than she was a powerful female.

So yes, men play a huge role. But ignoring how we contribute to it too will never get the issue solved.

All of this. The patriarchy persists because internalized misogyny is everywhere and there are insufficient social supports for women with professional ambition who'd also like to be good, engaged mothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the book The Power. It’s a (fictional) take on what happens when women have more physical power than men. I found it a compelling lens on the patriarchy.

Pointing out it's fictional wasn't really necessary.

[Anonymous]

I believe that unequal burden of having children is the biggest driver.

If you want to have your own biological children and you are a woman you need to have months of a physically limitations, then have months of leave from work. All during the prime promotion/sorting years of work.

That is even if both spouses contribute equally to raising the kids once they are born, which isn't the current societal norm.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s because it’s to entrenched that we don’t even seen it most of the time. And it’s so wrapped into modern capitalism that is hard to fully unwind.

It took me moving abroad to really challenge my own place and participation. I’m middle age with kids, and to be honest fully rejecting it means making sacrifices that I am not fully prepared to make. Not because I am lazy or spoiled, but rather it means rejecting my social support system.

I find small ways I can move the needle for myself and kids, but it’s not toppling anytime soon.