Johnson shared made had many solid points for his thoughts on Patriarchy. The idea is that it’s not just a system that works on its own. However, it is one we play a role in no matter if we do something or nothing at all. Caitlyn’s post really made me reflect on this more since she shared a picture from the Met Gala. A few attendees came to share many of their views on America, by displaying their thoughts on the clothing they wore for the evening. It was interesting to see Cara Delevingne’s “Peg the Patriarchy” outfit and realize she isn’t even aware of the part she plays in the system. When critics shared their views on her outfit, she said “It’s about women empowerment, gender equality- it’s a bit like, ‘Stick it to the man”. How could that be? When you are at an event where only a certain “class” of people can attend? How could that be, when you spent an unnecessary amount of money on “The Man” to attend, and therefore, actively playing in your role that was set in this system of patriarchy.
Even more interesting, on the night while people were dressed in their finest silks and jewels, marginalized groups were outside protesting for Black Rights, and Equality and the Met Gala requested the cops to remove them from the premises. How can you thoroughly enjoy an event and wear an outfit that’s screaming for equality, while the people who are in charge are silencing the same group you are bringing attention to?
Johnson really digs in to show how this system can’t function without us, and in some way, we can’t function without the system. That our own identity is based on the structures put in place by patriarchy. Audre Lourde describes this more or less in her piece. I can’t fight the war of being Black without acknowledging the wars of Homosexuality. Her words “Any attack against Black people is a lesbian and gay issue because I and thousands of other Black women are part of the lesbian community. Any attack against lesbians and gays is a Black issue because thousands of lesbians and gay men are Black. There is no hierarchy of oppression.”
If we are going to make any changes in this system, we have to address the inequalities at their core. Racism, Homophobia, Anti-Asian, Women Inequality, the root of all of these issues are the same, Oppression. As Johnson says we have to look at the What and Why of this and can then work from there to create a better system. We need to look at ourselves and truly understand the role we play in this system and how we will go about things differently to create a more equal space for all of us to exist.
