Growing up and to this day I was very aware of things being run and dominated by men. They are always  at the advantage, it’s like they have a cheat code for everything. As women we are playing catch up , on a game that’s made , controlled, and favoring men. When it comes to breaking the patriarchy society down and demanding equality you always see majority women fighting, pushing, demanding it. If it were the other way around where men needed more fairness and equality, everything would be perfect. One point is that men can agree with wanting equality for all, but are they willing to give up the power and advantages that have been given to them. 

But this is not all men are to blame for the patricarl society when in fact it’s the society itself that let this happen . “We need to see and deal with the social roots that generate and nurture the social problems that are reflected in and manifested through the behavior of individuals. We cannot do this without realizing that we all participate in something larger than ourselves, something we did not create but that we now have the power to affect through the choices we make about how to participate.” (Johnson, Allan). So when we point the blame on men we also have to point the finger  at our society. Society let it happen and established it as a norm for generations on generations. There’s a reason it’s so hard to break, when it goes back thousands of years. We all have a piece of accountability to take but we can do better.

“Participation, by definition, is something voluntary, freely chosen, entered into as equals, and that it there-fore makes no sense that women might participate in their own oppression. But that is not my meaning here, and it To participate is to have a part in what goes on, to do something (or not) and to have that choice affect the consequences, regardless of whether it is conscious or unconscious, coerced or not. “ One way or another we are taking part in the system. It is the system that seeps through everything we know and see. But smashing this patriarchal system is possible. Biggest reminder is that ‘The patriarchy hurts us all, regardless of where we stand on the spectrum of gender. Some suffer because violence towards them is externalised, such as women, trans, and non-binary people. Some suffer because violence they direct towards others is also internalised, meaning men.” “,Women, trans and non-binary people struggle to find jobs, funding and financial freedom. Changing that, in any way we can, is a huge part of smashing the patriarchy. (Priyanka Sutaria)

It was refreshing to see activism being done by young girls. I think we often think or are made to believe that we have no power or control, that we must live with the way things are. But the reality is that it only takes one person to create change. I choose to watch the Girls Connected film. It centers around five young girls across the world standing up for not just themselves but for everyone in their community, creating awareness, and regaining control over their lives.  They are tackling big problems that relate to women in general and tackling stereotypes that we may all face.

Out of the five girls in the film and their campaigns Josie and Michelle are the two girls who stood out the most and whose story and campaigns are related to the most. The film follows Josie who is combating and raising awareness of young women, girls getting pregnant so early on in their lives. She is raising awareness that if youre going to have sex, make sure it is fully youre consent and that you are being safe.While all of this may sound repeating for all us. It is not the same in small minority communities. They are not given this information, they do not often have these sex ed conversations or health classes. 

Growing up in a Mexican household with extremely strict parents who wanted to protect me from all the “ bad” of the world. One of the biggest things they wanted to protect me from was getting pregnant at a young age. They didn’t want me to “ruin my life” or to become a stereotype. Even without their controlling actions I knew that was not something I wanted. Hell, I’m 23 and I feel like I’m 18. Aside from that I still feel like a child, wandering around having no idea what I’m doing.But here’s the thing I grew up aware of all of this, I grew up educated and not everyone gets that same opportunity. So that is why I stand with Josie raising awareness and stand with her cause. 

These young girls face so much negativity and judgment against them. They are disturbing everyone’s “normal ”. They are the ones shaking things up in their communities. While younger generations may go , educate themselves and listen to what they are fighting for. That is not the case for all. As for older generations who grew up this way, who follow tradition , well it’s basically blasphemy.  The younger generation are creating this noise for a reason. Nothing must always stay the same, it must change with time, it must grow. That is the same with ideologies. But this all shows that it only takes one person to create a chain reaction. These girls are fighting back without having a lot of resources. All you need is an idea and people willing to listen. This should inspire anyone to speak up.

There are so many expectations and rules on how we should dress and act according to our gender, race, skin color ect. We are placed in a box. Those who think and act outside of the box are reprimanded and scolded by society. For example Alok’s experience of how people react to the way he dressed. People see a man in womens clothing, or vice versa. People stop and stare, they gawk and whisper, and voice the opinions that no one asked for by the way. He gets up and dresses for himself, today he chooses to wear a dress , tomorrow he chooses to wear shorts, it does not matter, the same way everyone wakes up and gets dressed how they want. But Alok and others are seen as outsiders and weird and it’s honestly no one’s business. 

In another universe on another planet, hypothetically , our society could be the complete opposite. Where it’s normal for men to wear women’s clothes, and women to wear mens clothing. But it’s outrages and blasphemy to see men wearing “mens’ ‘ clothes and women, “womens” clothes. Even then people are going to stop and stare, and make comments. Society is the one setting up these standards and expectations. It’s “wrong” because we said so, not because it was written or told to us by a “higher being”. 

It’s frustrating and angering that Alok is treated like an object to be reviewed and commented on. Comments such as “Is that your halloween costume” or “You’re doing this for attention right “ . Let people dress the way they want! And let us be whoever we want to be” Why does there have to be a label or category that we must fit into. The same things that are seen as “outside the box” can be turned into everyday norms . If a celebrity were to take the outfit that Alok wears and walk around the streets of Hollywood or Paris then “Oh yes of course it’s okay for Alok and anyone else to do it.” If his picture or video of him is seen on TikTok and goes viral and becomes a trend then there will no longer be rude and hateful comments. But it shouldn’t be that way. It doesn’t have to take these things in order to be accepted. It should already be a standard and norm.So many obstacles have to be overcome , but it all starts in society’s way of thinking, and breaking away from what “fits in the box.”