Patriarchy is so much more than men having all the power and women having little to none. When people discuss patriarchy they don’t mention the role society plays in it and how we are in fact involved in it. Growing up we are taught that boys are stronger than girls and how girls are soft and weak. These ideas that were put in our head were normalized by society and as we get older it plays a bigger part in our lives than we realize. From how men see females down to how they treat them because that’s what they were taught. In the text Patriacrhy, the System Allan talked about how “Some of what we learn through socialization turns out not to be true and then we may have to deal with that. I say “may” because powerful forces encourage us to keep ourselves in a state of denial, to rationalize what we have been taught. It is a way to keep it safe from scrutiny, if only to protect our sense of who we are and ensure our being accepted by other people, including family and friends.” ( Johnson). Going with an idea because it was what we were taught and not trying to build our own opinion by examining both sides is one of the many reasons why this patriarchy is not coming to an end. We don’t have enough people that’s willing to fight against the system for the change that’s needed. Women have always been the ones fighting for a change to be seen as an equal to men. While men are so comfortable being dominant that they rather support a system that favors them. 

Vanelly’s snapshot brings attention to how many ways women are torn down by patriarchy. Why is it that a woman getting raped allows her to lose her honour? Making a woman feel less for going through something so terrible and beyond her control shows just how much we are looked down on. If it was a man in this situation I guarantee they wouldn’t face these same problems which is sad to say. Growing up I was always told I can’t do the same things boys do because I am a girl and it took me a while to understand what that meant. As I get older I realize more and more that men will always be at an advantage for simply being men. As women we will always be seen as less and there will be limitations to what we can do because that’s how society portrays us. However we can’t dismantle the patriarchy without examining our own privilege and realizing the role we play in it. As stated “All men and all women are therefore involved in this oppressive system, and none of us can control whether we participate, only how.” (Johnson). “Privilege is not something I take and which I therefore have the option of not taking. It is something that society gives me.” (Johnson). Being privileged doesn’t have to be a bad thing, the important question to ask is what good do I use this privilege to do? How do I choose to participate in this oppressive system?. Making the change we want to see is part of how we make the system better. 

patriarchal structure
Male Dominance: In a patriarchal society, men make all choices in society and in their families, they hold all positions of power and authority, and they are seen as superior.

A patriarchal society is one in which men rule and make all the rules while women stay at home and care for the children. When the family name derives from the father, this is an example of patriarchy. In social or cultural systems, men’s dominance.

Sexual assault, sexual aggressiveness, substance abuse, negative mental health, domestic violence, and unfavorable parenting approaches and expectations are all perpetuated by patriarchal society.

            When taking a deeper look at patriarchy, I must admit that I feel the same way as most women. Men are our oppressors. Feeling offended when they hear the word patriarchy is not new, most men don’t like to be called out. When women call them out for who and what they really are to their dismay, they put up a wall of defense. Often men tend to fake that they are offended by being called oppressive, but women know that they bask in the sun while enjoying the title they have carried gracefully for decades, until women of the 19th and 20th centuries started to stand for what they believe in.

            When speaking of the patriarchy and holding men accountable for their doings, we might hear the phrase “not all men”. Unfortunately, it is all men. The patriarchy benefits them the most. Patriarchy and oppression are real and may be difficult to defend. As quoted in the article by Allan G Johnson “people in the upper classes are greedy, heartless, and cruel.” Although there may be a flipside to this individualistic model as stated in the article it is still difficult to just turn the other cheek, when patriarchy and oppression are so prevalent and is especially present in the behaviors of white males. Although, people of color suffer the wrath of such behaviors, white men continue to prosper to higher heights which plummets them too high paid positions like CEO’s, CFO’s etc. There is no guilt or shame for what they do because their pairs are also in those roles and does the same thing. People sometimes tend to blame the system. Meanwhile, the system is not to be blamed, it is just the fall guy, but one must also look in the mirror. The question was asked. “How is what we think of as normal life related to male privilege, women’s oppression, and the hierarchical

Control-obsessed world in which everyone’s lives are embedded?” Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice but to live with evil, making our lives intertwined with each other. Learning the alphabet of patriarchy is crucial for our well-being. We should all enjoy our dominance, not only men but women also, and should all be able share that space comfortably. Here we go again no matter where you go, what you do, or how you act once you are black, oppression and patriarchy would bite you in the ass. Not just by white men in this case but white people. Living as a woman of color, more specifically black women, we can see the difference in the way we are treated when we address problematic issues with dominance. When a black woman addresses issues with dominance, she is seen as the angry black woman but when white men address issues, they are seen as someone who is a leader. On a personal note, I have always treated people the way I want to be treated. It is shameful that we cannot co-exist as one.