I find Jaisley’s choice in this snapshot quite interesting because it is open for interpretation, with support from the texts, including the lead on the term “patriarchy” serving as the roots of a sprouting tree. As seen in Allan Johnson’s, “The Gender Knot: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy”, it is clear that patriarchy is something deeply rooted into society, in which we find other branches within society that are affected by patriarchy, although not directly affiliated with one another. Just as in Audre Lorde’s, “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions”, they explain that “any attack against lesbians and gays is a Black issue, because thousands of lesbians and gay men are Black.”, supporting the idea that direct affiliation is not necessary because it negatively affects both categories. The branches in this snapshot also bring the word “intertwined” to my mind and that is because all categories that create the identity of an individual become one and can be either faced with the oppression that a patriarchal society holds or can either find themselves at an advantage. The boldness in the red color also stands out to me in a way that reflects the evil and harm that comes with keeping patriarchal values to maintain a sense of control in a society. That is when the scissors come to play, symbolizing the potential liberation and growth that can happen if society were to act against patriarchal norms.

Allan Johnson explains how it is our stagnant and bystander behavior that allows these norms to remain in place and that society has a chance at this liberation if there exists a willingness, despite backlash that one may receive, to embrace and act for change. Even so, this would take a considerably large effort from society to eliminate what’s been in place for many years. I suppose this is why the tree in this snapshot is only at a sprouting state in comparison to its roots. Going back to the topic of branches, it is not easy to specify which categories are impacted within a patriarchal society but there is one that puzzles me. That would be the male experience within a patriarchal and their awareness, or lack of, this existing matter. If a male is aware that they cannot express the emotions that a woman is expected to express, despite both being human and knowing that emotions are natural occurrences, would that not motivate men to end this norm set in place by patriarchal values? After all, that is their silent battle. Something else that constantly seems to puzzle me is women’s degradation of one another, women who actively participate in the reinforcement of patriarchal values. Society is in a constant loop of oppression and there are cases in which some actively participate due to fear for several reasons. These situations reflect Audre Lorde quoted text, one should not pick and choose because one does not have the power of doing so, unless one does not directly experience any form of oppression from these values.

Hillary’s snapshot is of a boy with a sentence on it that says Boys Don’t CRY! But this Don’t is crossed out, which means the boy should cry. In a patriarchal society, a man is the head of the family. There is a Chinese saying that “a man has tears but he does not flick it lightly”, which means that a man cannot shed tears easily even in important matters. This will be a joke. However, now that men and women are equal, men don’t need to care about their faces. Even if they cry, no one will laugh at them.

In The Gender Knot, Johnson demonstrates how people’s experiences of sexism are a direct outcome of our society’s patriarchal framework. He explains how the typical individual contributes to patriarchal oppression by refusing to question the existing system, suggesting that because males directly profit from patriarchy. 

Johnson deconstructs the patriarchy’s ability to favor males while also making them feel inferior. Patriarchy has an impact on many aspects of society, including political leadership, corporate management, faith-based organizations, the economy, and property ownership, all the way down to our communities or homes, where men are viewed as the main providers. 

He also critiques the men’s rights movement’s motivations as well as the use of the term “misandry.” This refers to generalized hate, disdain, or prejudice against males and boys. Social inequality, sexism, antagonism, mockery, demeaning of males, violence against men, and sexual objectification are all examples of misandry.

According to the text, “Patriarchy is a kind of society organized around certain kinds of social relationships and ideas that shape paths of least resistance.” For example, A patriarchal society is one in which males govern and determine all the principles, while women stay at home and care for the children. 

MeiQi’s snapshot illustrates that patriarchy is equally harmful to males as it is to women. Many men tend to separate their thoughts and depict seeking help because it is seen even though a sign of weakness. It’s a never-ending pressure on men to conform to a limited notion of masculinity, compete with one another, and demonstrate their manhood by denying their humanity and giving up their distinctiveness. 

However, patriarchy is not restricted to men. Women who have the same ideas and prejudices as men may be equally patriarchal. Many women still think that males should have greater control over them rather than being equal to men.

Growing up, my mother constantly told me as a young girl that if I ever married, I should be able to cook and clean for my spouse, but she never mentioned this to my brother. She would also advise me to chew with my mouth closed, carry a purse whenever I went out, and never sit with my legs spread. Again,  t his was never addressed to brother, who was referred to as the “Man of the House” regularly. Although she no longer expresses or behaves in this manner, she did succumb to patriarchy in the past.

Patriarchy has been challenged for numerous generations, and it will take many more before it is entirely removed. Regardless of our practice or stage of life, we all have various alternatives for combating the patriarchal system. We must acknowledge the influence of patriarchy and embrace our social privilege to abolish it. One approach to dismantle the patriarchy is to educate ourselves so that we are more open to having discussions and allowing development opportunities. Another option is to analyze how gender roles can change at home and outside the home, as well as how standards and expectations differ between men and boys in the same household. Finally, we should concentrate on developing appropriate alternatives to existing power structures.

Male and Female privilege both exist, there is female oppression because men like control women and think that it’s okay to do that, when I hear about that I just think about why or how did this even exist in the first place. Patriarchy, the system, An it, Not a He, a Them, or an Us by Allan G. Johnson states on pg 1, ” Some of the time, men feel defensive because they identify with patriarchy and it’s values and do not want face the consequences these produce or the prospect of giving up male privilege.” Further more if men were to actually make a change and face the consequences there would have to be changes made but with the world we live in it’s seems that it can be kind of difficult because we would have to have a clear understanding of what is changing in the world. While I was reading the article Patriarchy, the system, An it, Not a He, a Them, or an Us by Allan G. Johnson on pg 7 it states, “To demonstrate that gender privilege and oppression exist, we do not have to show that men are villains, that women are good-hearted victims, that women do not need to participate in their own oppression, or that men never oppose it”. Every one sees each other differently but remember both privileges are still here today. Who knows if one day there will be change in the world about this. Discrimination in gender is another huge issue we deal with today as well it which is an unequal treatment to of a group base on the gender so like sexual harassment or unequal pay are two of them. The article “There is No Hierarchy of Oppression’s by Audre Lorde on pg 1 it sates, ” And I cannot afford to choose between the fronts upon which I must battle these forces of discrimination”. Here they are saying that we have to let them know that discrimination is not right and both genders should be treated equally. One thing that came back to my mind was when women in the past years were protesting for equal pay which was actually the women’s strike I believe.They protested because they wanted to work and be payed equally also to prove that we as women are capable of doing anything.

In my opinion I think men and women should have equal rights because we both fit in the same term gender. I question myself what would the world be like if none of these issues existed or the issues being left in the past. Today were still dealing with some of these issues and its sucks that we haven’t seen a change. I think we should make a change in this world. When I think about all of these issues its just like are we going to find a way to stop it or at least make a change in it. But you see now this is the world we live in and the fact that we had to live with these issues in our lives.

Allison Williams

9/27/21

Section 170W

GWS 100

Introduction to Erick Luevanos’ snapshot
The snapshot from Erick Luevanos depicts a Black civil rights activist who speaks her mind about how she’s not free if other women are not free and even women who are different share a common struggle to be treated equally. My thoughts are for this snapshot is that I agree with it because other women want to have their rights. I have seen a few documentaries, as well as movies that I can relate to this article. For example, a video that is called “Untold Stories of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement” which talks about Black women fighting in the suffrage movement. Even after slavery ended, Black women were still experiencing suffering, racism and white supremacy. Noble figures such as Ida B. Wells who fought hard against sexism, racism and violence in the 19th and early 20th centuries. She also contributed to share evidence on the conditions of African Americans throughout the South. Wells also then co-owned and wrote the Memphis Free speech and headlight newspaper and she documented about lynching in the country. How I felt about this is far disappointing and it is hurting the human rights due to racism. This also relates to the reading called “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions” by Audre Lorde, because the author mentions that being Black while in the lesbian and gay community has shown her that there is no hierarchy of oppression because there are no levels of oppression and they are all equally important. In the snapshot, there is a similar point in it because any women of all races who are either in LGBTQ community or not still have struggles that ties to the author’s own issues.

The second article “Patriarchy, The System” by Allan G. Johnson makes ties to the snapshot because rights being denied by patriarchy in society. Men can become offensive due to thinking that they are superior to women. Something that I found in the reading is a quote that Johnson mentioned. It tells us what Harry Brod said said about male privilege. “We need to be clear that there is no such thing as giving up one’s privilege to be “outside” the system. The only question is whether one is part of the system in a way which challenges or strengthens the status quo. Privilege is not something I take and which I therefore have the option of not taking.” (Johnson, pg 41) I agree with what is said in this quote but I am glad it never happened to me. My parents raised both me and my brothers and treated our genders equally with respect. For example, my brother had to do the dishes just like I did. In other homes that kind of work would be for the girl. But not in my home home thankfully. My mother wanted her daughter to be educated just like her sons. That again is an example of how my family did not submit to patriarchy.