The patriarchy is a system that affects everyone. It’s a system that both men and women participate in without even realizing it. It is also normality that is taught to our current and future generations. This can be because of culture or environments in general. Before reading the provided text Allan Johnson, “Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them or an Us” I always believed that the Patriarchy was something that everyone pushes forward some type of way without realizing. I also always blamed men mostly for the patriarchy I know we shouldn’t only be blaming one group but a lot of the things I believe connect back to men in some type of way. Society is primarily built of ideals that benefit men in a way or was shaped because of a mans opinion. (IMO) For example even though there are a lot of women who push forward misogynistic ideals they all come from the environment they are in and how they were raised. Some of these environments have fathers who practice those ideals even if the argument was used of ” but their father isn’t in their life and it was their mother ” then let’s look back a generation or two and would point back to a father. I do believe that this conversation should be pushed forward because it would help everyone know where their places are in the conversation. After reading the text the patriarchy is a institutional oppression because it affects everyone. Allan Johnson does a great job of explaining how instead of continuing to blame one group specifically or specific individuals we should instead guide the conversation into “why is it like this?” The text as well does a great job of explaining that the patriarchy can be seen even in what many of us would consider small.. for example jokes. Jokes that are deemed dark humor. After reading I realize that I blame men a little less of the patriarchy. Everyone pushes this patriarchy forward everyday. Even though many people were raised a specific day I believe everyone can educate themselves and stop perpetuating it more. Even tho the patriarchy mostly benefits men it can also affect men negatively without them realizing. Things like toxic masculinity can also be seen as something that is praised by the patriarchy without even noticing that it affects them and stops them from educating themselves because it’s the normal environment most men were raised in.
4 thoughts on “Melanie Velez Discussion 5”
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Hi Melanie,
I also felt that the patriarchy was supported, or participated in, mostly by men due to our history and the fact that they are held in such high regard once compared to women. I also appreciated that Johnson’s main point wasn’t to point the finger on who’s to blame and rather focused on trying to shift the conversation into being more about how we can change it. He also mentioned that the system has changed over time, so it gives me hope that we will have the ability to make it better in the near future.
Hi Melanie,
I think you’re absolutely right about how patriarchy affects men as well. However, the sad truth is most of them don’t seem to realize it. Every time I see a man talk about his abuse, it is usually taken lightly (mostly by men). At least with women, there seems to be a sort of solidarity, which doesn’t automatically make things easier. But not having anyone In your corner must be so terrifying and heartbreaking.
Hi Melanie,
I believe you are correct in your assessment of how patriarchy impacts men. The unfortunate reality is that most of them don’t seem to recognize it. As I see a man speak about his assault, it’s frequently dismissed mostly by men and not by women . There appears to be a sense of solidarity among women, which does not always make things better.
Hey Melanie,
Thank you for pointing out how you always believed men were the root cause and participants of the patriarchy. This is something that I can attest to as well as I also believe we are taught to blame men for the oppression of women. It is interesting to see, in the reading, how we also actively participate in the system of patriarchy and enforce its values when we do not challenge it or question it. We simply act in it, unconsciously, due to the behaviors that we were taught from childhood years and in the society we live in. It is actually quite difficult to terminate a system that has been ingrained in all of our behaviors for such a long time, but realizing that we all make it work and challenging it would be a step forward in that direction.