It is essential to recognize the difference between systematic and individualistic views. Most people who follow patriarchy follow it because of the idea that it has been a long-time system, and most people are afraid to break it. Usually, when people get offended when insulting patriarchy, it’s because most times, they feel the need to stand by that system. Other times, it just hurts their manhood, to be honest. Most times, the ones following the patriarchal system are a cultural/structural and institutional level of oppression. Most of them feel the need to follow that system because it was born into and is most of what they know. In Allan Johnson’s “What Is This Thing Called Patriarchy?” He wrote, “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.” I chose this quote because the system partly shapes the individual’s identity. Those that stand by patriarchy are also oppressed within the existing system. People are raised under certain beliefs at a personal level and want to follow those beliefs. Most times, it’s within their conscious, but other times it’s not. Most people do things unconsciously and don’t even realize it. This happens to a lot of people. Sometimes they are born into a system and assume what’s wrong is right and vice versa. Interpersonal is how we react to things, our language, and our behavior—following a patriarchal system can choose how to act when in a given situation. For example, “The path of least resistance in such a situation is to go along and not make any trouble…, and unless he is willing to deal with the greater resistance that would follow, that is the choice he is most likely to make,” (Johnson 31). This quote shows the way people think when a situation is presented to them. The man sees a young girl being sexually assaulted by another at a party from the selection above. He has different ways to react and how he can not react. Most times, most people would just stick to the less problematic option hoping someone would step up instead of them. Hopefully, he makes the right choice and helps her out because that would be “structurally” correct in society. If we want change, we need to be physical about it. It’s come to that point in time.
5 thoughts on “Jade Pimentel Discussion 5”
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See my note on your reading reflection 4. It is relevant to this post as well.
Hello Jade,
The readings from this week allowed me to understand why it is so vital that the patriarchy is recognized for the institution that it is- and not for the individualistic views we have mistakenly taken it for. Being introduced to the levels of Oppression, I can honestly say that I did not have a clue as to the complexity nor did I know that the levels influence one another. As you mentioned, the patriarchy has been instilled for so long that some people are truly afraid to branch away from it, which is more harmless, in the end. You also brought up a great point, which is that some people resonate with the patriarchy and in some way, it shapes who they are, thus making them follow the beliefs of the system- whether this is happening consciously or unconsciously. You mentioned that these individuals are still oppressed, even if they stand by the patriarchy and its important because it just further shows the power of the patriarchy. Truthfully, I feel that we need to start educating ourselves more because the patriarchy is a vicious cycle that will never end if we continue either misinformed or oblivious.
When you say we need to be physical in regard to our desire for change, do you mean that you believe we should begin protesting?
Hi Jade! :o)
I think it’s really interesting just how ingrained patriarchal views are in our subconscious. As a woman, you’d think that we’d be able to quickly notice our own biases, but we’ve been trained to be so competitive with one another, so a lot of women resort to belittling each other. I see this a lot in my family. Misogynistic tendencies are oftentimes humored and encouraged. I really want to end this cycle, but it’s going to take a lot more than just one person.
Hey Jade,
All in all I enjoyed reading your response. Something that I like that you wrote was when you said “Most people who follow patriarchy follow it because of the idea that it has been a long-time system, and most people are afraid to break it. Usually, when people get offended when insulting patriarchy, it’s because most times, they feel the need to stand by that system”. The reason why I liked this is because it just shows how society has impacted all of the generations. Our parents were taught something that their parents were taught and vice versa so when it comes down to change and stepping away from what we were taught to be right, it can be seen as acting out or something that shouldn’t be done.
I agree with you that we need to separate the system and the individuals. Only when we can do that, we can find better way to against the system