It is important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity because it isn’t something we chose to do or take part in, it was bestowed onto us. Patriarchy was basically drilled into us from birth and, from then on, was placed everywhere. As if it was a requirement in life, it shaped how we act, do things, and say. Patriarchy is when there is an imbalance of power, and a specific there can’t be changed. And instead, we would be run as hopeless puppets.

On the structural level, patriarchy is the system, and it is the standard by which we live and is what is considered the norm. Such as the men going to wars, not because they want to but because it’s the law, all while women are expected to stay back and care for the child. This then leads us to the institutional level. There is an unequal distribution of opportunities, rewards, and resources in the workplace for women. both parents may be working outside the home, and women are likely to work lower-level pink collars jobs. On the interpersonal level, patriarchy shapes the action of a man and what they are most likely to do in certain situations. It somewhat shapes their beliefs and sometimes blinds them to what is right and what’s wrong. Johnson gives us an example” when a young college male student at part observes another man taking sexual advantage of young women who’s drunk” he then explains how multiple options will go through his head. Still, ultimately he won’t step in. this is mainly because ” to not get in the way of another man making use of women have certain beliefs that oppose the rules of patriarchy. For example, when a man abuses or harasses a woman, the man won’t intervene often, and women stay quiet. This is because men have always been given the power to dominate women, and women are weak and powerless. But once someone finally decides to be different and go against what’s seen as normal, this is when the influence on all levels of oppression is seen. For example, if a man realizes that his beliefs are wrong and isn’t afraid to stand by them, his action and choices change. Once action changes, he can push for change that would eventually change what is seen as the new normal or truth. The same applies to women; once there is a change in belief, she realizes that she can be strong and have power, and with that change a new norm will come about.

From what I got from the reading by wendy syfret, “how to think like an activist,” and the Netflix documentary “knock down the house,” I think activism is basically about protesting something that you believe in and what needs to be changed. This generation, especially the younger generation, likes to speak their mind, and some do it for the right reason. Activism shows people the meaning of becoming powerful in something that needs change. It gives people a view of society in a bigger picture.

I decided to watch the documentary ” knock down the house,” which involved Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, Amy vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin. These four women were running for Congress against men while going through hardship and trying to make society understand that the men won’t actually be changing anything meaningful to happen. The activism that I see in the documentary is that they all wanted their voices to be heard. People didn’t think that they would make it far since they were going against men who had more experience than them. These four powerful women weren’t going to let them push them around. They each had a story and were fighting for their story to be heard. This documentary shows that no matter your background or knowledge or where you come from, you have the right to fight for what you believe in. in the video, where I saw activism was when amy vilela wanted to do anything in her power to win for Congress. She wanted to do for her daughter to get justice. Her daughter would have been alive if it wasn’t for the insurance system. that system didn’t allow her daughter to take a test to find out if she was sick or not. That’s when amy wanted to be in Congress to take away that system so it doesn’t take another person’s life.

To be honest, I haven’t been in any activist group. I’ve seen them on social media and during the pandemic. For instance, black life matters, the abortion system, gun laws, and many more. Those activist groups I would have loved to have been part of it. It’s something I wanted to see change for the better. This society needs to know what they need to let go. Their old tradition isn’t working, and it’s never been. Those protest shows how this society needs to wake up for real.

After all the reading I’ve read, my favorite one that opened my mind up was about ” feminist politics where we stand” by bell hooks. This made me think about the knowledge I had already known and think deeper. There was a saying that she said about feminism becoming a definition she hopes will come to a regular definition word people use every day. I can agree with bell hook because there are people who support this idea, but in reality, they don’t actually know what it means. This reading helps me out with the information about feminists, and im pretty sure it will help all the men out there as well. I suggest people read so that they can better understand the meaning of feminism.

In this book, ” beyond the gender binary” by Alok Vaid- Menon, speaks about gender fluidity, the challenges the community faces, and what it would mean to get passed those challenges. Gender has always been a big topic but has grown over the years. Although the subject of gender identity is growing, there is a lack of understanding about it. Alok states that ” a lot more airtime is given to other people’s views of us rather than our own experiences” when instead, it should be reversed. This is important because, over the years, more restrictions have been placed on their community at the local, state, and federal levels. Doing this would stop covering up the truth about the hardships and put them one step closer to ending the discrimination faced by the gender-nonconforming people. And instead of living as people with no fear of losing their jobs, homes, or everyday privileges just for expressing who they are” that it’s all states, ” I do not have the luxury of being. I am only seen as doing”, that it’s all an act and that they go back to being a man or woman at the end of the day. Going beyond the gender binary norm wouldn’t mean being tolerated but instead accepted. It would indicate safety, understanding, acknowledgment, and being seen as other human beings expressing themselves and who they really are.

My gender as a woman goes against the binary norm: burning in public, taking out my wedgie, cursing a lot in public, speaking my mind, etc. These are something things that people will not usually see women do these things in public. They expected women to be kind and ladylike all the time. Now how my gender fits the binary norm will be wearing girl clothing, putting on make-up, laughing with my mouth covering my hands, shaving my legs, doing my nail, etc. All these things are what women are supposed to be dressing or doing. This is how it used to be in the older generation, so I don’t know how it will be now in today’s society.

I have always thought that privileged was only about people who could afford the expensive stuff. But then I went to Mexico to see my family for the first time. My parents made sure that I didn’t bring any nice things to Mexico. When my parent told me that, I wondered why my parents would say that. When I arrived, I noticed why my parents said that to me. My cousin was so happy about my coming to visit them. When I was looking around the house, I noticed things that didn’t have half of the things I had in my house. For instance, they didn’t have a lot of future or even doors for privacy. I also notice my cousin’s clothing. My clothing was from brand and didn’t have rips or dirt. My cousins were starting at what I was wearing, and they told me that they wished they had nice clothes like mine. I felt like when I was there, I noticed things that never crossed my mind. There I would be considered privileged, which made me think to be more appreciative of my things.

I’ve experienced oppression when it came to sex. my family has this thing that women can’t go anywhere unless a man goes with them if anything bad happens. Since I have an older brother, they make him go with me wherever I go. When it came to something, I wanted to be independent. My parents will tell me I can’t go anywhere unless he goes. I never understood that. Why do I, as women have to go with a man being either my brother or cousin to every place I go? that whole tradition my family has should be let go. They need to realize that women are capable of taking care of themselves. Another thing I experienced was when the men of the house expected the women to do the usual womanly stuff: cleaning, cooking, and listening to everything they had to say. That’s another tradition men need to let go of.

The reading and the video combined helpt me understand privilege in more depth. Anything that considers having something someone else doesn’t have is considered a privilege, and we need to realize that we are all privileged in many ways we think we aren’t. Reading Marilyn also helped me understand a word that I didn’t know, oppression. im glad that I had the chance to understand the reading and open my mind to think bigger.