I think it is important to recognize patriarchy as a system because it is far more powerful than you can imagine. Patriarchy has existed for so long that it is difficult to pin the blame on a single person. I believe it is easier to blame the system because the outcome is truly everyone’s fault. For example, we cannot blame modern men for what men did thousands of years ago, but we can ensure that such mistakes do not occur again. As well as educating men on why it was wrong because it will all happen again if proper education is not given. That is why it is important that history be taught, regardless of whether it is “boring” or “depressing.” Winston Churchill once said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This, I believe, is why we see so many repeat offenses: no one is learning from the past. Anyway, because the system is to blame, it is our responsibility to dismantle the norms established by the very system that created patriarchy.

I believe that oppression begins at the cultural and structural levels. Our culture is where we get the majority of our ideas. Our cultures have a significant impact on us, regardless of how much we are aware of it. Many of the ideas and opinions that have been instilled in our minds come from our culture. In Jamaica, for example, the ideal beauty is “brown.” That means you have to be fair-skinned. Many people spend their entire lives bleaching their skin. Following this process, these norms become institutionalized—in other words, they become a written or unwritten rules. This rule is becoming more prominent in everyday life. Because these rules are becoming more common, they have an impact on how people act in social situations. Colorism is an example of this. After being treated unfairly because of their skin color, many people just treat fair-skinned people differently than dark-skinned people. Several people were programmed as children to marry someone with fair skin so that their children would be lighter. Finally, whether intentional or not, the personal process is when you begin to adjust these norms to your life. When that happens, you adopt the attitude and begin to firmly believe in those ideas. I believe these processes are used with men because they see how common it is to treat women poorly and begin to adapt that to their lives as a result of what they have learned.