Patriarchy

      Patriarchy has been around for generations and has impacted the quality of life for women for many years. Although, this social structure existed for so long I hadn't known it had an actual name for it until reading, "The Will to Change" by Bell Hooks. This social law has impacted many women throughout history and it is something we still battle today. Throughout my personal experiences I have felt the chains of patriarchy and agree with Hooks, it is indeed a time for change. She defines patriarchy within our society and also how it affects family structure. Hooks describes patriarchy as, "a political-social system that insist that males inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism.". (Hooks 18) In other words, patriarchy is subconscious perspective has impacted generations of men and women. This is also the cause of why men are portrayed as the dominant superior gender over females. Hooks disagrees and argues this point of view with valid points that we should listen to. She uses her own personal experiences and her struggle against patriarchy to get her point across to the readers. I feel as though many of us women still are battling this social classification but can not let it condition us to think this is the way of life.

      Since the beginning of time women have always been thought as the weaker gender but I never understood why. Patriarchy is to blame for these inequalities and injustice ways of thinking but why did our ancestors follow these social rules? It is like what Hooks mentioned in the readings, "the power of patriarchal culture is to hold us captive,". This type of social classification has held women captive from opportunities for many generations. Our ancestors have stood up and fought for the justice of women. However,  patriarchy also affects men just as much but more of a psychological level. She quotes, "Patriarchy demands of men that they become and remain emotional cripples. Since it is a system that denies men full access to their freedom of will, it is difficult of any man of any class to rebel against patriarchy, to be disloyal to the patriarchal parent, be that parent female or male.".(Hooks 27)This can affect the mental health of an individual since we are social creatures. Having to restrain oneself from feelings due to social injustice can affect mental health in the long run for any person. This disadvantages men from many opportunities as well, it cripples their ability to create and maintain relationships, be sympathetic caregivers, and most importantly disallows men from being able to express themselves.

    Something interesting that Bell Hooks points out, is that this social classification starts in the home of families at an early age. It saddens me that from an early age girls and boys are given limited choices in families that follow the patriarchal perspective.She explains how this patriarchal culture still manages to maintain itself the homes of families, she states "Most children do not learn what to call this system of institutionalized gender roles, so rarely do we name it in everyday speech. This silence promotes denial. And how can we organize to challenge and change a system that can not be named?".( Hooks 25) It is as though subconsciously this injustice social rule we all followed has been implemented on us from such an early age. Giving such restrictions from an early age only limits the growth for individuals and their future. It disallows for girls and boys to gain certain opportunities and restricts them from actually learning about themselves.

     However, individuals of this generation are fighting back against this type of mentality. More and more groups of activist are against this  patriarchal social class way of thinking. Activists groups such as Pussy Riot, is a Russian Feminist group with the platform of the media have had much controversy around their names for standing up for what they believe in. People who are fighting against this social injustice are normal people like us. Such activist, like Vivien Labaton and Tracy Sturdivant, co-founders of Make It Work Campaign have stood up for equal rights at home and work between both genders. Vivien quotes, "As the mother of a young son and a daughter, my hopes are really for the next generation of women and men. I dont want my children's success to be dictated by their gender. I dont want either of my kids to feel pressured by limiting gender norms about work or care giving. I want my daughter to be able to pursue her profession ambitions unencumbered by out dates expectation and I want my son to be supported to be engaged parent and caregiver.". (Vivien 2) One of the various ways these women get their campaign out there is through the the platform of media. They have a website that I have posted below, if anyone would like to check it out! By spreading the word and getting more people aware of this injustice that exists we have the power to end this patriarchal perspective. It only takes one powerful movement to make an impact on something we all can stand up for.

(MakeItWorkCampaign)

http://www.makeitworkcampaign.org/gender-toolkit/

Please see MakeItWork campaign website to learn more information. Spread the word!




Citations: 
Chittal, N. (2015, March 31). 11 women's rights activists you should know. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/11-womens-rights-activists-you-should-know