The way I’ve come to see it is that if patriarchy were a pyramid in the desert, women wouldn’t even be on the bottom of that pyramid; instead they would be forced to be part of the scenery.
Maybe a dry bush, or a cactus, but always forcefully excluded from even actively being part of the pyramid where one can even gain power and often used as a resource by those in the pyramid, to the point where women are made almost completely irrelevant in society, by design with few exceptions.
The more we write, the more we can conclusively prove that their inaction is a result of willful ignorance rather than lack of access to information. And the less they can claim "I didn't know!".
Instead of patriarchy as habitat, I tend to use the term ecosystem. I grew up with evolution and survival of the fittest, but have adapted it to a desperate survival of the power-holders.
I am now looking at the books you listed, some of which I have.
But if I ever thought there was the penultimate list of ‘recommended readings’ it should include anything written by Professor Meredith…
I mean I'm mostly just translating everything I've read into easier language for other people! Sometimes I'm noodling on an original idea I've spawned from that reading.
I was told by my grad school therapist about patriarchy - likely in my mid20s. He described it in a very encompassing way the way you did, and yet my mind was still processing it more like, "oh that's the guys from the Jersey Shore, no way would I be interested in that, so I'm safe." If anything, I downplayed the extent to which patriarchy permeates society. I didn't understand that it had infected everyone bc it is the water that we swim in. I also had this hubris that if I didn't stand for what patriarchy stood for, I would be able to find a partner, who also did not wasn't entrenched in patriarchal norms. I'm sure to a certain extent, that might be true, but the gap between women who have unlearned vs. the men who haven't unlearned and are disinterested in doing so are so large that it's almost impossible to assortatively choose in that respect.
"It's hard to measure success when we're dealing with between 500 and 5,000 years of patriarchy depending on which continent we sit, so I would say feminism has been successful and we have a huge distance to go, huge." -- Gloria Steinem, Interview with Max Miller, bigthink.com. October 28, 2010.
The Venn diagram of people who say The Patriarchy doesn’t exist and that ANTIFA is a foreign-sponsored left-wing terror organisation is a circle. They don’t believe actually believe either statement, they just enjoy the fact that taking those positions keep them centred in both conversations.
One of the aspects of single sex education I appreciated through high school and my undergraduate degree was that all of the heads of clubs and all of the athletes and all of the folks who spoke up in class and argued points were women. We were the stagehands for the drama club and we wrote the school paper and we ran the political discussion club. When I got to law school, it was sadly easy to tell which of our women colleagues had either gone to women’s colleges or entered law school having been real estate agents or teachers or LPNs.
Some space apart from the patriarchy helped set expectations.
Decades ago, I attended a Unitarian church in New Jersey. One Sunday some African-American girls from the high school did native African dances for us. Now the congregation was very liberal. Probably all thought they were feminist, but after watching these girls perform beautifully, someone asked, but what about the boys? Is there anything for the boys? No one objected to that no one commented, including myself although I did know better, maybe others did too when the teacher said oh the boys have sports and things like that (this was before title IX) then everyone relaxed and everyone could enjoy the girls and their little dances because they didn’t have to worry about the boys anymore.
As you said, the people who could benefit from this knowledge most are also, probably, the most resistant to it. But nevertheless, your efforts are very valuable and welcome. :)
I started studying painting when I was 11 and a few months. My teacher, Pauline Lorentz, was a brilliant painter. One of the first things she instructed me was to never sign my first name…”just your initial, with your last name,“ she said.
The way I’ve come to see it is that if patriarchy were a pyramid in the desert, women wouldn’t even be on the bottom of that pyramid; instead they would be forced to be part of the scenery.
Maybe a dry bush, or a cactus, but always forcefully excluded from even actively being part of the pyramid where one can even gain power and often used as a resource by those in the pyramid, to the point where women are made almost completely irrelevant in society, by design with few exceptions.
Thanks for another great post. I’m saving this one so I can just send the link to people who need a primer.
Unfortunately those who most need it probably won't listen, but I had to try.
The more we write, the more we can conclusively prove that their inaction is a result of willful ignorance rather than lack of access to information. And the less they can claim "I didn't know!".
Understandable tbh ...
Yes. But it’s a time saver. If they won’t read it, they aren’t honest actors.
Instead of patriarchy as habitat, I tend to use the term ecosystem. I grew up with evolution and survival of the fittest, but have adapted it to a desperate survival of the power-holders.
I am now looking at the books you listed, some of which I have.
But if I ever thought there was the penultimate list of ‘recommended readings’ it should include anything written by Professor Meredith…
Your Field Guide… excellent. Thank you.
Humbly, Em
I mean I'm mostly just translating everything I've read into easier language for other people! Sometimes I'm noodling on an original idea I've spawned from that reading.
*smiles*, well you are very good at it.
My degree is from a women's college. I was so exciting, not having to hide my light under a bushel, so as not to alienate the boys.
I was told by my grad school therapist about patriarchy - likely in my mid20s. He described it in a very encompassing way the way you did, and yet my mind was still processing it more like, "oh that's the guys from the Jersey Shore, no way would I be interested in that, so I'm safe." If anything, I downplayed the extent to which patriarchy permeates society. I didn't understand that it had infected everyone bc it is the water that we swim in. I also had this hubris that if I didn't stand for what patriarchy stood for, I would be able to find a partner, who also did not wasn't entrenched in patriarchal norms. I'm sure to a certain extent, that might be true, but the gap between women who have unlearned vs. the men who haven't unlearned and are disinterested in doing so are so large that it's almost impossible to assortatively choose in that respect.
Excellent essay, Professor.
"It's hard to measure success when we're dealing with between 500 and 5,000 years of patriarchy depending on which continent we sit, so I would say feminism has been successful and we have a huge distance to go, huge." -- Gloria Steinem, Interview with Max Miller, bigthink.com. October 28, 2010.
The Venn diagram of people who say The Patriarchy doesn’t exist and that ANTIFA is a foreign-sponsored left-wing terror organisation is a circle. They don’t believe actually believe either statement, they just enjoy the fact that taking those positions keep them centred in both conversations.
LoL "not all women so patriarchy doesn't exist" - good one fellas.
One of the aspects of single sex education I appreciated through high school and my undergraduate degree was that all of the heads of clubs and all of the athletes and all of the folks who spoke up in class and argued points were women. We were the stagehands for the drama club and we wrote the school paper and we ran the political discussion club. When I got to law school, it was sadly easy to tell which of our women colleagues had either gone to women’s colleges or entered law school having been real estate agents or teachers or LPNs.
Some space apart from the patriarchy helped set expectations.
The role of modern online industrialized pornography needs more examination and open discussion.
Yes!
Decades ago, I attended a Unitarian church in New Jersey. One Sunday some African-American girls from the high school did native African dances for us. Now the congregation was very liberal. Probably all thought they were feminist, but after watching these girls perform beautifully, someone asked, but what about the boys? Is there anything for the boys? No one objected to that no one commented, including myself although I did know better, maybe others did too when the teacher said oh the boys have sports and things like that (this was before title IX) then everyone relaxed and everyone could enjoy the girls and their little dances because they didn’t have to worry about the boys anymore.
I could totally see that happening.
I am so over the PATRIARCHY! It benefits men not women.
What benefits everyone is the MATRIARCHY! Women are BUILT for LEADERSHIP! Women's Brains process information faster than Mens.
A Matriarchy benefits everyone! I just posted on this.
These are 30 top articles on Women and Leadership. I have so much more .
Introduction to the Female Brain. Link to the Power Point: The benefits of Women in Leadership
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UNYelE1APtXtbR69Osp9kOYm-Y5MQyx3/view?usp=sharing
Men need to take a step back and just look handsome. Isn't that what women were told for hundreds of years? Just look pretty ...
Really good intro, Meredith!
As you said, the people who could benefit from this knowledge most are also, probably, the most resistant to it. But nevertheless, your efforts are very valuable and welcome. :)
I started studying painting when I was 11 and a few months. My teacher, Pauline Lorentz, was a brilliant painter. One of the first things she instructed me was to never sign my first name…”just your initial, with your last name,“ she said.