To overcome patriarchy, men first have to see it in themselves

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

I wish I had grown up with sisters. Maybe then I wouldn’t have felt so blindsided by the conversations about sexual violence emerging across the world right now. I’m ashamed to say that I have been completely oblivious, even about the women with whom I am especially close.
That I am only now realizing the truth, thanks to the #MeToo movement and, most recently, the Kavanaugh hearings speaks to my own male privilege. I grew up with three brothers, and we hardly ever talked about sexual violence. I can’t recall a single occasion where my brothers or I refrained from doing something because we worried that our gender made us targets.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2018/10/03/to-overcome-patriarchy-men-first-have-to-see-it-in-themselves/

[guillaumeb]

1. I have never worried that my clothing was too suggestive.

I have never worried that I was being judged on my chest size.

I have never worried that my gender made me less than others.

[ariadne0614]

2. I feel compelled to paraphrase Simone de Beauvoir.

“Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of (authoritarian, patriarchal, misogynist, white) men. They describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth.” This “Master Narrative” has poisoned the minds and hearts of generations of innocent male children. I am heartened by many signs that a few good men are rejecting their toxic conditioning. Grateful women embrace you with love. Thank you.

[guillaumeb]

3. My wife and 2 daughters have described numerous moments

of misogyny that they each experienced. As have other women friends and my sisters.


And yes, as you note, this conditioning to treat women as possessions is toxic for males and obviously females.

[Freddie]

4. I am so fortunate

My husband is NOT like that. You could call him a male feminist if that’s allowed. I must thank his mother, who was certainly not “the little woman”, a rare breed for someone who married and had her kids in the 50s. She taught him well (RIP, Pat). I think it rubbed off on our son, who has a true equal partnership with his fiancé.