tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post115330735863422643..comments2023-10-30T02:03:56.081+13:00Comments on Capitalism Bad; Tree Pretty: Why I don't blame the patriarchyMaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153402138440068992006-07-21T01:28:00.000+12:002006-07-21T01:28:00.000+12:00KC Sheehan I agree with your points about inter-re...KC Sheehan I agree with your points about inter-related systems - but I don't think using the term 'patriarchy' solves any of those problems. Since it sounds like one over-arching system of gender oppression, and even if the person who uses it intends to use it to describe a set of interlocking systems there's no way anyone's every going to know that.<BR/><BR/>When I talk about capitalism I'm talking about a very specific economic system, I have a rough idea of how it works and assume that anyone I'm talking has the same undrstanding. While it's a useful term I don't think it's a substitute for 'patriarchy' they don't mean anything like the same thing.Maiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153386349936201922006-07-20T21:05:00.000+12:002006-07-20T21:05:00.000+12:00I agree sexist/misogynist clarifies the attitudes ...I agree sexist/misogynist clarifies the attitudes and behaviour that is the key problem. It also gets over the idea that there is a conscious system promoting those values, there are many who do, but also many who don'tLibertyscotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12741049550997300680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153365058760509102006-07-20T15:10:00.000+12:002006-07-20T15:10:00.000+12:00You make a good point about "patriarchy" convenien...You make a good point about "patriarchy" conveniently glossing over ignorance, confusion and/or disagreement, but I have to object to "sexist/misogynist society" as a substitute. "Patriarchy" designates a person or group believed to rule a society, like oligarchy, monarchy, etc. and highlights its role in shaping society, while sexism and misogyny are only two of the many devices used by the Patriarchy (or whatever you want to call The Man, our Corporate Masters) to divide and control the oppressed. By mandating, encouraging, perpetuating and manipulating not only sexist and misogynist attitudes and practices among the oppressed, but also racism, xenophobia, heteronormativity, etc., The Man keeps us fighting with each other instead of addressing the true perpetrators and beneficiaries of oppression. Calling the problem "sexist/misogynist society" both is too narrow (because sex is too interlocked with race, etc.) and directs attention away from the real villains. If you want a substitute for Patriarchy, how about "Capitalism"? <BR/><BR/>*Looks at title of blog, scratches head.*KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05179368473383373302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153361995948658992006-07-20T14:19:00.000+12:002006-07-20T14:19:00.000+12:00I don't think it necessarily sounds like a detaile...I don't think it necessarily sounds like a detailed analysis Stetnor. But if someone writes 'the patriarchy wants women to do X' - that does imply that the patriarchy is some sort of unified coherent system, and we all agree how it works and how it conveys what it wants. As that's generally not the case, I think talking about what the patriarchy wants (for example) only confuses our analysis.Maiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153353780661034032006-07-20T12:03:00.000+12:002006-07-20T12:03:00.000+12:00Interesting -- I've never taken "patriarchy" to im...Interesting -- I've never taken "patriarchy" to imply any sort of detailed analysis.Stentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13629599671442149938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153344643857743172006-07-20T09:30:00.000+12:002006-07-20T09:30:00.000+12:00I think feminism is a problematic term. I still us...I think feminism is a problematic term. I still use it because there is no alternative but I have to restrain myself when I see people saying things like "I hate feminists" from saying "what exactly do you mean?" and then launching into a big explanation of all the various strands theory and their many contradictions- difference feminism, dominance feminism, domesticity feminism which I'd probably follow by a short list of recommended readings. But probably I'd just be wasting my time if I did this because what they mean is really they hate upppity women who make them feel threatened.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04797661728002935006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153337594576917252006-07-20T07:33:00.000+12:002006-07-20T07:33:00.000+12:00I always got the impression hidden in its usage wa...I always got the impression hidden in its usage was the idea that it was somthing the user understood but no one I know does.Geniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11624496692217466430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-1153310163496706402006-07-19T23:56:00.000+12:002006-07-19T23:56:00.000+12:00Heh. I use "patriarchy" all the time, but it's mor...Heh. I use "patriarchy" all the time, but it's more because it's the closest word I know to describe the thing I can't stand, i.e. the sexist/misogynist society. Which is fraught with difficulties and misinterpretations too. I can't just call it "the bullshit" because I occasionally discuss feminism with my 90-year-old great-aunt, and she wouldn't like that.Sofiyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271450822046525653noreply@blogger.com