America & Sexism

Originally posted by S_W_LeGenD
IMO, patriarchy is a culture which primarily empowers males. Males are tasked with greater responsibilities; protection, bread-winning, fighting and vice versa. Males have more rights then females and females are rather subservient to their males. I know that it sounds extreme but every culture has its pros and cons.

Matriarchy is the opposite of patriarchy.

you're going to be attacked by the three musketeers: Bardock, OV, and Oliver North.

Two of them are respectful to a point. I'll let you figure it out

Anyone notice how it's the rich white guys (never been poor in their entire life) who are crying about the disparites amongst races and genders? The same guys that wouldn't even drive through the neighborhood I grew up in. The agenda. The sob stories. Are utter bullshit.

Originally posted by S_W_LeGenD
IMO, patriarchy is a culture which primarily empowers males. Males are tasked with greater responsibilities; leadership, protection, bread-winning, fighting and vice versa. Males have more rights then females. I know that it sounds extreme but every culture has its pros and cons.

Matriarchy is the opposite of patriarchy. And USA is in transition phase; from Patriarchy to Matriarchy. Maybe in a few decades in the future, this transition will be complete.

I don't disagree with your definition. However I would say that, while some aspects of patriarchy have definitely changed, and rigid gender norms have been somewhat loosened, this still is the type of society we live in. Almost all CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are men, and have been men. All presidents and a majority of politicians are men and have been men. These facts alone insinuate that leadership and control is still squarely in the hands of men (a majority of rich, white, straight ... men, to be exact).

There has been some progress made to make this less the case, however we are nowhere near an gender equal society, and definitely not on the way to something matriarchal.

Patriarchy hurts men and women (women more however), and men's rights activists make some good points, however rather than working on eliminating these problems they side with the system that creates and upholds them and demonize feminists, who have done a hell of a lot to liberate both women and men from rigid gender roles.

Although both Digi and Oliver North are correct that not all feminists are for equality, not all feminists are smart, not all feminists can separate patriarchy from men...that's a completely different issue though, imo, feminism as a movement has had nothing but positive effects on both genders.

Originally posted by Raisen
Anyone notice how it's the rich white guys (never been poor in their entire life) who are crying about the disparites amongst races and genders? The same guys that wouldn't even drive through the neighborhood I grew up in. The agenda. The sob stories. Are utter bullshit.

There are many writers of these oppressed groups that speak out, however they usually don't get listened to or even actively attacked and persecuted....cause patriarchy.

Originally posted by Raisen
Anyone notice how it's the rich white guys (never been poor in their entire life) who are crying about the disparites amongst races and genders? The same guys that wouldn't even drive through the neighborhood I grew up in. The agenda. The sob stories. Are utter bullshit.

are you suggesting I'm wealthy?

Originally posted by Bardock42
I don't disagree with your definition. However I would say that, while some aspects of patriarchy have definitely changed, and rigid gender norms have been somewhat loosened, this still is the type of society we live in. Almost all CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are men, and have been men. All presidents and a majority of politicians are man and have been men. These facts alone insinuate that leadership and control is still squarely in the hands of men (a majority of rich, white, straight ... men, to be exact).

There has been some progress made to make this less the case, however we are nowhere near an gender equal society, and definitely not on the way to something matriarchal.

Patriarchy hurts men and women (women more however), and men's rights activists make some good points, however rather than working on eliminating these problems they side with the system that creates and upholds them and demonize feminists, who have done a hell of a lot to liberate both women and men from rigid gender roles.

Although both Digi and Oliver North are correct that not all feminists are for equality, not all feminists are smart, not all feminists can separate patriarchy from men...that's a completely different issue though, imo, [B]feminism as a movement has had nothing but positive effects on both genders . [/B]

What the hell happened to you?

Originally posted by Raisen
Anyone notice how it's the rich white guys (never been poor in their entire life) who are crying about the disparites amongst races and genders? The same guys that wouldn't even drive through the neighborhood I grew up in. The agenda. The sob stories. Are utter bullshit.

Y-you know the socioeconomic status of the people in the thread?

I'm also not sure crying is the right word. As it pertains to you, I think the primary objection has been against your assertion that middle class class white guys are the most put-upon in the country.

Also, phrases like "the agenda" don't do much for your cred when talking about those disagreeing with you. We're talking on an internet forum. Agendas are, by and large, for those with a financial or social stake in the outcome.

Originally posted by Oliver North
are you suggesting I'm wealthy?

i'm suggesting you know nothing of los angeles ghettos, or anything resembling such. I

Originally posted by Raisen
What the hell happened to you?

I've been exposed to thought that was outside the bubble I live(d) in, and saw truth in that.

Although I'm not sure whether we have history for you to know that something happened to me (unless you know...you are someone else or something).

Originally posted by Bardock42
There are many writers of these oppressed groups that speak out, however they usually don't get listened to or even actively attacked and persecuted....cause patriarchy.

you write as if you know how to fix it all.......................

Originally posted by Raisen
you write as if you know how to fix it all.......................

That's not my intention. I have some ideas (many taken from other people, perhaps some my own) of what could be done to change things in a way that I think is better. I wouldn't presume to know how to fix everything (at least not right now, maybe I'll presume later)

It's easiest to try to fix yourself first though, so that's what I am trying to do.

What Bardock said in his long-ish summary...I agree with it.

Originally posted by Bardock42
I've been exposed to thought that was outside the bubble I live(d) in, and saw truth in that.

Although I'm not sure whether we have history for you to know that something happened to me.

Raisen's a sock, yeah? I kind of assumed as much.

srug

Originally posted by Bardock42
That's not my intention. I have some ideas (many taken from other people, perhaps some my own) of what could be done to change things in a way that I think is better. I wouldn't presume to know how to fix everything (at least not right now, maybe I'll presume later)

It's easiest to try to fix yourself first though, so that's what I am trying to do.

so patriarchy is bad
feminism is good?

Originally posted by Digi
What Bardock said in his long-ish summary...I agree with it.

Raisen's a sock, yeah? I kind of assumed as much.

srug

Not a sock

Originally posted by Raisen
so patriarchy is bad
feminism is good?

Yes. That summarizes my feelings on the issue well.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Yes. That summarizes my feelings on the issue well.

doesn't it seem natural that the one in charge is there because he was smarter or stronger or had some kind of quality that exceeded everyone else's?

Originally posted by Raisen
Anyone notice how it's the rich white guys (never been poor in their entire life) who are crying about the disparites amongst races and genders?

Yes, those famous rich white men like: Margaret Mead, Ella Baker, Naiom Wolf, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Kamini Roy, Nancy Schept-Hughes, and many others!

Originally posted by S_W_LeGenD
IMO, patriarchy is a culture which primarily empowers males. Males are tasked with greater responsibilities; leadership, protection, bread-winning, fighting and vice versa. Males have more rights then females. I know that it sounds extreme but every culture has its pros and cons.

Matriarchy is the opposite of patriarchy. And USA is in transition phase; from Patriarchy to Matriarchy. Maybe in a few decades in the future, this transition will be complete.

Based on your arguments, I'm not quite sure this would be a bad thing. At least for you...

Originally posted by Raisen
doesn't it seem natural that the one in charge is there because he was smarter or stronger or had some kind of quality that exceeded everyone else's?

I can see how that argument can be made on an individual level, especially when you disregard socialization and advantages/disadvantages from birth as well as luck. However I don't think it can be extended to genders on a whole. There are many women much smarter and stronger (though we should remember that women have been raised to be weak and meek for a long time) than men and they have the same disadvantages based on their gender.

Additionally the emphasis of strength and intelligence (whatever that vague thing is) is somewhat arbitrary, why not agility or instinct...or as social animals that we are why not empathy?

A consequence of patriarchy is the attribution of certain desired traits to the male gender, and undesirable ones to the female gender. Of course it's not as black and white as that, but something to start thinking about.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Yes, those famous rich white men like: Margaret Mead, Ella Baker, Naiom Wolf, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Kamini Roy, Nancy Schept-Hughes, and many others!

unnecessary