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Original poster

If you are a Radical Feminist and want to see the overthrowing of Patriarchy...

27 replies

Jazzicatz · 14/11/2010 14:35

then in real terms how will we achieve this?

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Lio · 18/11/2010 13:01

Hi Wukter, I see your point, and of course a mothers' and fathers' role are very different in that a man will never be of child-bearing age. However, at the moment I feel as though my being of child-bearing age is viewed negatively, and changing the word to include men as prospective parents would be a way or challenging that sexist view of not wanting to employ a woman because she might become a parent at some point. However, what I would prefer (and I'm sure we all have this in common) is for nobody's child-bearing or child-rearing age or status to have a bearing on whether or not they will be a good employee.

wukter · 18/11/2010 00:30

Hmm. I wouldn't like to equalise what men and women do when it comes to reproduction. Women do bear the brunt during pg and newborn stage, though after that there's no reason why it can't be shared, of course.

Lio · 16/11/2010 14:49

Precisely. When even the language we used is skewed against women it's not helpful.

TheFeministParent · 16/11/2010 11:14

Child rearing/raising?

Lio · 16/11/2010 10:41

Yes, maybe if there were another phrase that didn't make it woman-centric, i.e. avoiding the 'bearing' bit, thereby acknowledging that men become parents too.

TheFeministParent · 15/11/2010 16:50

I would love to see child bearing people of all ages treated the same, for starters. child bearing seems to be the biggest stumbling block in a society constructed by men.

Lio · 15/11/2010 13:05

I think talking about sexism is a good start, otherwise people don't even notice it's happening. For example, dh's mum talks to me, not dh, about what to get the children for Christmas. So does his brother's wife. Why is this normal?

vesuvia · 14/11/2010 20:03

KerryMumbles wrote "there are matriarchies in the world though aren't there?"

Where?

wukter · 14/11/2010 19:46

i thin k the patriarchy would be overthrown a lot quicker if the revolutionaries' husbands did a bit more childcare, any way bye!

wukter · 14/11/2010 19:45

No, it probably won't be overthrown, as such. But maybe it'll shift by degrees so it's not a patriarchy any more.

Maybe mothers will change the world in the way we bring up our Dc, eventually.

To borrow Mary Robinson's phrase 'the hand that shook the cradle, shook the system'

(Mary Robinson = Irish feminist, first female president of ireland in 1990, and now UN Human rights type person) That was her victory slogan in 1990.
dashing off again, sorry

KerryMumbles · 14/11/2010 19:35

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KerryMumbles · 14/11/2010 19:35

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Bue · 14/11/2010 18:51

Can I just say I think it's brilliant that you can come on MN and one of the topics is, "Right, how are we going to overthrow the patriarchy?" Grin

Unfortunately it won't be overthrown in my lifetime. I think it can only be made more acceptable to live within. (I know, I'm such a downer. I'll leave now.)

sethstarkaddersmum · 14/11/2010 18:26

the modern feminist movement meets in lovely coffeeshops with squishy armchairs, actually, Kerry.
it's a useful camouflage technique. They think we are just a bunch of mums meeting to talk about cakes.

KerryMumbles · 14/11/2010 17:33

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Original poster
Jazzicatz · 14/11/2010 17:15

That's why I think this type of discussion needs to be had. How would this new world look, how would it be run? If we are talking about a political overthrowing of patriarchy, what would our brave new world look like?

OP posts:
anastaisia · 14/11/2010 16:58

In a feminist revolution - what would need to be done to prevent it simply being a case of different people moving to the top of the pile but there still being huge imbalances of power?

dittany · 14/11/2010 16:27

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Original poster
Jazzicatz · 14/11/2010 16:27

I sadly think if we are waiting for it to be done through peaceful means then we will never see patriarchy overthrown. I have to say I believe Marx is right in that its about conflict and we need revolution to overthrow the oppressor (obviously Marx was talking class issues, but I think the same applies)

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmum · 14/11/2010 16:16

LOL Kerry.
Why don't you join us? You don't have to wear dungarees, you can be a secret agent if you like.

BelleDameSansMerci · 14/11/2010 16:14

dittany and wukter as usual you manage to articulate some sort of nebulous thought I have lurking about what passes for a brain these days. I couldn't find the right way to say that I thought "overthrow" would take ages, etc. Couldn't see a way to do it quickly.

I wonder sometimes if I should stay off this topic or at least think before I type!

KerryMumbles · 14/11/2010 16:09

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dittany · 14/11/2010 16:07

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wukter · 14/11/2010 15:23

Ok long post went poof. Briefly I don't think violence would work as you'd still have a patriarchy of the mind. It's the old Attitudes Need To Change thing.
So I'm stumped

BelleDameSansMerci · 14/11/2010 14:48

Fair point. What do you think it will take because, in all honesty, I don't see how it can be done without extreme violence (which I would never condone).