How to eliminate the patriarchy?

[BelleCurve]

Whilst researching the Institute of Directors recently I came across this fantastic piece of double-think on their website commenting on the gender pay gap -

"the Government should have accepted the hard evidence which shows that influences and choices made by women at the pre-employment stage are what generally lead to average gender pay differences"

It is just so sexist and privileged that it took my breath away for a moment.

Also, the Arab revolutions where it seems that one patriarchal system is being replaced by a potentially worse (for women) one has made me realise that these guys are never going to give up easily.

I have had enough of this system and need to focus my energies into solutions

This is a genuine question - how can we overcome, remove, eliminate the patriarchy?

PS - if after the other thread on this topic, you still don't "get" the patriarchy or don't see the problem, feel free not to contribute here.

Very interesting, Prolesworth, very good points.

So one good way of bringing down the patriarchy is for plenty of women and feminist sympathisers/thinkers to infiltrate the "ruling classes". As you say, the Conservative female MPs carried the most weight in that debate because of their privileged position on the government side.

What were the most significant actions that brought down apartheid in South Africa? And got rid of slavery? Perhaps we could pick up a few tips there? How did they do it?

I'm finding that really hard :(

Basically you're talking about voting for sexists who will probably reinforce the patriarchy vagina or no vagina. I'm struggling to see it tbh.

No, personally I want "feminist thinkers" to crowd-out the patriarchy's institutions and take them down or remodel them to be more female friendly.

That's one possibility, anyway.

I'm not in favour of voting for women because they are women. There are two problems with that IMO:

1. A number of women have got to where they are in politics by playing the man's game and they have not intention of changing that. They would not necessarily benefit women by being in power, possibly even the reverse.

2.That approach would likely bring the MRAs out in force to vote for men "just because they are men". I'm not sure that would be helpful to the feminist revolution.

Personally, I'm not anti the idea of an all-out feminist revolution, but the question is how to do that effectively?

(in answer to Unrulysun)

vote for pro-womanness of policies rather than either party or sex.

Good. Glad we're not all for that. Because I could no more have brought myself to vote for Thatcher than I could grow wings and fly :)

I hope Dittany is right. I just worry that we got rid of wanting power and replaced it with 'empower' :(. I think the ideas about picketing lap-dancing bars etc would be a good place to start.

Question: If Thatcher's cabinet had been mostly female, would she then have been unable to do women down as she did?

Immaculada - agree. When we look at women eg Palin, Thatcher &co, they go there by doing all possible to disguise the fact they had any difference because of gender. Other thanbeing acceptably feminine, tits teeth hair heels. Hence the reluctance for women only short lists, enthusiasm for achievement on 'merit' etc. Naturally, the world is run by men because they have more merit. I expect you've all noticed that. Idea of voting for the bastards too painful. Tories cut public sector, not just women's jobs also sevrvices eg care of elders/disabled which are then done at home possibly by he exact same women who just lost their jobs doing the same bloody thing for £15k pa

Why can't we start our own political party? The Green Party did it and pushed their one issue to the forefront of other parties' agendas in doing so.

www.efinancialnews.com/story/2011-02-22/women-managers-have-hedge-over-men

Identify and invest in women-run companies/hedge funds/pensions etc. - both commercially astute and ethically sound

www.efinancialnews.com/story/2011-02-22/women-managers-have-hedge-over-men

sorry better link above

Sarah Palin is against abortion in pretty much all cases.
She is also against same sex marriages.

I wouldn't vote for her.

More women in public office would be a fine and wonderful thing. But if they're Margaret Thatcher or Sarah Palin, that's not wonderful at all. It's a sign of how British versus American politics work though, that Thatcher was thoroughly competent and Palin was/is seen by many people as an insult to the voters.

Bush, Reagon, Bill Clinton, Blair all had heaps of criticism.

I like Obama but I don't think America does anymore.
The fundamental right-wing are dangerous.

the careful reader may note I referred to acceptable signs of femininity. none of the tricky stuff like abortion rights, parental leave, rape crisis, equal opps law. Palin used the most anti-women aspects of femininity to sell her image as a hockey mom anti-state tea party activist. Sorry Dittany, I agree with other posters on this one. I'll support a great big long list of lefty boys before I'd touch Palin/Thatcher etc with a bargepole.

Left for the states to decide = passing the buck surely??