Why is patriarchy not acknowledged as a offspring of capitalism?

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Produced by: 
KBOO
Air date: 
Thu, 11/12/2015 - 8:00pm to 10:00pm
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There's many a mention of racism being an offspring of capitalism- there's even arguments against the concepts of 'reverse racism', and the view that racism isn't even based in reality.  For some reason, patriarchy is not viewed in the same way. 

The existing social, political and economic model  (in the U.S., amongst many other countries) is patriarchal- in the household, men are seen as the heads; under marriage, the last name is usually under the husband's.  He is seen as the provider, the 'breadwinner'.  There is the concept that women are not 'called by God to preach/minister.'  Men predominately hold positions in government. These same men predominately make decisions on what happens with a woman's body.  Men are consistently seen as the faces of mass political movements, when women consistently remain active, holding up said movements.  Despite being historically inaccurate there's the defence of patriarchy by stating that this is a system all societies originally had, thereby making it natural today. 

Despite evidence of the school-to prison pipeline; despite the history of government 'benefits' being used to separate families; despite the jobs that women traditionally are hired for (caregivers, service jobs, housekeeping) are valued less...  There's virtually little to no examination of the institutions which created the conditions we live under, and instead women are blamed for these conditions.  Also, women are consistently blamed for their own assaults, by (for example) being told that they should not dress in a 'tempting' fashion because men cannot control their urges.

Just as people deny the existence of racism, those who support patriarchy deny the existence of a 'rape culture'.  They deny the vast array of the male emotional experience (by saying only women (or gay men) are emotional). 

Just as there are people who defend capitalism and actually cannot define it when asked, in our experience this goes the same for patriarchy. 

Just as we think those who deny racism's existence are troubled that the system they benefit from is dwindling away and being questioned; we also think that those who benefit from (and support) patriarchy are frightened to live in a world without it, and they are lashing out. 

You now know what we think- let us know what you think!  Call 503-231-8187 and let's have this conversation! 

(Photo:  Creative commons- Ali Mahmoud)
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