If you're not blaming the patriarchy, you aren't paying attention. This social system is at the root of absolutely every single one of our social ills and problems because it's a brutal, might makes right dominance hierarchy dynamic that hurts absolutely everybody in it. And, the fact that you don't seem to know what the patriarchy is or means is yet another example of you spouting off about things you clearly don't even grasp.
When I'm talking about substantiation for your views, I don't mean the ravings of one or two random women. I mean evidence of wide-spread societal dynamics that have been verified by people trained to study that. Your childish belief that the personal beliefs of a couple of people is evidence of anything but that such people do exist is lame. Grow up and take a look at the evidence and rhetoric of major entities who have actually studied this stuff.
In most societies across the globe, gender norms around masculinity put power and status on men and boys. Masculinity norms pressure young men to show themselves as strong, competitive, and in control. But these norms, while giving young men certain privileges, also carry risks for their mental health. Pressures to appear stoic and hide vulnerabilities can stop young men from sharing their emotions or reaching out for support. Sadly, this can have serious and sometimes devastating consequences, with the rates of suicide two to four times higher in men than women globally.
And although much of this societal messaging is that males are more competent, independent, and worthy of holding power, strict gender norms hurt boys and men as well. The Global Early Adolescent Study, based at Johns Hopkins University, concludes that due to these gender norms, “they engage in and are the victims of physical violence to a much greater extent than girls; they die more frequently from unintentional injuries, are more prone to substance abuse and suicide; and as adults their life expectancy is shorter than that of women. Such differences are socially not biologically determined.”
“Though men benefit from patriarchy, they are also impinged upon by patriarchy,” says Ronald F. Levant, EdD, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron and co-editor of the APA volume “The Psychology of Men and Masculinities.” Levant was APA president in 2005 when the guideline-drafting process began and was instrumental in securing funding and support to get the process started.
The main thrust of the subsequent research is that traditional masculinity—marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression—is, on the whole, harmful. Men socialized in this way are less likely to engage in healthy behaviors.
However, the increase in acceptance of domestic violence, held in particular by young men, is deeply disturbing and an alarm bell for action. These findings show exactly why social norms are at the heart of our strategic plan for gender equality”.
And since you are yet again accusing me of things you have no evidence of me ever doing, it's time for me to fly . . .
