Dismantling patriarchy

It is especially the burden and responsibility of those who benefit from systemic oppression to work toward dismantling those very structures that enable privilege and afford domination. In feminist movement, all who are willing and able must learn and teach (listen and speak) to educate ourselves and our communities, about patriarchy and other forms of oppression. There is no solutionism here, but we must simply do something to begin to dismantle these oppressive structures, actions, and conditions that hold us all back.

Reading List

• Why I Won't Be Walking in the Anti-Rape March - http://www.xyonline.net/content/why-i-won%E2%80%99t-be-walking-anti-rape-march
  • Simple note that offers some reasons why men could be a great help for themsleves and others to educate each other about sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, etc.
• Feminism is for Everybody - bell hooks - https://excoradfeminisms.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/bell_hooks-feminism_is_for_everybody.pdf
  • A book written specifically to introduce folks who are new to notions of feminism, patriarchy, etc.
• Men Explain Things to Me - Rebecca Solnit - https://rhet306fall13.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/men-explain-things-to-me.pdf
• White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack - Peggy McIntosh - http://amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html
• Tyranny of Structurelessness - Jo Freeman - http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm
• A Feminist Critique of Marx - Silvia Federici - http://endofcapitalism.com/2013/05/29/a-feminist-critique-of-marx-by-silvia-federici/

Works To Be Reviewed

• Why Our Feminism Must Be Intersectional (And 3 Ways to Practice It) - Jarune Uwujaren and Jamie Utt - http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/01/why-our-feminism-must-be-intersectional/
• The Slut Manifesto - Liz Henry - https://gist.github.com/wrought/0b052875a68fc3ed3456
• This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color - Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua - https://curadicalreading.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/cherrc3ade-moraga-gloria-anzaldc3baa-this-bridge-called-my-back-writings-by-radical-women-of-color.pdf
• Feminism Without Borders - Chandra Talpade Mohanty - http://www.unm.edu/~unmsc/Documents/Feminism%20Without%20Borders.pdf
• Caliban and the Witch - Silvia Federici - https://libcom.org/files/Caliban%20and%20the%20Witch.pdf
• Tools for White Guys who are Working for Social Change and other people socialized in a society based on domination - Chris Crass - http://www.coloursofresistance.org/734/tools-for-white-guys-who-are-working-for-social-change-and-other-people-socialized-in-a-society-based-on-domination/
• Male Privilege Checklist - Alas! (Barry?) - http://web.archive.org/web/20131128063008/http://amptoons.com/blog/category/the-male-privilege-checklist/
• Navigating Consent: Debunking the “Gray Area” Myth - Sara Alcid - http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/01/navigating-consent-debunking-the-grey-area-myth/
• Men: Comrades in Struggle - bell hooks - excerpt from book Feminist Theory - https://we.riseup.net/avc/men-comrades-in-struggle-by-bell-hooks+77021
• Xenofeminism: A Politics for Alienation - Laboria Cuboniks - http://laboriacuboniks.net/ (txt) (pdf)

Men's Reading Circle

Check back here for information about a men's reading circle that seeks to engage with these texts and each other in recognition of the necessity to dismantle patriarchy in our lives and communities. Contact Julio [juliorios at gmail dot com] or Matt [wrought] if interested in joining us.

FAQ

1. What's "patriarchy"? - Another way of naming institutionalized sexism, which affords both privileges to some (excluding others), as well ass active oppression and discrimination for others (that many men do not necessarily face).
2. What's "feminism"? - The struggle to end sexist oppression. Both men and women can participate in this struggle.
3. What's "oppression"? - The active domination of one (or some) by another (or others), which may especially be societal or institutional. All "oppression" is intersecting, meaning that all forms of oppression are inter-related and must be addressed holistically, as well as individually.
4. Can men "reclaim" masculinity? - There is no reason why masculinity and the culture among men must be sexist and oppressive (i.e. patriarchal), and in fact it is integral that men confront this reality and reclaim masculinity by re-defining it to be anti-sexist and anti-oppressive.
5. Why a reading circle? - These texts are a basic tool for communication about histories, experiences, and concepts that may be excluded from the dominant culture. Some even approach the topics of patriarchy, sexism, mysoginy, intersecting oppression, feminism, etc. Forming a reading circle can create an encouraging environment for participants to intentionally engage with the texts, as well as an opportunity to connect new concepts with participants' lived experiences. This is a direct form of literate peer-oriented learning that is relevant in any community.
6. Are only men invited? - It is important to respect and hold space for groups that have a shared experience to commune and find the footing to speak and reflect. Folks who identify as "men" or who have lived experience as "men" stand to greatly benefit from listening, sharing, and engaging with peers on the topics of the reading list above, primarily to dismantling patriarchy (i.e. institutionalized sexism).