Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it.
Without the existence of an individual or group that can be labeled as the weaker party, masculine social norms would be without content.
Sandra Via
“Gender, War, and Militarism”
I don’t get it. I really don’t. After all the “progress” of the 60s and 70s, women are still supposed to fall for this? I get it, it’s tempting to look for advice when you’re single and you’re being told it’s the end of the line. Hell, I fall for it too sometimes!
But this article (and many like it) is a text-composite of impossible qualities for one person to have, just like how advertisements feature models with impossibly flawless physical attributes, enhanced by airbrushing. The article advises women to be easy-going and personable, but also confident and ambitious. It says to “never complain” about things, but to keep a busy work schedule. Don’t gossip or dress trendy, but always be yourself! After all, you want your man to like the true you! But seriously, don’t be so clingy or you’ll scare him off.. you know, before he gets to know that side of you.
And to top it all off, it features advice from “real” women, who’ve had multiple marriage proposals and dating lives so full, one woman had only been single for 3 months out of 15 years! And while I’m inclined to believe these are fake bios made up by the editors, I’m also aware some people (men and women) can’t seem to ever be single and instead simply jump from relationship to relationship. How can that be advisable, let alone a desirable quality? That’s a major dependency issue.
What’s more, they don’t even tell you the real key to success. But I’ll let you in on the secret: put out on the first date. You heard me, I’m talking before you even get to the restaurant. Guys love when a woman is spontaneous and takes charge. And it’ll take the edge off for the rest of the evening!
