Our culture has created a social system that allows the driving forces of patriarchy to flourish. Although many people may not be purposefully attempting to continue this system of patriarchy, we each play a role in its survival. For many the problem is not that they are promoting patriarchy but that they are not challenging the system. In Johnson’s article “Patriarchy”, he is not examining whether a patriarchal system exists in our culture but what factors are driving this system to continue. The articles analyzed demonstrate Johnson’s theory of patriarchy by exemplifying his three facets of the patriarchal system and by recognizing the notion of the path of least resistance.Johnson argues that patriarchy is made up of more than just individuals. Systems are more complex than people (Johnson 92). Within a system there are different parts the come together to form a whole. In terms of patriarchy, these parts are the different standards and ideals that patriarchy upholds. The three facets of patriarchy are male centered, male identified, and male dominated. Also patriarchy is not just driven by men, women can also play a role in its continuation. Believing in the equality of men and women is not enough to challenge the system (Johnson 94). Our culture must break down and question the parts of the patriarchal system in order to lessen its grip on our culture.In Hugo Schwyzer’s article “Janae’s Legs” he discusses the concept of homosociality and reveals the male-centeredness of patriarchy. Although he does not make this exact claim, homosociality is one of the reasons behind the continuation of patriarchy. Schwyzer defines homosociality as “the idea that men are raised in our culture to be more eager to please other men tha…
…n’s work, forming same sex bonds on things other than homosocial behavior, and no longer conforming to hegemonic masculinity are all steps that could be taken to lessen the patriarchal system. However each of these steps requires one to take turn down the “path of least resistance” and go against the patriarchal system that our culture continues to promote.
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works Cited”Chapter Eight.” Gender, Employment, and the Economy. 212-52. Print.
Johnson, Alan G. Patriarchy, The System: An it, Not a He, a Them, or an Us. 2005. The Gender Knot:Unraveling our Patriarchal Legacy. 1997. Print
Messner, Michael A. “Becoming 100 Percent Straight.” 1999. From Men’s LIves. 6th ed. 1999. 421-26. Print.
Schwyzer, Hugo. “Staring at Janae’s Legs.” Print.
Wilson, Marie C. Closing the Leadership Gap Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World. New York: Viking Adult, 2004. Print
