A few years ago, I started a deep dive into feminist literature. I started with bell hooks, and went from there. I think once you start down that road, there's no going back. That is, if you have a brain and a heart and a conscience.
The church was my playground growing up, and when I became an adult I served the church in many capacities, including as pastor for about 30 years. I saw firsthand the patriarchal bias of the church, Christianity, and all religion. Even culture itself!
In fact, after all my experiences, observations, and research, I've come to the conclusion that the patriarchy, particularly white male privilege, is the problematic root issue in our societies. So, I've drawn a bunch of cartoons illustrating and challenging the patriarchy. Enjoy!
1. The Weight of the Patriarchy Cartoon
This one illustrates how one man's opinion can outweigh the opinions of many women. I've seen this in action. In fact, if a woman's opinion is considered a good one, a man will figure out a way to appropriate it and claim it as his own.
2. The Patriarchy Never Hurt Me Cartoon
Many men don't think the patriarchy exists, and if it did, it's not a bad thing, because they've always only benefited from it and never felt it inflict any harm on them.
That's called the anecdotal fallacy... the belief that something doesn't exist because you've never experienced it.
3. Down With The Patriarchy Cartoon
This one is another illustration of men dismissing the concept of the patriarchy, and instead blaming the woman who is protesting it for rocking the boat and upsetting the status quo. Victim-blaming at its worst!
4. The Patriarchy Cartoon
This cartoon illustrates how men benefit from the patriarchy and up til now women must serve it in order to survive. But I'm seeing that change. And that's a good thing.
It won't go down without a struggle.
