Criticizing patriarchy is not attacking men or dividing groups.
What an interesting thought given the title of the video is literally “are men killing the planet?”. People insist that blaming the patriarchy == blaming men yet in actuality this rarely seems to a distinction drawn by the same people who espouse the patriarchy rhetoric.
Criticizing patriarchy as a harmful social system isn’t the same as blaming men for its existence. These concepts address different aspects of the issue. When we critique patriarchy, we’re examining how societal norms, institutions, and power dynamics contribute to inequalities and cause harm in different arenas, in this particuar instance, anthropogenic climate change. This critique focuses on the overall structure, recognizing that while men might benefit more, they aren’t individually responsible for creating or maintaining the system.
Blaming men assigns collective responsibility to individual men for patriarchy’s existence. This overlooks the fact that many men also suffer from its constraints and norms. It’s not fair to hold all men accountable for a system they didn’t design or choose. Recognizing it and pointing it out, as this video does, can allow men, and anyone else, to potentially do something to address or change it in their own lives.
Critiquing patriarchy acknowledges its impact beyond individual intentions. It’s about recognizing how certain norms and power structures disadvantage people of all genders. This critique seeks to promote change and equality by challenging harmful norms and dismantling systemic barriers. This benefits not only women but also men who want to live without rigid gender expectations.
In essence, critiquing patriarchy aims to raise awareness for change without unfairly blaming men for the entire system. By understanding this distinction, we can collectively work towards a more just and inclusive society for everyone, while at the same time making progress on addressing the climate emergency.