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Spencer's avatar

“The feminist conception of ‘patriarchy’ is woefully lacking (see a previous essay here).”

This link didn’t work for me.

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Michael Magoon's avatar

Interesting essay, but is the term “patriarchy” even useful?

If the term encompasses all human societies, then why do we even need the term? Just call it “humanity.”

If the term does not encompass all human societies, then feminists should be able to identify non-patriarchal societies and show why they are superior. As far as I know, they have not identified any non-patriarchal societies except mythic tribes that either never exists or no one today would want to copy.

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Paula Wright's avatar

No one will know what you're criticising if you don't use the correct referent

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Michael Magoon's avatar

Fair enough, but then why use the term “reformed patriarchy?”

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Paula Wright's avatar

Because it's not the feminist definition. I explain the original anthropological definition in the essay

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Michael Magoon's avatar

I think that you are misunderstanding my question. I did not ask for the definition. My question is:

Why are you choosing to embrace the term “patriarchy” at all? No one forced you to just add the adjective “reformed” in front it. Why not just ditch the entire concept of “patriarchy?” Particularly since you believe the term is woefully lacking…

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Paula Wright's avatar

Because it wouldn't catch on. I'm a realist.

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