This article was originally a talk given in 2004 in North Carolina by historian Gerda Lerner, who was 84 years old at the time. Gerda describes the creation (social construction) of patriarchy based on hierarchy and enslavement. She describes how this system is antiquated and dangerous to men and women. HISTORY MATTERS: A ‘Brief’ History … Continue reading A Brief History of Patriarchy→
Jocelyn Crawley reflects on the objectification, domination and abuse of women and girls. She highlights the importance of feminist theory and the right for women and girls to live free from abuse and dominance. Epstein: The Eroticization of Domination and Women’s Fight for Freedom By Jocelyn Crawley Recently, a close friend of mine and I … Continue reading Epstein: The Eroticization of Domination and Women’s Fight for Freedom→
Male violence against women is one of the most serious problems in the world. The numbers are staggering. Every year in the US, more than 230,000 sexual assaults are committed. At least 1 out of 6 American women have suffered rape or attempted rape, and 1 out of 3 women worldwide. Native American women are … Continue reading How Sexual Violence Is Normalized in the Courts→
Is matriarchy, as some would argue, an “inverted patriarchy” in which women rule over and dominate men? No; this is an inaccurate definition. In this excerpt, taken from Heide Goettner-Abendroth ‘s book “Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe,” she offers an alternative description based in existing matriarchal societies. Matriarchal Societies: Studies on … Continue reading What is Matriarchy?→
Deep Green Resistance is a radical feminist organization, because all oppression is connected. The freedom of women as a class cannot be separated from the resistance to the dominant culture as a whole. Racism is connected to patriarchy, patriarchy is woven together with the destruction of the planet, and ecocide is interlinked with class oppression. … Continue reading Pornography: Men Possessing Women→
In this essay, first presented in 1977, Audre Lorde argues for women’s solidarity. The Transformation of Silence Into Language and Action by Audre Lorde I would like to preface my remarks on the transformation of silence into language and action with a poem. The title of it is “A Song For Many Movements” and this … Continue reading From Silence to Action — Audre Lorde→
In this excerpt from Ain’t I Woman: Black Women and Feminism, author bell hooks describes the insidious nature of racism and sexism and the links between patriarchy and white supremacy. Understanding this type of analysis is critical to understanding how oppression functions within civilization as a tool of social control. While hooks uses the term … Continue reading Racism and Feminism: The Issue Of Accountability by bell hooks→
Under patriarchy, females are expected to be silent and to serve male interests, desires, and expectations. In this piece, Aimee Wild describes how women are socialised into silence, and how systematic subjugation of women and girls deepens and maintains the harm this causes. Silencing Women and Girls By Aimee Wild Humans are deeply influenced by … Continue reading Silencing Women and Girls→
Andrea Dworkin (1946-2005) was a radical feminist theorist, writer, and campaigner. In this excerpt from her book Pornography: Men Possessing Women, Dworkin discusses the power of naming. In her analysis, the development of the culture of patriarchy has empowered men with almost sole access to the power to define language. This control over language allows … Continue reading How Patriarchy Works: The Power of Naming→
On this episode of the Green Flame, we interviewed Shahidah Janjua about women, writing, activism and the creation of a Women’s Centre in Kerry. Shahidah read one of her soon-to-be-published poems. This episode is also dedicated to the memory of our beloved sister. We share this memorial she wrote on the passing of Andrea Dworkin, whom … Continue reading Shahidah Janjua: The Green Flame Podcast→
