Times of Bennett
ArticleFeatures

Feminism helps fight patriarchy and its side effects

While patriarchy has affected women greatly – it has also affected the men. Men have been forced to suppress feelings or act stoic; it ingrains the toxic masculinity into children from a young age.

Published:November 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM1 min read
Feminism helps fight patriarchy and its side effects
By Madhura Mazumdar

Michael Kimmel delivered a Ted talk called “Why Gender Equality Is Good for Everyone — Men Included,” to a room filled mostly with women. He spoke from the perspective of a middle-class white man and explained how gender equality is beneficial for everyone. This is why when one notices that the audience barely had any men in it, it is disappointing; most women are aware of the problem and a lot of men ignore the problem or as Kimmel rightly put it, “Privilege is invisible to those who have it.”

While that is true, I would like to argue that sometimes suffering becomes normal, for example while patriarchy has affected women greatly – it has also affected the men. Men have been forced to suppress feelings or act stoic; it ingrains the toxic masculinity into children from a young age. Suppressing feelings is just one example and toxic masculinity has many other effects. What many fail to understand is that when we speak of ‘gender,’ we do not mean only women we also mean men. We want men to be able to be free as well, and that is why feminism is important to men as well.

Tags
#michael kimmel#gender equality#middle class white man#patriarchy#toxic masculinity#suppressing feelings#gender#feminism#ted talk#invisible privilege

Related Articles

The Murmuring 20s: A Look Back at the Decade So Far
Article
Features

The Murmuring 20s: A Look Back at the Decade So Far

As we officially enter the late 2020s, this article retrospectively analyzes the defining events and cultural shifts that have taken place this decade.

Oct 30, 20267 min
#artificial intelligence#gen z#covid+2 more
Between Two Worlds: An American in Russia
Article
Features

Between Two Worlds: An American in Russia

What if the country we think we know is not what it seems? At the second edition of Bennett Dialogues held at Bennett University, American-born cross-cultural analyst Jozef Schutzman challenged dominant media narratives about Russia and the United States, drawing from his experience of living in Russia. His conversation raised a compelling question: are we forming our own opinions about other nations, or simply believing the stories we are told?

Oct 28, 20264 min
#russia#times school of media#bennett dialogues+2 more
Gloria Steinem: A Mortal Heroine
Article
Features

Gloria Steinem: A Mortal Heroine

The article examines Gloria Steinem’s complex feminist legacy, acknowledging both her contributions to the movement and criticisms of her approach to intersectionality. It argues against idealizing or demonizing public figures, urging readers to recognize their complexities and the collective nature of social movements.

Oct 19, 20265 min
#steinem#gloria steinem#white feminism+2 more
I Buy, Therefore I Am
Article
Features

I Buy, Therefore I Am

The article explores how capitalism, social media influencers, and FOMO fuel modern consumerism, turning everyday products into symbols of status and identity. It questions whether we buy things out of genuine need or a manufactured desire to fit in.

Oct 19, 20263 min
#labubu#stanley#fomo+5 more
Unravelling The Language Of Consent In Qala's “Ghodey Pe Sawaar”
Article
Popculture

Unravelling The Language Of Consent In Qala's “Ghodey Pe Sawaar”

This article dissects Qala's lead single 'Ghode Pe Sawaar', through a feminist lens.

May 2, 20265 min
#ghodey pe sawaar#urmila#qalas+4 more
Beyond Headlines: The war of West Asia from youth's lens
Article
Features

Beyond Headlines: The war of West Asia from youth's lens

Has the popularity of social media hastened war news reporting or sensationalism? Does the youth of today find themselves torn between deciphering real news and misniformation? This article aims to look beyond the surface and uncover the answers to these questions and more.

Apr 24, 20266 min
#west asia#prabhjot kaur#point+3 more