Overthrow Patriarchy

Okay. Let me explain. I am not some rabid man hater as readers of  'The Sun' or 'Daily Mail' in the UK would automatically think if they heard such a statement! I enjoy the company of people, gender becomes a separate issue - we are all just human first. But patriarchy is about repressing everyone, men and women. Patriarchy is about preserving the interests of those with all the power, and it has it's roots in the past, where men were seen to be superior based on their gender, and women were seen as barely above a child in status. This is not based on intelligence or ability - but on raw physical strength. Just because a man can overpower me, as a woman, it doesn't make that man superior to me. This Stone Age way of deciding who is worthy of respect belongs, well, in the Stone Age.

This attitude towards women that is so prevalent in Zimbabwe, where we see issues around gender violence coming to the fore through WOZA, is not limited to Zimbabwe. It is alive and well in the UK. In Zimbabwe, President Morgan Tsangarai has recently pulled out of his proposed marriage to his pregnant (now former) partner. Of course anyone has the right to do this, and it is better to decide before the marriage that it wouldn't work, rather than going through with it, but their is a very unpleasant edge to this. Tsangarai has effectively publically humiliated his bride to be, and it seems, won't be paying the 'Bride price', or Lobola. I am shocked that Lobola still exists in the Twenty-First Century! A woman is NOT, may I repeat, NOT property, that can be rejected and returned to sender. A public debate has arisen around this poor woman and her unborn child, with little regard for the effect it will have on her.

In the UK, we often try to claim to be 'more enlightened' - that's a joke. We may not have Lobola, but shockingly, women are seen as objects more than ever. Despite the ground covered by Feminists in the 60's to the 80's, we seem to be regressing. Men's magazines parade images of women that are mysogynistic and de-humanising, while pretending it's all just a laugh and a 'bloke thing'. We have Lap-Dancing clubs everywhere, and these women actually have to pay the club to perform, and so to make a profit, the woman who pushes further than the rest, and goes naked, earns more money than the others - so in the end, they all do it, to earn money. This is really prostitution dressed up as popular entertainment.I find discussions around these issues result in shrill, loud protests that I must be 'frigid' or 'jealous'. It could never, apparently, be that I want to preserve my integrity and dignity, and have some self respect. Why would I want to be treated like an object?


Objectification. That is the lasting legacy of patriarchy. This attitude, where other people exist for the ruling elite's entertainment or service, has got to end. People are not objects. Animals are not objects. The land is not an object to be used and thrown aside when no longer fertile, either. Look at the way we treat the world, and animals, and fellow human beings - this is patriarchy.

Women traditionally have clearer values. Where men seek power (traditionally), women seek companionship, love, co-operation and sustainability. This polarisation of values along gender lines should be challenged - all men are able to embody 'female' values, but are taught that this makes them, somehow, not a real man. There is this thing about being a real man, all macho, and if a man doesn't live up to it, he is a failure in the eyes of many. This harms men! I know so many really gentle, sensitive men who suffer because of this expectation, and this is sad. Women sometimes decide to embody male attitudes of power seeking, and ruthlessly use their bodies to attain their ends - step up Katie Price. She has influenced a generation of girls to believe that her brand of 'feminism' is the way to go, as did Madonna with the previous generation. Hyper sexuality somehow equals power. It's true men will be impressed by this, superficially, but remember, the bottom line is - this style of being panders to objectification, and the men do not see Katie as a normal human being - she is objectified. She objectifies herself, and thinks the answer to her problems is more work on her body and face. I don't dislike her. I feel she is confused and lost. and so are we all - in this patriarchal system where ruling classes have it all, and we the tools of the oppressors conform, not knowing what else there could be, who else we could be!

WOZA wants us all, men and women to return to what are traditionally 'feminine' values, regardless of our gender - and this is the new Feminism. It's not about being chained to the kitchen, to be espousing 'traditional values'. To WOZA, traditional values are those of love, compassion, and non-judgementalism - the love a good mother gives to her children is a good analogy. A good mother teaches equality by not favouring one child over another, she shows her love is unconditional by still loving the errant, difficult teenager, and so on - these are the values I mean. Women need to reclaim their power and show men the way, just as WOZA are doing now in Zimbabwe. It's tough going there! But let's try and start an Eve-olution here too!