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Terms + Definitions

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What is Patriarchy?

(Wikipedia) Patriarchy is a social system in which males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. In the domain of the family, fathers or father-figures hold authority over women and children… Historically, patriarchy has manifested itself in the social, legal, political, religious and economic organization of a range of different cultures. Even if not explicitly defined to be by their own constitutions and laws, most contemporary societies are, in practice, patriarchal.​

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A Different Social System

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bell hooks: “Visionary feminism is a wise and loving politics. It is rooted in the love of male and female being, refusing to privilege one over the other. The soul of feminist politics is the commitment to ending patriarchal domination of women and men, girls and boys.

 

Love cannot exist in any relationship that is based on domination and coercion. Males cannot love themselves in patriarchal culture if their very self-definition relies on submission to patriarchal rules. When men embrace feminist thinking and practice, which emphasizes the value of mutual growth and self-actualization in all relationships, their emotional well-being will be enhanced. A genuine feminist politics always brings us from bondage to freedom, from lovelessness to loving.”

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Helpful Terms

Cis-white male: a racially white person who identifies with their masculine gender assignment 

Toxic Masculinity: when misogyny, homophobia, emotional suppression, aggression, violence, dominance, control, extreme self reliance, and competitiveness come together into a toxic mix.

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The concept of toxic masculinity is used in psychology to describe certain traditional male norms of behavior in the United States and Europe that are associated with harm to society and to men themselves.

Misogyny: hatred, contempt, prejudice, and oppression against females. Internalized misogyny.

Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation

NPR's Guide to Gender Identity Terms: covers a wide range of term created with help from:

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GLAAD

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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Trans Journalists Association

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NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists

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Human Rights Campaign

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InterAct

 

American Psychological Association

 

This guide is not exhaustive, and is Western and U.S.-centric. Other cultures may use different labels and have other conceptions of gender. 

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