CW: chapter 2 contains a detailed description of child abuse by a parent

Hello comrades, it’s time for our second discussion thread for The Will to Change, covering Chapters 2 (Understanding Patriarchy) and 3 (Being a Boy). Thanks to everyone who participated last week, I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts again. And if you’re just joining the book club this week, welcome!

In Ch.2 hooks defines patriarchy, how it is enforced by parental figures and society at large, and the struggle of antipatriarchal parents to raise children outside of these rigid norms when the border culture is so immersed in them. Ch.3 delves deeper into the effects of patriarchy on young boys and girls and the systemic apparatuses that reinforce gender norms.

If you haven’t read the book yet but would like to, its available free on the Internet Archive in text form, as well as an audiobook on Youtube with content warnings at the start of each chapter, courtesy of the Anarchist Audio Library, and as an audiobook on our very own TankieTube! (note: the YT version is missing the Preface but the Tankietube version has it)

As always let me know if you’d like to be added to the ping list!

Our next discussion will be on Chapters 4 (Stopping Male Violence) and 5 (Male Sexual Being), beginning on 12/11.

  • dumplesEnglish
    5·
    13 days ago

    Unfortunately in my experience if someone rejects the term or concept of “patriarchy”, chances are good that they’ll also reject the qualifiers that hooks adds to her definition I do agree that there are some people who don’t want to be reached. They either hate new ideas or happy with being part of this system. However, I will still try to bring it up since I think people can understand intersectionalism. It also helps show you can both benefit and be hurt by a system which I think is missing in some discussions about gender roles, racism etc.

    Other comms would be helpful. Especially some of the good quotes. I really enjoy mensliberation@lemmy.ca as well. Having a parallel book club or similar coordination would be helpful to spread some information. It is obviously a big ask but a short book helps.