Daily Nebraskan - RYAN FETTE: Statistics show feminism making slow progress
Daily Nebraskan - RYAN FETTE: Statistics show feminism making slow progress
I'd be applauding Ryan Fette's enlightened attitudes if not for the following statement:
'Rational feminists strive only for the equality of women, nothing more, and certainly nothing less. There are fanatics and zealots who would replace the patriarchy with a matriarchy, but every group of people has a whack-job fringe. Do we judge all Christians by the actions of Fred Phelps or Jerry Falwell?"
Frankly, I'm shocked that such a bigoted statement made it into a college paper. I hardly consider myself the equivalent of a Falwell because I choose to practice the Women's Religion. Matriarchy is not Patriarchy in a skirt. It's an egalitarian, life-affirming system that values peace and justice; promotes fairness and Green values; and opposes racism, sexism, colonialism and all forms of slavery or oppression. Exactly which of those values makes me a fanatic, zealot or whack job?
Morgaine Swann
posted by Morgaine @ 6:12 AM
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5 Comments:
I suspect we have wildly different definitions of the word "matriarchy". It makes me think of a political system -- not a religious one -- in which women have all the power. (As opposed to, for example, a society where women and men have equal rights.) Googling define:Matriarchy yields no mention of religion or egalitarianism:
A system of social organization in which descent and inheritance are traced through the female line.
collections.ic.gc.ca/princegeorge/glossary.htm
Dominator form of society (androcracy) in which women are the dominant gender.*
www.geocities.com/seaskj/glossary.html
A society in which women dominate in family decision making. (See 295)
highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072435569/student_view0/glossary.html
where a mother figure and women have authority.
oregonstate.edu/dept/anthropology/glossary2.htm
A hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by women.
www.nelson.com/nelson/sociology/sociologyinourtimes2/glossary4.html
a form of social organization in which a female is the family head and title is traced through the female line
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
--Omar
I see that Promatriarchy.com describes a more egalitarian meaning of the word. But even here, I found seemingly unchallenged Falwell-like remarks that could confuse the issue for people finding the site. "And to homosexuality: I think it is a huge difference between gay men and lesbian women. Females have a different sexuality (i.e. multiple orgasms) and since two women can come to the point of ecstasy together energetically, I doubt that for men. As described in tantra men need the female energy to come to enlightenment through sexuality...So my conclusion is: Homosexuality between adults appears in patriarchal societies only. And maybe this is only true for males."
Hi Morgaine,
This is Ryan Fette. If you are surprised that this "bigoted statement" made it into a college newspaper, you should read some of the other editorials that have made their way into the opinion page.
I'm also rather shocked that someone who follows such an "egalitarian, life-affirming system that values peace and justice; promotes fairness and Green values and opposes racism sexism, colonialism and all forms of slavery or oppression" would be so quick to attack another person who is trying-and I might add that it is a very difficult feat in the state of Nebraska-to create a world similar to the one that your own Women's Religion is striving towards.
My definition of matriarchy is a political system in which women have power over men and members of other gender groups. Power over is the enemy of equality. I see matriarchy equally as dangerous as patriarchy. Anytime an individual or culture comes to the conclusion that one gender is better than the others, the inequality begins. The correct answer is to remove the need for one gender to be superior to the others.
Furthermore, I work in the Women's Center at UNL. I fight for the rights of women everyday. I direct women to information about their reproductive health, help them to find recourse in cases of discrimination, and help survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence find the legal and psychological recsources they need to put their lives back together.
I'm also a Wiccan and as such I worship a very female Goddess as well as a very masculine God.
May the New Year find you well,
Ryan Fette
Hey, Ryan-
I was expecting you a while ago. I'm going to address the definition of Matriarchy in another post. In the mean time, your Wiccan background has not prevented you from perpetuating patriarchal prejudices. To dismiss a position you do not understand as fanatical is bigotry. "Your" definition is not THE definition, nor will I accept any reference to a standard dictionary. The fact that you feel worse has been done in your college paper is disappointing, though not surprising. The state of education in this country is heartbreaking.
Check back later tonight for more about Matriarchy.
I think it is safe to say that many people think that matriarchy would be the same as patriarchy, only run by women, and that it would be just as corrupt, eventually. I would like to suggest that all readers check out a book called Nine Deadly Venoms by Alex Gordon. Can be bought online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. This book presents an entirely different view of what a true matriarchy would be -- women ruling, but supported by men. It is funny but hard-hitting at the same time. By the way, all of your comments have been great food for thought.
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