Patriarchy and men on the "left"

      

        Before I became political, I of course, interacted with men. Some were sexist, manipulative, liars and more, but they themselves also were not political aka "masses". So when I became more political and involved in the movement I assumed that the men I interacted with were progressive and different than others I had interacted with in the past.
  
        Well its been about a year and half later and I can tell you that I don't feel the men on the "left" are really that different, especially those who call themselves M-L. This was a wake up call for me, allowing me to see things differently. Of course now I know that I shouldn't be surprised considering the "left" is full of nothing but contradictions such as being pro imperialism and so on.

         Below is a list created by my comrade, Lisa Grab, and myself. What started off as a conversation about our experiences turned into a list of  issues women in the movement face and we felt it was important to write them down and share with EVERYONE. 

     Now, I don't want you to see this as a list of complaints by two women, because that alone is a sexist thought. This list is meant to share our experiences with others and hopefully shed some light on what is really going on in the "left".  


Expecting women to know how to cook and cook for them
  
Putting down any ideas (calling them dumb/stupid)

Getting upset/angry when an action is done to them, but when its the other way around they call the woman emotional for getting upset for no reason

Staying friends with people who constantly degrade his comrades 

Arguing for feminism for all the wrong reasons 

Claiming to be a feminist

Crying / whining when sick or in pain but saying u are faking it when u are sick or have cramps

Not understanding cramps and thinking that just because they are natural you don't need any special care 

Trying to "liberate" you when they are actually controlling you

Focusing on the harmful effects sexism has for straight men 

Objectifying other female activists or women in general 

When in a group of males, collectively ignoring the female

Consciously denying that every issue is a woman's issue 

Being an apologist for patriarchy

Defending a comrade for patriarchal acts

Overlooking or underplaying a comrades patriarchal acts 

Wanting to enforce male leadership over female leadership

Forcing you to do what they think will "liberate" you

When you complain to them about their patriarchal behavior they twist it around and make it seem like you are the problem 

Not appreciating all the work ideas you contribute to activism while glorifying the work and ideas of male comrades even when the male comrades are doing less

Act like your ideas aren't good and then "come up" with the same idea and take all the credit for it 

       

  list by Lisa Grab and Thea Connolly