[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by peter12

Patriarchy isn't really a bad thing. I know, I know. Stupid thing to say, but I've always equated patriarchy with balance, confidence, and a reasonable self-respect for masculinity. We can't control women, only blockheads would ever try to do that, but it's good to be confident in yourself and how you are different from a woman. Patriarchy means rule by man, but from a philosophical or literary perspective, I think this means "self-rule" more than "rule over women."

If you look at some of the great "patriarchal" literature, Hemingway, Tolstoy etc... there is a purposive harnessing of the negative aspects of mankind and their emergence as servitude or at least "chivalry" towards women.

Dion's position is just kind of a naive sniffing around the issue.

That said, being together before marriage or after marriage is really a relationship by relationship thing. There is no right way, as far as I can figure it out. The human being is a complex organism filled with a myriad of sexual desires that must, need, have to be fulfilled. Sometimes people get hurt. That's life. We shouldn't pretend that comfort and security can be found in the living room with a pair of slippers while the wife mixes us a martini.

I don't see why masculinity or femininity is valuable in and of itself. It's just probable biological make-up combined with cultural shaping. Why is it important for masculinity to be maintained in a society or an individual? I say, if it's harmful or undesirable to an individual or society, it's fine to get rid of it as a value.