Often feminist activists affirm this logic when we should be constantly naming these acts as expressions of perverted power relations, general lack of control of one’s actions, emotional powerlessness, extreme irrationality, and in many cases, outright insanity. Passive male absorption of sexist ideology enables men to falsely interpret this disturbed behavior positively. As long as men are brainwashed to equate violent domination and abuse of women with privilege, they will have no understanding of the damage done to themselves or to others, and no motivation to change.

Patriarchy demands of men that they become and remain emotional cripples. Since it is a system that denies men full access to their freedom of will, it is difficult for any man of any class to rebel against patriarchy, to be disloyal to the patriarchal parent, be that parent female or male.

—Bell Hooks

bozosonthebus:

41mojitos:

The Will To Change by Bell Hooks fucked me up good

Actually most of words we use for sex are violent, not just fuck. My Marriage and Family professor pointed this out during my freshmen year of college and it’s stayed with me. Think about it…. bang, screw, hit it, pound, smash, rail, plow, pound, like our entire culture has tried to remove the concept of intimacy and vulnerability and emotion from sex by associating violent words with the action. The power of language on culture, perspective, and overall mindset is so incredible. We gotta be more careful and respectful of that.