Noticing = The Feminist Killjoy’s Hammer (HB, p. 125)
The Noticing Badge helps us to see what others refuse to – patriarchy. How can we develop a feminism without intimately knowing one of its’ enemies? Don’t get it twisted – patriarchy is more than just sexism and misogyny: it is a many tentacled monster with hands in every oppressive system. To slay the beast, feminism must address ALL systems of oppression.
“Book it:*” Read Chapter 1 in Cynthia Enloe’s The Big Push, HERE. Focus on pages 15-23. You may also want to peruse the additional/optional readings on patriarchy. Using what you learned about patriarchy from Enloe’s chapter, AND what you may have learned through Konjuring Killjoy episode 6 (HINT: if you haven’t listened yet, listen NOW!), define patriarchy. How does this definition differ from your sense of what patriarchy is before you read and listened about the subject?
“Live it:” What aspects of evidence of patriarchy do you notice as operating in your everyday life? Provide examples and describe the site of patriarchy (i.e.: the institution through which it is operating). Remember that patriarchy is normalized as just the way things are – you may have to look hard to see it. Consider rules/norms that we follow without question; consider how patriarchy, meaning “power over” shows up in structures/hierarchies.
“Make it:” Based on your lived experience and “book learning” around patriarchy, how does patriarchy show itself as a villain/monster? Produce/conjure that monster as a "paper," video, audio, zine or another visual/textual/somatic form of expression you prefer.
*Additional/Optional Readings:
Hill, RL and Allen, K (2021). ‘Smash the patriarchy’: the changing meanings and work of ‘patriarchy’ online. Feminist Theory, 22 (2). pp. 165-189. ISSN 1464-7001
Johnson, AG (2004). Patriarchy, the system. Women’s lives: Multicultural perspectives. 3, p. 25-32.
