About the show: Dave Pickering takes us on a personal journey through gender as he tries to explain masculinity both to you and to himself. Part true storytelling, part TED talk and part apology, the show looks at how the patriarchy hurts men too; how the patriarchy has hurt him, and how he has hurt people because of patriarchy. Drawing on an anonymous survey of 1000 men, feminist theory, internet memes and his life experience, Dave will explain the conclusions he Read More ...
Introduction to the survey I don’t think this survey is representative of all men. To a certain extent, it’s a survey of feminist-leaning men. The initial respondents came generally from that POV, and as the survey grew, it was mostly shared by feminists. That said, it does represent many other viewpoints. For example, there were a few hundred in a row where it was mostly being filled in by Men’s Rights Activists. But whatever their starting point, the men filling in the survey had Read More ...
Does patriarchy exist?
Yes
How would you define patriarchy?
A system which intends to keep men in power and put women down. Millions of little habits which seem like normal behaviour which reinforce the ideas of the patriarchy
How has patriarchy hurt you?
It’s made the women around me unhappy and under appreciated. And this in turn has made me unhappy.
How have you hurt people in a way influenced by patriachy?
I’m sure I’ve made jokes, reinforced the idea of women being beneath men and so forth (without realising it) which in turn hurt them in small and big ways
How would you define masculinity?
First thing that comes to mind is “manly” traits but I don’t think that’s the case. So I don’t know really.
Does misandry exist?
Maybe
There will be people out there who don’t like any men and fits the defintion but I don’t think there’s larger force that will hurt men as a group in the same way misogyny works
Have you experienced gender and/or sex related prejudice?
Maybe
I can’t pin point an exact situation but I can think of some that could well have been down to being a man which benefitted me
What best describes you?
A feminist