12 Comments

Lerner's book is a revelation, and I have never understood why it's not referenced more. It was a good jumping off point for this essay, and I'm glad younger thinkers are citing her. I need to read the second volume, too. I wish someone more recent had continued her exploration of patriarchy's beginnings.

Expand full comment

I feel really lucky to have found it but then had the same thought you did "wait, where are the newer books in conversation with this one?"

Expand full comment

A time of major masculine reckoning. Peacocks discouraged.

Expand full comment

Agreed!

Expand full comment

This is a fantastic read and I'm eager to read that book! I also just ordered another Kelly Brown Douglas that looks at "stand your ground" laws through the lens of the ancient roots of white supremacist ideas: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25315735-stand-your-ground

Expand full comment

oh that one looks great

Expand full comment

Thank you for this illuminating piece... and the song!

Expand full comment

Wow. Your writing is rich and excellent, and your analysis is brilliant. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Thank you

Expand full comment

Holy moly. Yes.

Expand full comment

Thanks!

Expand full comment

We didn’t get stuck here because of Trump though. We got Trump because we’re stuck here

Thank you. Thank you so much for saying this. Populist/nationalist propaganda/rheteroic has been sweeping the world. The US is just the latest in a long line of “western” “democracies” to catch this virus.

It takes deep, long, difficult work to start the repair process. Unfortunately so few are willing to put it in. And no, protesting against the executive branches (at all levels) doesn’t really accomplish anything. Legislative bodies (at all levels) continue to abdicate their need to govern. While it is easy to blame the courts, that is (no offense intended , please understand) a weak argument/stop gap and ignores the root of the problem. While courts are not accountable to the people (to your point about essentially lifetime control) the legislature is. We can/should/must legislate the things necessary to address a wide range of issues. We can/should/must over turn federal/state legislative bodies and incumbents who have been in for 20/30/40 years! Apathy must be stopped!

Expand full comment