Breaking Down Patriarchy

So, it's the end of the year, and I'm finally taking a moment to do things for myself. One of those things, is listening to podcasts while I purge items in my home that I no longer need, and I was reminded of how much I do need Breaking Down Patriarchy, and wanted to take the time to sit down and finally rate it! I accidentally found this podcast when I was looking for -of all things- podcasts about Black feminism after bell hooks' passing in 2021. While I am a Black woman who believes in gender equality and had been tacitly introduced tot the concept of Africana Womanism, for many reasons, I had never actually explored the history of it. My schedule and ADHD makes reading for leisure very challenging, however, I knew I could listen to podcasts as I get dressed in the morning (after my favorite public radio shows, of course), or doing household chores. The first thing I found while searching podcasts about bell hooks was, ironically, the episode from Season 1 about bell hooks. Imagine my surprise when I realized that my desire to learn more about Black Feminism *by* Black Feminists, led me to a podcast hosted by a White Mormon Woman! And even more surprising was how much I loved it. I was hooked. I listened to a few more subsequent episodes, and then decided to go all the way back to the beginning of Season 1. I'm finally on Season 4 (I'm plowing through them this week during "The [household] Purge") and heard (for now the 19th time) Amy's plea to rate and review the podcast to help others find it. While I've talked about it a lot with friends, I'm here now taking that additional step. This podcast has changed my life. I know how trite that statement is, but it's really true in that it's positively altered my day-to-day actions. I feel that I have gotten to know myself better, and gained more ability to articulate certain concepts to people in my life that I struggled with before. But also, I've gained a deep love and respect for Amy - a woman whose life experience couldn't be further from mine - and yet, so necessary. I have heard her learn in real time while teaching others. I have heard her be so vulnerable and share when she's gotten things wrong and aims to do better. I've teared up many times listening to this podcast because of what I've learned, but also, because Amy's vulnerability is infectious. Anyway, thank you, Amy and team, for doing this work; it is so necessary. And while it's true that it may not suddenly make the men everywhere wake up and "get it," the more that *we* do and take action based on it, things will change, because we have. And this is why I could never leave a review before because it's either this or "I love this show, 5 stars!" and that simply won't do.

I’ve loved every episode I’ve listened to. A very fair and compassionate premise with deep dives into history, patriarchy, and its relevance today. Much has been written on these topics since I was in college in the late 70’s so I have some catching up to do!

I have learned so much from this podcast about not only the establishment of patriarchal systems and the subjugation of women (and men), but also the left out/forgotten historical roles of women “heroes” in the world. Thank you for the re-education.

Binge listening & learning as I garden this summer. Amy & her guests address complicated issues & make me think about behaviors & patriarchal systems I grew up with yet never questioned until leaving a coercively controlling marriage! Empowering content for each of us to create more egalitarian spaces wherever we exist.