According to the psychology I have been studying, the capacity to see another person AS A WHOLE and not merely as a "part object" is what constitutes a higher level of psychological health (actually, though, just "maturity" as such).
Let me now say that in the necessary, protracted and seemingly limitless (in every sense) WAR against the patriarchy and its mores, the impossible thing is to get most people to see the effect of patriarchal mores ON THE WHOLE PERSON.
They're inclined to say, (in not so many words): "Well dear it seems you had an injurity to part of you. In other words, it doesn't matter."
They are unable to see the whole person in the equation.
I bring it home to them with the actual consequences:
"Well, darlings, this is therefore what I'm doing to you, in response to this impossible situation."
THEN -- they start to panic.
They must deal with the whole person and the whole person's mode form of moral reasoning.
That just isn't what they're used to.
3 comments:
Patriarchy is a language. And unfortunately you must speak their language first before you can start teaching them, another language. Another method with which to frame the debate, or the world, or even their whole self.
Yeah but that is a bit simplistic.
The whole PURPOSE of the language of patriarchy is to be inpenetrable to other forms of reason apart from patriarchal modes of thinking. That is how communication about different situations that the one that the patriarch typically finds himself in is termed "whining", and why it is that even when you try to frame the situation ironically, by pointing out the IN ITS OWN TERMS the members of the patriarchy do, themselves, whine a great deal -- this is perceived as being merely "projection".
So we are very much up against an impenetrable system of ideas.
And it's true, you have to DO something. Explaining and talking does not work in these circumstances.
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