Patriarchy -- power and gender in the 21c | Ananya Roy | TEDxMarin

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. One woman's powerful personal journey uncovers our own culture’s patriarchy, within the institution she serves and in the intimacy of her own family. For international development scholar Ananya Roy, nowhere is free of gender bias, and here she identifies where it occurs, how we defend it, and why it must be stopped within a generation.

Professor of City & Regional Planning and Distinguished Chair in Global Poverty & Practice at the University of California, Berkeley. She is recipient of the university’s highest recognitions for teaching and mentorship. The author of numerous scholarly books, Roy’s research is concerned with poverty and inequality both here in the U.S. and in the global South. Her book, Poverty Capital: Microfinance and the Making of Development is the recipient of the 2011 Paul Davidoff Book Award of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, the primary book award in urban planning.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[KO-fhvn]

The reason no one takes third wave feminism seriously (the masses to whom it's directed at at least, media seems to revel in your witless ramblings), is speakers like her precisely.

Her first grand example of patriarchy was a relationship in which she was cheated on by her male spouse. If you define patriarchy as a social system that supports and explicitly exhibits male power exclusively, then how is being cheated on an example of this? Are you implying society should take a stance upon and legislate within your relationships, behaviors that are acceptable on behalf of your romantic interests? How is your partner cheating on you an exhibition of exclusively male power? How daft can you be?

The example of patriarchy that would reasonably qualify here- the harassment claims within your workplace, you did a poor job of elaborating upon exactly what behaviors you were referring to. I see this often from third wave feminists. Do not misunderstand me, in cases of institutionalized sexual discrimination, there should be no tolerance and such behaviors should be dealt with swiftly and uncompromisingly, yet fairly. We are not to resort to barbarism and simply smite all who you claim are guilty; elaborate on what behaviors you're referring to and when it's made into a legal matter (as it may be necessary) prove your case. 

You social justice warriors and your cries of victimhood are intellectually depressing. Never have I personally witnessed such deplorable behavior accepted as a "righteous standard", literally blaming society for your husband having cheated on you and then quite brazenly claiming, and surprisingly, to the approval of the audience, that it was a matter of socialized sexual discrimination, effectively implying that infidelity is a sexual issue exclusively exhibited by men and that society somehow normalizes this behavior.

Please, if I missed something within her speech where she made an inkling of sense that would seek to substantiate the rest of her claims, direct me to it.

[chelcb]

key point here that she brought up: although oppression and more blatant examples of overbearing patriarchal standards exist in places where honor killings and acid attacks are prevalent, and that IS a problem, that doesn't mean that oppression DOESN'T happen in the U.S., and that's the point that I think a lot of people miss. People like to shake their heads and say "You're just complaining about small things that don't even resemble oppression, you already have rights. Look at women's rights in the Middle East and sit down and shut up." Ananya Roy has laid it out for you, in the most honest and objective way she can! She has experienced sexism and patriarchy on the ground her entire career, and she is sharing her experiences here. There's nothing more to it. I honestly cannot stand to hear people call this bullshit. If you think this is bullshit, you are either directly beneficiary of the patriarchy, you denounce feminism as the stereotype it has come to be seen as, or you simply haven't opened your eyes yet.

[jibblejabble]

she speaks so well this was very very good and people need to understand the pervasiveness of subtle misogyny

[goshapopov]

Dear people in the comments, I understand your lack if connection with the 2nd wave feminist slogan "the personal is political" and your confusion at how her husband cheating links with systemic oppression. You don't have to agree with her that that link exists, but to morph her point by ignoring her analysis of instutional power? Most of her talk isn't about what her husband did. She explains it as a catalys for her passion. To HER, this personal revolution she describes channels into a potential societal one. It doesn't have to for you - but to dismiss 9/10ths of this talk because you're turned off by 1/10th? Love and respect.

[GaTechTransportation]

Thank you, Dr. Roy, for telling your story and for the good work that you do. I watch patriarchy in action every day as my female graduate students ask me if they can have a successful academic career without giving up their aspirations of having a family (a question no male PhD student has ever asked me or my colleagues). I watch it as my closest friends, brilliant well educated women in various fields, default to their husband's careers and time, while they race around trying to simultaneously keep up their passions and care for their children with minimal assistance. I am fortunate, however, that I am surrounded by the type of network that you describe, in which both men and women understand the dangers of patriarchy and are working collectively to address it in my life, my field and my academic institution. I hope more people watch your talk and begin to understand what equality looks like.

[tonybparalegal]

I'm trying to figure out how "Women and children first!" is oppressive and patriarchal.

[rebeccapeters]

Breath taking brilliance and heart breaking honesty. Professor Roy speaks truth about fundamentally unequal institutions and gendered relations of power. Her students, past-present-future, benefit immensely from this fearless scholar and formative mentor.

[Dja]

Is this real.... ? 'Cause it genuinely sounds like a parody of feminism...

[avniyparikh]

This was an incredible talk. I think it was very important that she shared her personal experience, because if she can't advocate for herself and her rights, how is she supposed to advocate for those women in India?

[richsmith]

ummm... i wonder how much money the patriarchy awarded her for divorcing her husband

[김나희-rg]

I can't believe I almost didn't watch this because of youtube comments. She is giving a brilliant lecture with an amazing insight. More people should watch this.

[carrotcaligulaisafascist]

An excellent treatise on patriarchy. Well done, Ms. Roy.

[kyraocity]

5:43 Adrienne Rich poetry about self determination of women who choose themselves vs being chosen or named by others in relationship to men or children.

[DamianDAguiar]

Wow... Everything is not her fault! Her failed marriage is not (50%) her fault ... her lack of happiness while being employed at a top ranked university is not her fault... her "insubordinate" label while working there was not her responsibility. All the problems and bad feelings she talked about are patriarchy's fault. It's all their fault... not one single word about what she could do differently, except at the end she dispensed advice for  nonviolent civil disobedience. That was a good start, but she dropped all of Ghandi's "Be The Change You Want To See In The World" -  the personal responsibility part that enables nonviolent civil disobedience to become so powerfully effective at creating social change.

Speaking of being the change you want to see... here is a privileged American woman holding the hands of not one, but two maids her family is enjoying (exploiting) in her parent's home in India. Yes, it is exploitative because you wouldn't get away with those low wages and working conditions back home...

All I saw here was a privileged woman, with parents rich enough to enable her to escape India at eighteen, whining about her bad feelings and blaming it on patriarchy.  She is still caught in little girl mode, blaming others for the bad feelings we happen to all feel when bad things happen... and remember she faces fewer problems because she is so privileged! Yes, life is hard... men and women both occasionally say or do bad things to you... and society has problems like gender bias, but what are YOU (Ananya Roy) going to take responsibility for?  Because pointing fingers at "them" is easy to do. Based on Ananya's career she is probably in the upper top 3 to 5 percent wealth class in American society.  Hence she has more potential to take on responsibility than most. Nobody with a victim mindset can ever empower others. What's so scary is that she is so entrenched in little girl mode (the ying of the patriarchy yang)... she can't even see it!

I just hope that this woman stops going public complaining about her bad feelings she's felt through her life journey because she is a TERRIBLE ROLE MODEL for my daughter and millions of other high potential young women out there.

[youtubeguy]

There is no patriarchy. We have gender roles that are slowly diminishing, but there is no patriarchy in the grand scheme of things.

[ams]

A gold-mine of insights in this speech for anyone who wishes to know, learn and understand exactly what patriarchy means. One of the most misunderstood contexts of society, yet suffered by all! One of my first favorites in this speech is:"Patriarchy - a social system of male power exercised not only through domination but also through benevolence and protection even love".
Thank you Ananya Roy!

[sal]

She made me feel like maybe I'm worthy of making my own ted talk after all lol

[Miau-momp]

She is an incredible woman and very much admired by others ❤❤❤

[teo]

Anyone who is skeptical about patriarchy existing has only to read the comments posted on this video, which inadvertently prove the very points made in this talk.

[vicentekentmontallana]

That's how you draw attention. Really nice!! Many significant points made here.