Patriarchy is a Disease — Gibrán Rivera

WE HOLD A MEN’S CALL EVERY MONTH. SIGN UP FOR CALL-IN DETAILS

We had a powerful first call. I was moved by the quality of conversation. And by our willingness to lean into this effort to relinquish patriarchy. By looking deeply at ourselves. By turning to one another. And by staying curious about an emergent process.

This is an experiment. Here, to be emergent means to focus on “the most elegant next step.” And right now what we want to do is to come together again. You are invited to join us on Monday, August 5 at 8:30PM East. So that we can deepen our conversation.

A number of you have asked if you can invite others. The answer is a resounding “YES.”

Please invite them to sign up here.

In adrienne’s words:

This is for men who don’t want to be alone. Who want to be part of communities. Who don’t want to be a burden to humanity. Who want to be trustworthy! Who don’t want to be assholes and fuckbois and distant dads, but can’t see how they are perpetuating patriarchy.This is for men who want to know love in their lives

In AA we say that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

This is not AA. But I’m inspired by the 12-Step Model because it is leaderless, and it invites humility. I find it as a good antidote to the performative wokeness that is all too common in men’s works these days.

The 12-Step model also resonates with adrienne’s admonishment that patriarchy is indeed a disease.

Not enough of the people who offer professional help recognize patriarchy as a type of insanity. I will say it as clearly as i can – believing that masculinity is a factor of mental, physical, emotional, economic or other superiority that results in doing less labor and having more power is disease.

Let’s try being as open as we can be:

The only requirement for membership is a desire to relinquish patriarchy.

And let’s prepare for the next call:
August 5 at 8:30PM East (sign up for call info)

Let’s come ready to share our personal story in 5 minutes or less. Make sure to highlight a formative experience of patriarchy.
If you participated on July 8, come ready to check-in on the commitment that you made
One of you brilliantly requested that we come ready to share practices:

I'd love to hear from others what they are doing to break through on the ways patriarchy limits us in our own lives as well as ways they are breaking it down and stepping up for the Women in their orbits

Finally, let’s commit to re-reading adrienne’s text at least one more time before our next call.

Thank you for being on the journey.