Subtle Ways of Fucking the Patriarchy
Female frogs fake their death to avoid mating with males they don’t like. While I wish this was a socially acceptable move in real life, most acts of rebellion don’t look quite as dramatic. Rather, they appear as subtle acts of defiance, rebellion and resistance. Whether it’s holding your ground on the footpath, mansplaining back to the mansplainer, or refusing to laugh at a man's unfunny joke.
Massive asked the women of Massey University and beyond: how do you say fuck you to the patriarchy?
Getting a degree.
Benching more than men at the gym.
Manspreading on man spreaders.
Shitting in urinals.
Shoplifting.
Becoming financially literate and learning how to invest.
Not shaving.
Not dumbing myself down for a man.
Not dressing for the male gaze.
Dress sexy for yourself.
Not moving out of the way when a man is walking towards you on the sidewalk.
Opening doors for men – throwing them off.
When someone asks if you watched the rugby, saying, “Oh, the women’s or the men’s?”
When someone says, “We need a strong man to carry this,” stand up.
Always speaking to the woman first at work.
Using Ms on every form.
Replacing ‘landlord’ with ‘landowner’.
Keeping a straight face when a man makes an unfunny joke.
Not wearing a bra.
Transitioning.
Being a lesbian.
Dating women.
Marrying a woman.
Talking about your period openly.
Free bleeding.
Wearing men’s clothes.
Drawing vulvas instead of penises.
Freeing the bush.
Everyone’s dog is a girl till further notice.
Being a sugar baby to men in the National Party and making them oink.
Using they/them pronouns for everyone until proven otherwise.
Calling dads first when working in childcare.
Saying, “I don’t care for The Godfather.”
Leaving your partner at home with the kids while you work.