Jamie

Dear men,

Contrary to what you might assume, a letter like this does not constitute an attack on your personal character or on your gender as a whole.

Many of us — I’d venture to say that the vast majority of us — grew up enjoying the media and entertainment of popular culture. The commercials, toys, TV shows, movies, and books of our childhood socialized us in a way that was enjoyable.

Deniz Kandiyoti coined the term “patriarchal bargain” in her 1988 article, “Bargaining with Patriarchy.” The term refers to a woman’s decision to conform to the demands of patriarchy in order to gain some benefit, be that financial, psychological/emotional, or social.