patriarchy

In Generational trauma is a frozen fight-or-flight response, I describe how a malfunction of the fight-or-flight mechanism causes trauma, which can then be inherited. I’ll now extend that understanding to show how this fight-or-flight malfunction, on a systemic scale, created our current, dysfunctional social model, patriarchy. Patriarchy arose from the intersection of two elements, a […]

If an alien were to visit our planet at the present time, and read any of the mainstream news outlets, they would have to conclude that humanity is an insane species. We so clearly need to nurture the environment, improve our wellbeing, reduce economic inequality, and end poverty. We know how to do these things, […]

Cities. Home to millions. Situated at the crossroads of the world’s trade routes and natural harbours. Centres of learning and technology. Glittering jewels of human achievement. The pinnacle of civilization. Or not? This perspective is flawed, self-serving—more accurately, self-avoiding. Cities are nothing more than glorified, brightly lit, wealthy refugee camps. Cities are refugee camps for […]

Philonise Floyd, during the trial for the murder of his brother George, stated that “the world is traumatized”. I’d like to back up that assertion and expand the perception of trauma by recognising India’s caste system as a multi-layered, genetically inherited trauma. At the 2021 Intergenerational Trauma Conference, Peter McBride spoke about community trauma in […]

In Patriarchy demands that our relationships are stagnant, I describe how our current human paradigm only survives by locking us into relationships that promise satisfaction but are in fact emotionally and sexually sterile. To achieve this, patriarchy has a mechanism for neutering each successive generation. Puberty shames teens into psychic stagnation. With the onset of […]

In What is ancestral trauma? I describe the key psychological wounds that humanity suffered as a result of the drought, desertification and famine that gave rise to patriarchy. Here I want to focus on the second of these wounds: zero emotional and sexual growth. Patriarchal societies are implicitly zero emotional and sexual growth societies because that […]

In Trauma exists as a series of ripples, I describe the multiple, interconnected sources of trauma that may exist in our lives. I’ve broken down these sources into five key layers. In this article I’m going to focus on the fourth layer, racial trauma. Racial trauma is trauma that affects all people of colour, causing […]

In Trauma exists as a series of ripples, I describe the multiple, interconnected sources of trauma that may exist in our lives. I’ve broken down these sources into five key layers. In this article I’m going to focus on the middle layer, community trauma. Community trauma is trauma that affects an entire, specific community, such […]

“I do.” There are few words we say in our lives that carry more importance than a commitment of marriage. Yet, caught in the feel-good swirl of confetti, popping champagne corks and flying garters, few people realise the invisible, implicit commitment that underlies it. Patriarchy demands that our relationships are stagnant. Patriarchy demands stagnant relationships […]

British actress Keira Knightley, star of Misbehaviour, Atonement and Bend It Like Beckham, recently said she won’t participate in any more male-directed “horrible sex scenes where you’re all greased up and everybody is grunting”. What Keira Knightley is actually ending here is participation in patriarchal sex scenes. If we can move on from the downfall […]