A Favourite Quote · Anchored & Ready

A Favourite Quote

I'm not exactly sure where to put this one... I'm gonna drop it under "purpose and direction" because that feels closest to me...

I just wanted to share this quote that I always come back to. I first heard it hears ago, and I still have this book on my to-read list, but I recently put it back to the top of the list. I haven't dug around here enough to get a sense of the political climate or tone (my honest hope is that we're leaving that at the door), regardless I know it might rub some, but if you peel back the words the author chose and dig into the sentiment behind it, it's pretty potent regardless.

This is by Bell Hooks, from her book called "The Will To Change":

“The first act of violence that patriarchy demands of males is not violence toward women. Instead patriarchy demands of all males that they engage in acts of psychic self-mutilation, that they kill off the emotional parts of themselves. If an individual is not successful in emotionally crippling himself, he can count on patriarchal men to enact rituals of power that will assault his self-esteem.”

Read it again. Slower. Sentence by sentence.

... ... ... "acts of psychic self-mutilation"... OOOOOFFFFF!!!

We are many many many generations deep into this passed-on... I don't know what to call it... hazing... indoctrination... trauma at the very least. Stripped of our right to express or even HAVE emotions, and replacing it all with shame (which... is an emotion to be clear: shame < guilt < sadness).

How does it land for you? Too heavy? Fair? Spot on?

Has anyone here read the book?

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