Ba ni fahimci wani abu ba game da ra'ayin "patriarchy" (tsarin mulkin maza) da mata masu fafutukar neman 'yanci ke adawa da shi: Me yasa maza a tarihi, a al'adu da wayewa masu yawa da suka bi tsarin mulkin maza, za su rika zaluntar takwarorinsu mata akai-akai, wato matansu, 'yan'uwansu mata, da iyayensu mata?

One of the things I never understood about the idea of patriarchy that feminism opposes is this: Why would men throughout history across numerous patriarchal cultures and civilizations systematically oppress their counterparts, i.e., their wives, their sisters, their mothers?

To oppress someone means to prevent that person from what she needs, from what is her due, and to otherwise cause harm. I can understand how that happens in isolated situations, e.g., domestic abuse where a husband abuses his wife, etc. But I don't understand how this can happen globally or across an entire society. Why? Because men are smarter than that, and so are women. What I mean is, it would be completely irrational for men to inflict this kind of programme within their own households. How do men benefit by crippling their female companions and continually frustrating their needs? That is simply not functional. Have you ever known a family where the husband/father (or the wife/mother) is a tyrant, wields all the control, rules with an iron fist? Those situations are never sustainable and everyone involved is miserable and looking for an exit. Are we supposed to believe that it was only modern people who realised, "Wow, constant dhulm (injustice) in the household is neither optimal nor sustainable?" Also, the idea that women have been the perpetual victims of this scheme by men to oppress them over thousands of years is really insulting to the intelligence and capabilities of women. Again, are modern women the only ones enlightened enough to understand that they are being oppressed by patriarchy and to fight back, whereas past women were too stupid to notice or successfully effect change? That makes no sense.