Ep. 79 Deconstructing Masculinity and the Patriarchy - Where Do We Go From Here?

Join our Exclusive Community on Supercast!

What if patriarchy didn’t just harm women—but robbed men of their emotional lives too?

In this episode of the Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Podcast, we deconstruct patriarchy through the lens of bell hooks’ powerful book The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Written 20 years ago, it remains shockingly relevant today. This isn’t just a feminist manifesto—it’s a cultural autopsy. Hooks examines how patriarchal conditioning stifles men’s emotional development, perpetuates domination, and fractures authentic love in the name of control. And yes, she names it all plainly—without hate, without hysteria, and without flinching.

Before we throw another stone at the “bad men,” we need to understand the system behind them. We talk about the emotional theft men experience from boyhood, how power and patriarchy have been weaponized against both sexes, and why women’s rage is not only valid but vital. From wage gaps to gender wars to the weaponization of emotional labor, this conversation digs deep.

We cover:

• Why patriarchy emotionally paralyzes men and isolates women
• How toxic masculinity is a cultural script, not a personality trait
• The societal cost of emotional illiteracy in men
• Why love is revolutionary, not weak
• How patriarchal roles steal women’s futures—and men’s inner lives
• The painful betrayal women feel from the men they loved and served
• Why dismantling patriarchy requires both accountability and compassion

This episode offers a 15,000-foot view of a system that thrives on hierarchy, compliance, and emotional silence. But it also offers hope—for connection, healing, and redefinition.

bell hooks didn’t just critique men. She challenged them to evolve.

So what do we do now?

We listen. We learn. We act.

Get the Will to Change from Amazon today.

Join our Exclusive Community on Supercast!

🔗 Explore More:

🌐 Visit the Website:

https://movingforwardafterabuse.com

Explore free resources, articles, survivor tools, and deep-dive content to help you reclaim your power and heal from narcissistic abuse.

📚 Read the Books by Lynn:

https://movingforwardafterabuse.com/books-by-lynn/

Check out Lynn’s powerful books on narcissistic abuse recovery, manipulation tactics, and the emotional journey of healing. Perfect for survivors ready to take their next step.

💡 Want to support the show?

Leave us a tip 🎁 Tip Jar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waketheelephant

📝 Leave a Review:

If this episode brought you clarity or comfort, leave a quick review on your favorite podcast app. It helps others find us and keeps the message spreading.

Hosted by trauma-informed coach & author Lynn, this podcast helps survivors of narcissistic abuse uncover covert manipulation, set boundaries, and reclaim their voice. From family roles to patriarchy, we explore how personal healing intersects with cultural change.

🌐 Our LinkTree

☕ Support the show

📚 Books by Lynn

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Course Here

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.