In a culture which holds the two-parent patriarchal family in higher esteem than any other arrangement, all children feel emotionally insecure when their family does not measure up to the standard. A utopian vision of the patriarchal family remains intact despite all the evidence which proves that the well-being of children is no more secure in the dysfunctional male-headed household than in the dysfunctional female-headed household. Children need to be raised in loving environments. Whenever domination is present love is lacking. Loving parents, be they single or coupled, gay or straight, headed by females or males, are more likely to raise healthy, happy children with sound self-esteem. In future feminist movement we need to work harder to show parents the ways ending sexism positively changes family life. Feminist movement is pro-family. Ending patriarchal domination of children, by men or women, is the only way to make the family a place where children can be safe, where they can be free, where they can know love . Bell Hooks
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First, we must acknowledge that there is a problem. Patriarchy is deeply entwined with the family and the family, in turn, is deeply entwined with the cultural framework. We can’t simply take on patriarchy and then move on to some other element of culture, like the family; we have to attack all of them at once.

Source: Feminism Is For Everybody: Passionate Politics

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