---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a…"
description: "\"Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg"
---

#  Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which…

![“Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny…” quote by Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg)

> “Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it.”

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Patriarchy is a systemic power structure favoring men, sustained by both genders, and often denied by women themselves.

**In simple terms:** Patriarchy benefits men and harms women, reinforced by everyone.

Key Takeaway

Challenge and dismantle systemic gender bias.

Themes

gender equality power structures social justice

Mood

critical hopeful

Type

activist educational

When to use this quote

- policy reform
- education
- activism

Key Concepts

feminism intersectionality social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How can allies support gender equity?
- What personal actions can confront patriarchy?

A Different Perspective

Resistance can be met with backlash.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Engaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaging/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Insidious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insidious/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Men Patriarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-patriarchy-3125997/) [Patriarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchy/) [Patriarchy Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchy-men-4324328/) [Patriarchy Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchy-women-1857397/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/)

## Related quotes

> [The enemy of feminism isn’t men. It’s patriarchy, and patriarchy is not men. It is a system, and women can support the system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-musk/the-enemy-of-feminism-isn-t-men-it-s-patriarchy-and-patriarchy-is-not/)

[Justine Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-musk/)

> [In the beginning no power differential existed between male and female. God empowered both with full rights and responsibility to rule outward over all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-custis-james/in-the-beginning-no-power-differential-existed-between-male-and/)

[Carolyn Custis James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-custis-james/)

> [You know, we live in this kind of patriarchy, and women feel as a result that they have to be the passive ones in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/you-know-we-live-in-this-kind-of-patriarchy-and-women-feel-as-a/)

[Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/)

> [Essentially, we live in a patriarchy where women are being distracted from realizing their full potential by the amount of time they spend waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/essentially-we-live-in-a-patriarchy-where-women-are-being-distracted/)

[Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/)

> [“The voice of women and the voice of nature have been muted under patriarchy. Women and nature are considered objects under patriarchy, and objects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-kheel/the-voice-of-women-and-the-voice-of-nature-have-been-muted-under/)

[Marti Kheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-kheel/)

> [Patriarchy doesn't just make men out to be ogres. Women buy into the patriarchy as well, and women make those comments as well, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/patriarchy-doesn-t-just-make-men-out-to-be-ogres-women-buy-into-the/)

[Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/)

> [ I do not want to give my power, my self-esteem, or my autonomy, to any person, place, or thing outside myself. \[...\] The only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-do-not-want-to-give-my-power-my-self-esteem-or-my-autonomy-to-any/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/a-most-insidious-form-of-fear-is-that-which-masquerades-as-common/)

[Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/)

> [I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-am-concerned-for-the-security-of-our-great-nation-not-so-much/)

[Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/)

> [If we're all led to believe that poverty is just a matter of laziness or stupidity or whatever other justifications we can come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-torres/if-we-re-all-led-to-believe-that-poverty-is-just-a-matter-of-laziness/)

[Bob Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-torres/)

> [When I directed the third 'Insidious' film I loved it so much that I decided this is what I want to do from now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-directed-the-third-insidious-film-i-loved-it-so-much-that-i/)

[Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/)

> [There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-no-sin-so-prevalent-so-insidious-and-so-deep-as-the-sin-of/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself. It is a silent justification affording evil acceptability in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/indifference-to-evil-is-more-insidious-than-evil-itself-it-is-a/)

[Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/)

> [The first time we meet another person an insidious little voice in our heads says, "I might wear eyeglasses or be chunky around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-first-time-we-meet-another-person-an-insidious-little-voice-in/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [For example, in Vitamin K, the clotting proteins get it first... and only after they're satisfied do you prevent calcification of the arteries, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-ames/for-example-in-vitamin-k-the-clotting-proteins-get-it-first-and-only/)

[Bruce Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-ames/)

## More by Ashley Judd

> [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [Your private relationship with yourself is a spring that will feed every other factor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/your-private-relationship-with-yourself-is-a-spring-that-will-feed/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [A wonderful pastor I know once told me, "Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse." So now I try to remind myself that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/a-wonderful-pastor-i-know-once-told-me-perfectionism-is-the-highest/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [“(In part, quoting Robert Keegan from Harvard):'When we take the risk of really witnessing another human being, when we validate their human experience, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/in-part-quoting-robert-keegan-from-harvard-when-we-take-the-risk-of/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [The empowerment of girls and women is an essential tool to preventing the HIV/AIDS emergency from exploding any further](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/the-empowerment-of-girls-and-women-is-an-essential-tool-to-preventing/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [I've always been crazy for the American songbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-ve-always-been-crazy-for-the-american-songbook/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [I did a lot of hiking and I loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-did-a-lot-of-hiking-and-i-loved-it/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [“I recall looking out the window at Redbuds,Dogwoods, daffodils, irises and pom-pom bushes, knowing exactly what Heaven must look like: a spring day in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-recall-looking-out-the-window-at-redbuds-dogwoods-daffodils-irises/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [My first big acting performance was in the Marilyn Monroe biography piece, and it required frontal nudity. I talked to Mira Sorvino, my co-star,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/my-first-big-acting-performance-was-in-the-marilyn-monroe-biography/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [Abstinence, being faithful and correct and consistent condom use are the only ways to successfully reach everyone when discussing HIV prevention. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/abstinence-being-faithful-and-correct-and-consistent-condom-use-are/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [Getting married is an incredible act of hopefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/getting-married-is-an-incredible-act-of-hopefulness/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [God doesn't make mistakes and timing unfolds as it should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/god-doesn-t-make-mistakes-and-timing-unfolds-as-it-should/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [Well, maybe there are one or two things about the double jeopardy concept that are overlooked. I could be charged with violating my probation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/well-maybe-there-are-one-or-two-things-about-the-double-jeopardy/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [The Conversation about women’s bodies exists largely outside of us, while it is also directed at (and marketed to) us, and used to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/the-conversation-about-women-s-bodies-exists-largely-outside-of-us/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

> [I very much believe in things unseen, both of positive and destructive energy, and I have never seen The Exorcist through from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-very-much-believe-in-things-unseen-both-of-positive-and-destructive/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

[Explore all 75 Ashley Judd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

## More Autonomy quotes

> [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/)

[Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/)

> [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/)

[Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/)

> [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/)

[Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/)

> [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/)

[Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/)

> [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/)

[Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/)

[Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/)

> [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/)

[Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/)

> [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/)

[John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/)

> [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/)

[Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/)

> [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/)

[Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/)

> [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/)

[Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/)

> [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/)

[Maria Brito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brito/)

> [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/)

[Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/)

> [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/)

[Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/)

[Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ashley Judd"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-system-in-which-both-women-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Autonomy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-system-in-which-both-women-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/964/ashley-judd-9064_autonomy_patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-sy_2931664.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter…” — Ashley Judd",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ashley Judd",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-system-in-which-both-women-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/patriarchy-is-not-men-patriarchy-is-a-system-in-which-both-women-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
