Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Twitter User Shows What Living In A Matriarchy Instead Of A Patriarchy Would Be Like
Interview With Author
Change takes time, especially when it comes to entire societies changing the way they think and live their lives. But it never stops people from at least trying to make these changes come faster.
Gender inequality is one of many problems that have been around for millennia at this point. Slowly, but surely, people have been on a mission to make it a thing of the past, though, and one internaut wrote a strong piece to illustrate just how much we’re overdue for gender equality.
More Info: Twitter
RELATED:
Gender inequality continues to be an issue, and this Twitter user attempts to show how big of a problem it really is
Image credits: JuliusGoat
A. R. Moxon, Twitter user and author of The Revisionaries with whom Bored Panda got in touch, not too long ago took to Twitter to explain a fresh side of what gender inequality really looks like. But, instead of appealing to people’s sense of morality or using statistics or something, he decided to flip it all around.
So, try to imagine that instead of having had a 240-year history of 45 male presidents in the United States, you’d have 45 female presidents, and then a man running would be considered “identity politics.”
Or, in such a world, try to imagine that of the next 113 SCOTUS justices, only 4 would be men. Or imagine being a man and not being able to vote from now until 2170. Or being allowed into colleges for around 100 years. Or having to wait 100 years to have 6 men elected to a 100-member senate. The list goes on.
Moxon effectively puts a lot of things into perspective by doing this gender flip, switching from patriarchy to matriarchy, and thus showing just how ridiculous the situation looks. And it’s as ridiculous in reality.
Author A. R. Moxon gives a picture of what history would look like if matriarchy was the predominant way
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
“It came to me naturally. I wrote it as the Democratic presidential field was starting to come into focus, and a lot of the narrative was driven by the fact that many of the candidates for nomination were women,” explained Moxon the origins of this thread. “The way that it was talked about struck me as something both so predictable as to be mundane, and also extraordinary the moment I lowered my received framework to really hear what was being said.”
“A plethora of viable nominees should be standard and expected; after all, women make up roughly half the U.S. and world population. Yet, here it was, being presented as this extraordinary thing—because it was. It hadn’t really been seen before. Even a single viable female candidate in the field was something that would have been unprecedented as recently as 20 years ago. And of course a lot of the narrative was being driven around the idea that the nation just wasn’t ready for a woman to run, and worry that a female nominee wouldn’t be able to win.”
“And it just hit me that this is the sort of narrative that women still have to endure. It’s not something men would accept quietly, either; men would lose their minds at the unfairness of it all! Women absolutely should be enraged at the unfairness of it all, too! We should expect to see anger and frustration and a refusal to put up with it any longer! So there was a lot to play with in demonstrating those ideas, just by reversing the dynamic to let people who don’t see just how dramatically unfair dialogue is around women to actually see it.”
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Parts of it were wrapped into satire, pointing out the times particular genders were judged based on things like stereotypes, particular people and their actions and, even more ridiculously, their genitals.
“I know, these are crazy hypotheticals. Insane. It would never happen. It would be insane to treat a gender that way. But if it did, wouldn’t it matter? Wouldn’t it need correction? Man. We’d need to rethink everything,” concluded Moxon.
One person asked Moxon what he was trying to accomplish with this, who elaborated that he was trying to point out what today’s state of affairs is, trying to take away the focus for an otherwise male-focused society and to break men out of a self-defensive stance.
One commenter asked Moxon what he’s trying to achieve with this
Image credits: alanfike
And Moxon delivers, explaining the hope that this will help some see the imbalance
Image credits: JuliusGoat
But despite gender inequality being an age-old problem, a lot of progress has already been made. “Obviously there’s been a lot of progress. A century ago ideas many of us take for granted—including the right of women to vote—were controversial or novel,” elaborated Moxon. “However, just the fact that this thread could be useful or instructive rather than nonsensical shows us we’ve got a long way to go.”
“One of the things that writing the thread helped me unpack is that true equality isn’t just a matter of representation by numbers; it’s the fact that there have been centuries of male-dominated discourse and policy that have resulted in underlying structures built without the benefit of female voices. It’s very difficult to truly achieve equality until we’re willing to look at those structures and willing to reimagine them and actually change them. And by ‘we’ I mostly mean men.”
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
But, as is with many social problems, putting an end to gender inequality isn’t easy at all. And part of the problem is the lack of willingness, as elaborates Moxon:
“I think the biggest obstacle to actually making change is wanting to. There’s a gravity to status quo that creates its own momentum and is difficult to overcome, but all the more so when it’s resisted—and it is being resisted. When something isn’t equal, and it benefits you, there’s an instinct to not want to change it. This is why you see such open hostility from people who are committed to that status quo, with everything from outright scorn, to deflection, to false equivalencies, and even, from people who might not want to be perceived hostile to equality, a certain practiced confusion about the nature of the inequality, even to the point of claiming that it’s men who are now the threatened and downtrodden group. It’s just when you reverse it that you see: no, actually it’s very clear who is on the privileged end of this, and it’s pretty clear such a state wouldn’t be acceptable to them.”
He also responded to some of the other commenters, sometimes maintaining the satire
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
The thread also included a number of replies to tweets that are now deleted, but still bring the point across
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Twitter liked this take on gender inequality, prompting many tweets in response. Some were sad that this is the way it is, despite us living in a rather progressive time. Others debated the issue, adding their own take on it. Regardless, the thread managed to garner a modest 8.9k likes with a sizable handful of retweets.
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Image credits: JuliusGoat
Here are some other reactions to this thread
Image credits: AnnaEvaevaeva
Image credits: LauraCampCA
Image credits: thisskinimin1
Image credits: LeslieDJoyce
Image credits: phonyette
Image credits: kelly_doodle
You can check out the rest of the thread here. Or buy his book here. Or buy his signed book here. Regardless, before you go, let’s have a chat! What are your thoughts on this? Have any other analogies to bring the point across of how much gender inequality there is in today’s society? Let us know in the comment section below!
What do you think ?
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Imagine if men were the ones who birthed babies, risking their lives to do so, and women consistently voted to force men to give birth, while offering absolutely no support for men or babies once they were born. (The "right to life" movement consistently insists on forcing women to give birth, but cares nothing for children after they're born. They habitually are in favor of the death penalty and against social programs that would feed, house, and provide health care for children.)
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. (This is a famous battle cry of second-wave feminists--not mine)
Load More Replies...
Theater Kid 3 years ago
This is really important for all men to hear. I don't think they fully understand the struggles that women have faced. And I think @LeslieDJoyce made a really good point about black and brown women. We still have so far to come. *sigh*
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
There are many notable women in history, and in today's society, who effect change.... and who get imprisoned and/or killed for it. Are reviled as malignant in some cases. Are forced into the role of "saint" in others (I'm pretty sure Susan B Anthony had some bad days). Realistically, we have to concede that, for every woman noted in history books, there are.... what, 99 men? Anyone got solid figures? It's also pathetic we title books "Code GIRLS" and "Radium GIRLS". These were WOMEN. But we can't even grant that much. *sigh* (FYI: female here.)
grey galah 3 years ago
Imagine a product for male hygiene was developed which solved a major practical problem as well, and the government taxed it as a luxury item thus reducing its affordability. Tampons first sold in 1929. Australia repeals tax on tampons as luxury item 2019. Abolished UK 2021. Still taxed in most US states and China. Who makes the laws?
elStiJneriNO 3 years ago
i think it that case, men would just be a bit dirtier than now.
Load More Replies...
Sky Render 3 years ago
I will reiterate: polarized gender roles are a huge mistake. It's unhealthy for both sides, and pretty consistently leads to (en)forced "dominant" and "submissive" roles in societies that embrace that polarization.
Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
As the majority of the points made in this happened in the PAST, I feel a large part of this is actually about progress already made. Placing focus about how awful current times are takes away from celebrating enlightened minds.
Requiem 3 years ago
Ya dipshit the whole divorce was illegal is wrong, the US had states that ANYONE could "move" there and get divorced after. 95% of this is s**t that happened when people were stupid about everything. My province thought it was great having a women Premier finally, until they found out how much power corrupted her and the s**t she did. Didnt last long in office. Go to university, get a good paying job, support your self. Go become President, other countries have women President and they arent any less repressive or sexist than the US.
Requiem 3 years ago
Yeah? You think women politicians or being SCOTUS or the POTUS isnt going to change their views on things? Diane Feinstein is a Democrat and a rich white woman, look up The Dollop podcast on her and how big of a piece of s**t she is to people who are lesser to her. Power does things to people male or female. Tipper Gore is another one. Margaret Thatcher.....
Octavia Hansen 3 years ago
On top of all this, what REALLY bothers me is that women are 53+% of the entire population. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? We should sweep every election and dominate every committee and organization but we don't. On top of that, we settle for less apparently on everything. Come on, gals! Get off your butts, bring the kids and CONQUER THE WORLD!
elStiJneriNO 3 years ago
check linda's response above. Women don't want other women above them. you are only keeping yourself down.
Load More Replies...
Phica Afton 3 years ago
My inspiration is Eret. You may know of him, he wears dresses live on stream and is proud to be Bisexual. I couldn't have come out to my parents and family with him.
Xylle Flora 3 years ago
Eret! I know who he is but I haven;t watched any of his streams
Load More Replies...
Philly Bob Squires 3 years ago
There would be a lot less war but God help us if two world leaders wore the same dress! LOL I so respect women for putting up with us.
Billy Bob the 4th 3 years ago (edited)
I know nothing of American politics, but the US has more women then men. I feel it should be pretty simple to make a change if ALL that was require would be a different set of genitals.
lara 3 years ago
One of the things everyone ignores is that power ALWAYS corrupts. The longer someone or some group is in power the more corrupt they become. They do not see themselves as corrupt. They see themselves as making peoples' lives better and if they have to "force" people to do something it is only for their own good. A "matriarchy" would end up just as corrupt as a patriarchy. It doesn't matter how "good" your intentions are, you will always end up using force and punishment to obtain your goals. ALWAYS. Maybe not this moment, but within a few years you will realize that your goals are NOT obtainable through suggestions, or fast enough, so you will resort to punishment and force.
Gin Marie 3 years ago
So......let's not give women power and leave men in charge because all that socialization means nothing to some rando?
Load More Replies...
Theo C 3 years ago
I actually got my own viewpoint on this because in my county like almost all of the kids going to acting classes are girls, so every single play is written for girls, made to inspire girls, and extremely feminist. I always get side character roles. I complained and I was told that my situation was really what it's like for a lot of women, and really understand the sexism now.
Wolfowl 3 years ago
I'm very sorry, but I can't find you, and I wanted to tell you something. Pansexualandproud? I saw you as a friend when I was on here, and I'm leaving. I realized that the only way this site gets clicks in through Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter, and that's not okay. Even Buzzfeed has their own content. I'm just sick and tired of it. I'm not coming back. I wish you well in life and I sincerely hope that you get happiness. (By the way, if someone sees this, I think that Pansexualandproud changed their user. Can you please tell them?)
juice 3 years ago
hey, i'm a stranger, but i wish you well. this isn't exactly the place to comment a farewell message, but then again, there isn't really a good place on Bored Panda. my advice is to change your bio to what you just said, so your friend is more likely to see it
Load More Replies...
Fishwasher 3 years ago
I get that women want to have a turn and make men pay for all the sexism, but honestly prejudice in general is terrible.
Fishwasher 3 years ago
The gender roles switch or the race roles switch is a good trick to put people in their shoes. I don't want it to be a matriarchy or a patriarchy.
François Carré 3 years ago
Awesome comic author Riad Sattouf made that crazy movie about the same topic of reversed gender roles : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94iTgq7lOFY
Anyone-for-tea? 3 years ago (edited)
I would really like to see a film where all gender norms were completely reversed, including women speaking men’s lines; not an action film or anything like that, but something run-of-the-mill. Also, I used a phrase in a text that a male friend commonly uses with me, but when I used it, he thought I sounded aggressive! I think about that a lot.
Joseph OReilly 3 years ago
If this happened, I would be like, "wow, I suddenly know every president who's going to be elected for the next 240 years! I should go to a psychiatrist"
Anthony 3 years ago
The reason why we live in a patriarchal world is, millions of men died in conquests, wars and other activities. Men are the thriving force, 90% of the inventions we use are invented by hardworking men! It's more of washing dishes and getting pregnant!
Dani_has_arrived <3 3 years ago
Lol did you know that if it weren't for a woman you wouldn't have been able to type that
Load More Replies...
BorPand8 3 years ago
I think it's funny how so many men act so guilty when people talk about stuff like this. I mean, say I'm with a group of men and they're talking about gold diggers. They're all, "I used to date this girl who would always order the most expensive thing on the menu." "My ex-girlfriend got mad because I didn't buy her diamonds for her birthday." ... I'm not all, "OMG I'M SO SICK OF MEN BERATING ME!!!" Maybe because I don't have a guilty conscience?
Truth Monster 3 years ago
Imagine a world where we stop categorizing people based on their race/sex/whatevs and start judging them based on their individual merits. Women's rights has come a long way, but we women often stand in our own way by electing incompetent women "because they're women!" and not because they would actually be good at that job.
anarkzie 3 years ago
To be fair us men also elect incompetent men. My country is currently being run by a clown.
Load More Replies... 
Q B F T 3 years ago
So, you're saying whenever (in what I think is still the right term) a male "ally" shows support for women's issues, they do it duplicitously and solely to radicalise fellow men into further misogyny? Interesting take. A lot of men agree with you that when a man shows support like this, it's false - but they usually accuse the ally of faking it in order to get women into bed, rather than to stir up further misogyny as you're suggesting.
Load More Replies...
Viviane 3 years ago (edited)
You're probably not off by much with the workplace death statistics. One way to even the field is to have more women in dangerous jobs, such as logging, mining and driving. https://www.ishn.com/articles/112748-top-25-most-dangerous-jobs-in-the-united-states
Load More Replies... 
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Imagine if men were the ones who birthed babies, risking their lives to do so, and women consistently voted to force men to give birth, while offering absolutely no support for men or babies once they were born. (The "right to life" movement consistently insists on forcing women to give birth, but cares nothing for children after they're born. They habitually are in favor of the death penalty and against social programs that would feed, house, and provide health care for children.)
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. (This is a famous battle cry of second-wave feminists--not mine)
Load More Replies... Theater Kid 3 years ago
This is really important for all men to hear. I don't think they fully understand the struggles that women have faced. And I think @LeslieDJoyce made a really good point about black and brown women. We still have so far to come. *sigh*
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
There are many notable women in history, and in today's society, who effect change.... and who get imprisoned and/or killed for it. Are reviled as malignant in some cases. Are forced into the role of "saint" in others (I'm pretty sure Susan B Anthony had some bad days). Realistically, we have to concede that, for every woman noted in history books, there are.... what, 99 men? Anyone got solid figures? It's also pathetic we title books "Code GIRLS" and "Radium GIRLS". These were WOMEN. But we can't even grant that much. *sigh* (FYI: female here.)
grey galah 3 years ago
Imagine a product for male hygiene was developed which solved a major practical problem as well, and the government taxed it as a luxury item thus reducing its affordability. Tampons first sold in 1929. Australia repeals tax on tampons as luxury item 2019. Abolished UK 2021. Still taxed in most US states and China. Who makes the laws?
elStiJneriNO 3 years ago
i think it that case, men would just be a bit dirtier than now.
Load More Replies... Sky Render 3 years ago
I will reiterate: polarized gender roles are a huge mistake. It's unhealthy for both sides, and pretty consistently leads to (en)forced "dominant" and "submissive" roles in societies that embrace that polarization.
Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
As the majority of the points made in this happened in the PAST, I feel a large part of this is actually about progress already made. Placing focus about how awful current times are takes away from celebrating enlightened minds.
Requiem 3 years ago
Ya dipshit the whole divorce was illegal is wrong, the US had states that ANYONE could "move" there and get divorced after. 95% of this is s**t that happened when people were stupid about everything. My province thought it was great having a women Premier finally, until they found out how much power corrupted her and the s**t she did. Didnt last long in office. Go to university, get a good paying job, support your self. Go become President, other countries have women President and they arent any less repressive or sexist than the US.
Requiem 3 years ago
Yeah? You think women politicians or being SCOTUS or the POTUS isnt going to change their views on things? Diane Feinstein is a Democrat and a rich white woman, look up The Dollop podcast on her and how big of a piece of s**t she is to people who are lesser to her. Power does things to people male or female. Tipper Gore is another one. Margaret Thatcher.....
Octavia Hansen 3 years ago
On top of all this, what REALLY bothers me is that women are 53+% of the entire population. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? We should sweep every election and dominate every committee and organization but we don't. On top of that, we settle for less apparently on everything. Come on, gals! Get off your butts, bring the kids and CONQUER THE WORLD!
elStiJneriNO 3 years ago
check linda's response above. Women don't want other women above them. you are only keeping yourself down.
Load More Replies... Phica Afton 3 years ago
My inspiration is Eret. You may know of him, he wears dresses live on stream and is proud to be Bisexual. I couldn't have come out to my parents and family with him.
Xylle Flora 3 years ago
Eret! I know who he is but I haven;t watched any of his streams
Load More Replies... Philly Bob Squires 3 years ago
There would be a lot less war but God help us if two world leaders wore the same dress! LOL I so respect women for putting up with us.
Billy Bob the 4th 3 years ago (edited)
I know nothing of American politics, but the US has more women then men. I feel it should be pretty simple to make a change if ALL that was require would be a different set of genitals.
lara 3 years ago
One of the things everyone ignores is that power ALWAYS corrupts. The longer someone or some group is in power the more corrupt they become. They do not see themselves as corrupt. They see themselves as making peoples' lives better and if they have to "force" people to do something it is only for their own good. A "matriarchy" would end up just as corrupt as a patriarchy. It doesn't matter how "good" your intentions are, you will always end up using force and punishment to obtain your goals. ALWAYS. Maybe not this moment, but within a few years you will realize that your goals are NOT obtainable through suggestions, or fast enough, so you will resort to punishment and force.
Gin Marie 3 years ago
So......let's not give women power and leave men in charge because all that socialization means nothing to some rando?
Load More Replies... Theo C 3 years ago
I actually got my own viewpoint on this because in my county like almost all of the kids going to acting classes are girls, so every single play is written for girls, made to inspire girls, and extremely feminist. I always get side character roles. I complained and I was told that my situation was really what it's like for a lot of women, and really understand the sexism now.
Wolfowl 3 years ago
I'm very sorry, but I can't find you, and I wanted to tell you something. Pansexualandproud? I saw you as a friend when I was on here, and I'm leaving. I realized that the only way this site gets clicks in through Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter, and that's not okay. Even Buzzfeed has their own content. I'm just sick and tired of it. I'm not coming back. I wish you well in life and I sincerely hope that you get happiness. (By the way, if someone sees this, I think that Pansexualandproud changed their user. Can you please tell them?)
juice 3 years ago
hey, i'm a stranger, but i wish you well. this isn't exactly the place to comment a farewell message, but then again, there isn't really a good place on Bored Panda. my advice is to change your bio to what you just said, so your friend is more likely to see it
Load More Replies... Fishwasher 3 years ago
I get that women want to have a turn and make men pay for all the sexism, but honestly prejudice in general is terrible.
Fishwasher 3 years ago
The gender roles switch or the race roles switch is a good trick to put people in their shoes. I don't want it to be a matriarchy or a patriarchy.
François Carré 3 years ago
Awesome comic author Riad Sattouf made that crazy movie about the same topic of reversed gender roles : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94iTgq7lOFY
Anyone-for-tea? 3 years ago (edited)
I would really like to see a film where all gender norms were completely reversed, including women speaking men’s lines; not an action film or anything like that, but something run-of-the-mill. Also, I used a phrase in a text that a male friend commonly uses with me, but when I used it, he thought I sounded aggressive! I think about that a lot.
Joseph OReilly 3 years ago
If this happened, I would be like, "wow, I suddenly know every president who's going to be elected for the next 240 years! I should go to a psychiatrist"
Anthony 3 years ago
The reason why we live in a patriarchal world is, millions of men died in conquests, wars and other activities. Men are the thriving force, 90% of the inventions we use are invented by hardworking men! It's more of washing dishes and getting pregnant!
Dani_has_arrived <3 3 years ago
Lol did you know that if it weren't for a woman you wouldn't have been able to type that
Load More Replies... BorPand8 3 years ago
I think it's funny how so many men act so guilty when people talk about stuff like this. I mean, say I'm with a group of men and they're talking about gold diggers. They're all, "I used to date this girl who would always order the most expensive thing on the menu." "My ex-girlfriend got mad because I didn't buy her diamonds for her birthday." ... I'm not all, "OMG I'M SO SICK OF MEN BERATING ME!!!" Maybe because I don't have a guilty conscience?
Truth Monster 3 years ago
Imagine a world where we stop categorizing people based on their race/sex/whatevs and start judging them based on their individual merits. Women's rights has come a long way, but we women often stand in our own way by electing incompetent women "because they're women!" and not because they would actually be good at that job.
anarkzie 3 years ago
To be fair us men also elect incompetent men. My country is currently being run by a clown.
Load More Replies... Q B F T 3 years ago
So, you're saying whenever (in what I think is still the right term) a male "ally" shows support for women's issues, they do it duplicitously and solely to radicalise fellow men into further misogyny? Interesting take. A lot of men agree with you that when a man shows support like this, it's false - but they usually accuse the ally of faking it in order to get women into bed, rather than to stir up further misogyny as you're suggesting.
Load More Replies... Viviane 3 years ago (edited)
You're probably not off by much with the workplace death statistics. One way to even the field is to have more women in dangerous jobs, such as logging, mining and driving. https://www.ishn.com/articles/112748-top-25-most-dangerous-jobs-in-the-united-states
Load More Replies... 
Related on Bored Panda
169
97