Patriarchy.

The patriarchy is a myth, but it is a useful one. Feminism's use of it is not quite wrong, but I think it's definitely misguided.

It refers to the pyramidal hierarchies that govern human power structures. Historically male, definitely oppressive.

You can blame the patriarchy for corporate power, erosion of rights, the legal system's chicanery, and of course hetero-normativism itself.

Because let's face it, the male power structure has been around during every form of oppression known to man, including the grammatical decision that 'man' should refers to men and women.

So the System, the Patriarchy, made a pretty good and pretty accurate target as progressivism sought to redefine society in more fair terms.

The problem is that power structures are kinda that way for a reason--not a moral one, but a practical one. Deference and submission, authority and dominance: these are what make a group of people act together. Sadly this means those with authority and dominance act to enhance their own position. So it has been, so it shall always be.

But I've not seen one shred of evidence that a Matriarchy wouldn't be subject to the same tragic and terribly oppressive modes of thought that Patriarchy has created. The fault is System and the necessity of it, not gender.

The idea that you can do better, that when we're in charge suddenly everything will be new and perfect, is exactly the idealism that confounds revolutions. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

So take back the term patriarchy. It has become misandrist even though it was not originally so. Power is not conferred differently by sex or gender, it is wielded with equal frivolity and carelessness by both.