Emily I am so touched by your comment. I'm hoping to read more of your work too, very soon. It's so hard to keep up with all the great ideas on here. Thank you so much for investing the time in mine.
Great piece! Really appreciated this, and will be including it in the February Bazaar at Stranger Worlds. Is it your preferred choice to go simply by 'Penelope' or can I include a surname in crediting you...?
It's exactly that. Once a month, I share essays I think my readers might be interested in. If you prefer 'just Penelope', that's fine, of course, but I thought I'd ask about your surname all the same, since I like to credit people where I can.
This is beautiful writing. The interpretation of Islamic ornamentation reminds me: those shapes were discovered and understood by medieval architects; but for moderns, the math was only worked out in the late twentieth century by Roger Penrose—who perhaps not coincidentally has also done much work defending the uniqueness of human consciousness.
Thank you Derek for your thoughtful comment. I know that the math is still an ongoing project and has recently been related to quasi-crystal structure/formation by a mathematician I believe from Harvard (can't quite remember his name). I will look into Roger Penrose!
I am coming back to it to reread but it truly feels like re-listening, your voice without it feels strong and maternally guiding itself.
As a young woman trying to understand the shape and beauty found in the differentiation of female and male, I love the curiosity this sparks in me. I realize I’ve thought half-heartedly about the structure and therefore the true good/bads within “patriarchal” lead/society. Looking forward to reading more and more openness to the myriad of meaning and truth to discuss within our humanity.
Thank you very much Merc for your comment, it touches me that you consider this "relistening" as that's how I feel about my most-loved writers. And how heartening it is to know that my voice sounds strong & maternally guided, that's all I can hope for. Looking forward to perusing your work too, when I find the time!
I find myself constantly baffled by the way the term patriarchy is used in modern discourse. I grew up in a home that tried to embrace (broadly speaking) patriarchy as a family structure* and was in circles that idealized patriarchy and honestly, none of what anyone says when they reference “The Patriarchy” makes any sense to me. I say that as someone who has moved into what is perhaps more of an egalitarian view on authority structure within the family and society. “The Patriarchy” appears to be used as this ambiguous personification of oppression and misogyny, rather than a recognition of the general human potential for evil or for good. Anyways, I’m still feeling my way through this and gathering thoughts, I don’t have anything profound in reference to patriarchy, whether for or against it. I suppose I approach it with some sense of ambiguity, but also with an awareness that it is far more nuanced than what I am seeing represented in discussion, broadly speaking. Or perhaps I’m reading nuance wrong - perhaps the broader discussion is nuanced in a way that I can’t fully appreciate.
I’m grateful you invited us to read your reckoning; it encourages each reader to engage for his or herself and gives a unique insights for the reader to consider. I appreciated the approach you took here in encouraging a wider perspective and pulling back a curtain to grant the reader a small window through which to consider the broader implications of this idea as structure.
I’m still turning over the idea of what it means to have a feminine morphology, I have never considered language as distinctively masculine or feminine, outside of brief exposure to Latin and Spanish, and then it was only to gendered language as a rule, rather than as something worth considering in reference to culture and human experience.
This interplay of the masculine and the feminine that you explore here has given me a lot to ponder and I look forward to considering it further. I’ve always resisted defining things within a masculine/feminine binary, not because I do not recognize the masculine or the feminine, but perhaps due to my own confusion regarding my experiences with both. I’m not entirely certain where further personal contemplation will lead, but I very much look forward to your continued exploration in the second part of this essay.
*My own experience with the idea of patriarchy as a family/church structure was complicated, which I think is worth noting.
Hi Monique, thank you for your very detailed response. I appreciate your thoughts and the nuance you've maintained despite maybe having a complicated relationship with the structure growing up.
I think my point here is that as a social structure "patriarchy" (ie. men in governance & as the primary public mediators) is a generally positive approach to organising society in support of domestic activities ie. childrearing. I think that it is essentially a productive structure, and that tyranny and misogyny are its aberrant extremes, not its essence.
Re. morphology, I use it here more in the sense of a general structure, not in its linguistic meaning. So I'm not talking about language being gendered but rather feminine conceptions and practices of self and space and their interrelation.
I did wonder if the use of morphology might confuse some. Thank you for pointing that out, I may add a note for clarification.
I’m really impressed with this. Beautifully written and insightful. I also appreciate the beautiful pictures, which really helped me grasp what you were proving about reticulation.
It’s interesting how my views on practices generally labeled as “patriarchal” have changed as I’ve had more children. I may be misinterpreting their significance, but your essay makes me think maybe I’m not too far off in appreciating some possible benefits:
Separate entrances for women? I can bring home the groceries and prepare lunch in peace.
The biblical tent for menstruation — what woman wouldn’t mind a bit of alone time?
Head coverings? Now I don’t have to worry as much about how my hair looks.
Again, this was very thoughtful. Looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you Leah for your always thoughtful engagement. I appreciate your reflections here and glad you liked the pictures. I captured so many moments of beauty in Morocco. It truly is a thrilling place to stay and travel.
It's actually quite difficult to define what patriarchal structure is in all its nuance, but largely I think a combination of having men in public governance, men as the public face of the family, men as the public mediators, and then men as the breadwinners and financial organisers etc, is what it looks like in Morocco. In a more abstract sense, it is men providing the "shell" or "structure" for feminine dispositions & processes to unfold. The biblical tent for menstruation as you note is a great way to visualise that last point.
Overall I found that women in Morocco had incredible agency within their own spheres, as well as structured opportunities in female-exclusive spaces for the collective release of "inhibitions" and expression of an incredible feminine vitality I haven't seen elsewhere.
Penelope, what a sublime essay you’ve written. I plan to reread this aloud to my husband so we can discuss it and enjoy its contents together.
Emily I am so touched by your comment. I'm hoping to read more of your work too, very soon. It's so hard to keep up with all the great ideas on here. Thank you so much for investing the time in mine.
Great piece! Really appreciated this, and will be including it in the February Bazaar at Stranger Worlds. Is it your preferred choice to go simply by 'Penelope' or can I include a surname in crediting you...?
With unlimited love,
Chris.
Thank you Chris for your kind feedback. May I ask what the February Bazaar is? I assume just a link to recommended readings?
It's exactly that. Once a month, I share essays I think my readers might be interested in. If you prefer 'just Penelope', that's fine, of course, but I thought I'd ask about your surname all the same, since I like to credit people where I can.
Stay wonderful!
Thank you Chris for your recommendation, that's an honour. I usually just go by "Penelope".
No worries! I shall credit you accordingly.
Stay wonderful!
Chris.
This is beautiful writing. The interpretation of Islamic ornamentation reminds me: those shapes were discovered and understood by medieval architects; but for moderns, the math was only worked out in the late twentieth century by Roger Penrose—who perhaps not coincidentally has also done much work defending the uniqueness of human consciousness.
Thank you Derek for your thoughtful comment. I know that the math is still an ongoing project and has recently been related to quasi-crystal structure/formation by a mathematician I believe from Harvard (can't quite remember his name). I will look into Roger Penrose!
This is such a thoughtful and intriguing share.
I am coming back to it to reread but it truly feels like re-listening, your voice without it feels strong and maternally guiding itself.
As a young woman trying to understand the shape and beauty found in the differentiation of female and male, I love the curiosity this sparks in me. I realize I’ve thought half-heartedly about the structure and therefore the true good/bads within “patriarchal” lead/society. Looking forward to reading more and more openness to the myriad of meaning and truth to discuss within our humanity.
Thank you very much Merc for your comment, it touches me that you consider this "relistening" as that's how I feel about my most-loved writers. And how heartening it is to know that my voice sounds strong & maternally guided, that's all I can hope for. Looking forward to perusing your work too, when I find the time!
I find myself constantly baffled by the way the term patriarchy is used in modern discourse. I grew up in a home that tried to embrace (broadly speaking) patriarchy as a family structure* and was in circles that idealized patriarchy and honestly, none of what anyone says when they reference “The Patriarchy” makes any sense to me. I say that as someone who has moved into what is perhaps more of an egalitarian view on authority structure within the family and society. “The Patriarchy” appears to be used as this ambiguous personification of oppression and misogyny, rather than a recognition of the general human potential for evil or for good. Anyways, I’m still feeling my way through this and gathering thoughts, I don’t have anything profound in reference to patriarchy, whether for or against it. I suppose I approach it with some sense of ambiguity, but also with an awareness that it is far more nuanced than what I am seeing represented in discussion, broadly speaking. Or perhaps I’m reading nuance wrong - perhaps the broader discussion is nuanced in a way that I can’t fully appreciate.
I’m grateful you invited us to read your reckoning; it encourages each reader to engage for his or herself and gives a unique insights for the reader to consider. I appreciated the approach you took here in encouraging a wider perspective and pulling back a curtain to grant the reader a small window through which to consider the broader implications of this idea as structure.
I’m still turning over the idea of what it means to have a feminine morphology, I have never considered language as distinctively masculine or feminine, outside of brief exposure to Latin and Spanish, and then it was only to gendered language as a rule, rather than as something worth considering in reference to culture and human experience.
This interplay of the masculine and the feminine that you explore here has given me a lot to ponder and I look forward to considering it further. I’ve always resisted defining things within a masculine/feminine binary, not because I do not recognize the masculine or the feminine, but perhaps due to my own confusion regarding my experiences with both. I’m not entirely certain where further personal contemplation will lead, but I very much look forward to your continued exploration in the second part of this essay.
*My own experience with the idea of patriarchy as a family/church structure was complicated, which I think is worth noting.
Hi Monique, thank you for your very detailed response. I appreciate your thoughts and the nuance you've maintained despite maybe having a complicated relationship with the structure growing up.
I think my point here is that as a social structure "patriarchy" (ie. men in governance & as the primary public mediators) is a generally positive approach to organising society in support of domestic activities ie. childrearing. I think that it is essentially a productive structure, and that tyranny and misogyny are its aberrant extremes, not its essence.
Re. morphology, I use it here more in the sense of a general structure, not in its linguistic meaning. So I'm not talking about language being gendered but rather feminine conceptions and practices of self and space and their interrelation.
I did wonder if the use of morphology might confuse some. Thank you for pointing that out, I may add a note for clarification.
I’m really impressed with this. Beautifully written and insightful. I also appreciate the beautiful pictures, which really helped me grasp what you were proving about reticulation.
It’s interesting how my views on practices generally labeled as “patriarchal” have changed as I’ve had more children. I may be misinterpreting their significance, but your essay makes me think maybe I’m not too far off in appreciating some possible benefits:
Separate entrances for women? I can bring home the groceries and prepare lunch in peace.
The biblical tent for menstruation — what woman wouldn’t mind a bit of alone time?
Head coverings? Now I don’t have to worry as much about how my hair looks.
Again, this was very thoughtful. Looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you Leah for your always thoughtful engagement. I appreciate your reflections here and glad you liked the pictures. I captured so many moments of beauty in Morocco. It truly is a thrilling place to stay and travel.
It's actually quite difficult to define what patriarchal structure is in all its nuance, but largely I think a combination of having men in public governance, men as the public face of the family, men as the public mediators, and then men as the breadwinners and financial organisers etc, is what it looks like in Morocco. In a more abstract sense, it is men providing the "shell" or "structure" for feminine dispositions & processes to unfold. The biblical tent for menstruation as you note is a great way to visualise that last point.
Overall I found that women in Morocco had incredible agency within their own spheres, as well as structured opportunities in female-exclusive spaces for the collective release of "inhibitions" and expression of an incredible feminine vitality I haven't seen elsewhere.