I dislike make-up and whilst I admit to being attracted to any woman who attracts me, because I, too, am a victim of my conditioning and my male sexual drive, my choice in a partner would be for a woman who doesn't use it.
I particularly dislike heavy & super bright lipstick which, to me, looks grotesque.
I accept that conditioning affects all of us and that it is an insidious and generally more harmful rather than beneficial process.
I don't accept the extent to which 'men', i.e. in your words, 'the patriarchy' are claimed to be responsible for virtually each and every difference, (particularly those consdiered to be negative or disadvantageous), between the experiences and situations of men and women in our and other societies.
Men are and have been as subject to conditioning as women. It has positive and negative effects on all of us but, as I said above, more often than not, negative ones.
Instead of blame, criticism and snide put-downs, what both sexes need to do is to recognise that conditioning and take steps to negate it by using our intellect and our wits.
Although I prefer to see women without make-up, I don't make gratuitous comments about those who do and don't believe that I deserve to be criticised for a personal preference, the potential negative implications of which I feel I am aware and therefore take steps to avoid.
It disturbs me that anyone be negatively type-cast for simply being who they are and often for a characteristic over which they had and have no control. (Birth sex, genetics, bone structure, intelligence level, athleticism, conformation to a social stereotype or whatever).
I am and have all manner of attitudes, thoughts, ways of seeing, and etc., it seems, because I am a 'baby-boomer'.
Some of those allegations may be true. Most of them, I believe, are way of the mark, undeserved and far more representative of those who label me than of the reality of who I am.
Surely, until we all begin to see one another as human beings, as individuals with some commonalities and some differences, we will not stop this continued conflict and derision of one group by another.
As true as the narrative of historical patriarchy is a fact of our society, it is unwitting and unreasonable to ignore that history and respond as though all men have been and are motivated by power, privilege, greed, possession, self-indulgence, or any other particular factor or factors.
Yes, much is flawed in society and there is massive inequity. Inequity arising from sex difference is only part of it and, as this article mentions, is to some degree aided in its perpetuation by the very sex whose attributes, dignity and humanity it maligns.
The manifestation, its implications and its resulting behaviours are a complex. The issue will not be solved by simplistic assessment or argument. If real change is to occur then it will come about, in my view, only through intelligent and critical dialogue between all involved, whether perpetrators of unjust behaviour or attitude or victims of it.
We need to seek understanding, not blame.
