The feminists who are aware of the effects of patriarchy realize
The feminists who are aware of the effects of patriarchy realize that we are all in the same boat from the dangers of patriarchy, and that the oppression of women is universal.
The words of Nawal El Saadawi — “The feminists who are aware of the effects of patriarchy realize that we are all in the same boat from the dangers of patriarchy, and that the oppression of women is universal.” — resound like the voice of a prophetess crying in the wilderness. They do not speak of one land or one age, but of all times and all nations, declaring that the chains borne by women are not scattered fragments but links in the same eternal chain. Saadawi, the fearless Egyptian writer and physician, gave her life to unmasking these chains, paying with exile, imprisonment, and scorn, yet never bowing to silence.
The meaning is fierce and unyielding: patriarchy is not merely the rule of men, but the system by which women’s voices, bodies, and destinies are bound. And this rule, Saadawi warns, is not confined to one people or one culture; it spreads across the earth, wearing many masks but inflicting the same wound. The wise feminist, therefore, sees not only her own struggle but the struggles of her sisters in distant lands. To recognize this unity is to understand that liberation cannot be partial; until all are free, none are free.
History bears witness. Consider the women of South Africa who rose during the anti-apartheid struggle, fighting not only racial tyranny but the weight of gendered oppression. Or the women of Iran, who, across decades, have protested laws that shroud their freedom. Their battles, though shaped by different cultures, echo the same cry that Saadawi proclaimed: the oppression of women is universal, and the fight against it must be joined as one struggle, one boat, carrying all who dare to resist.
Saadawi’s words also carry a warning to those who forget solidarity. Too often, the privileged may imagine their struggle as separate, lighter, or already won. But she insists that the dangers of patriarchy poison all waters, and that none may claim safety while others drown. To divide the struggle is to weaken it; to unite is to forge a power that no system of domination can withstand.
Let these words be passed down like scripture: the battle for justice is not the burden of a few, but the destiny of all. The boat of liberation carries us together, through storms and against tides, until the chains of patriarchy are broken and the song of freedom is heard across every land. In Saadawi’s cry we hear the voice of the ancients: be steadfast, be united, and never forget — the oppression of one is the oppression of all.
APNgoc Anh Pham
El Saadawi’s words suggest a deep truth about the interconnectedness of all people under patriarchy, but I can’t help but wonder if the focus on women’s oppression sometimes overshadows other forms of systemic injustice. How do we ensure that, in fighting for women’s rights, we are also addressing other interconnected forms of oppression, like racism, classism, and homophobia, which intersect with patriarchy?
PHDang Phung Hai
I appreciate how this quote highlights the solidarity needed to combat patriarchy. However, what does this solidarity look like in practice? Is it enough to acknowledge the oppression, or do we need specific strategies and actions to change the power structures in place? How do we ensure that all women, especially those from marginalized groups, are included in these efforts and their specific struggles addressed?
TVTrang Vu
It’s striking that El Saadawi suggests that we are all affected by patriarchy. In what ways might patriarchy harm not only women but men too? Could it be that men, in a patriarchal society, are also harmed by limiting their emotional expression or enforcing rigid gender roles? Is it possible for men to be allies in dismantling patriarchy without losing their own sense of identity?
ATAnh Tran
Nawal El Saadawi’s statement points to the shared struggle women face under patriarchy, but I wonder, is the oppression experienced by women truly universal in the same way? Different cultures, societies, and histories have varying expressions of patriarchy. How do we reconcile the specific experiences of women in different regions or classes, while still acknowledging that the root cause is the same systemic issue?
DTvo dang thanh
This quote seems to emphasize the idea that patriarchy doesn't just affect women, but has broader societal consequences. If women are oppressed, doesn't that mean everyone suffers in some way, whether directly or indirectly? How do we begin to address this universal issue, and is it enough to just recognize the problem, or do we need to actively fight against these patriarchal structures together as a society?