Femi LazarusCEO at Femi Lazarus Consulting

Another insightful conversations on Declassified Podcast.

27 Jun 2026 · 3 min

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2:53

In this excerpt from the Declassified Podcast, speakers discuss the pervasive nature of patriarchy and its impact not only on women but also on men. Speaker B affirms the existence of male privilege and explains that men often feel threatened by feminism because it challenges their unearned advantages. He outlines five "pillars" of patriarchy: (1) flawed individual perceptions of masculinity, (2) family structures and men’s relationships with women, (3) institutionalized systems, (4) political ideologies, and (5) broader societal constructs, each of which can harm men. The conversation highlights how feminist initiatives—such as advocating for paternity leave—actually benefit men, yet men sometimes oppose these measures out of misunderstanding. The dialogue underscores the destructive potential of unchecked patriarchy and frames feminism as a movement that can address inequities for both genders. The segment ends with a brief promotional note about the podcast’s availability on YouTube and Spotify.

I mean, some of the things I've seen that people believe that our society is likely patriarchal in the sense that there's male privilege. Do you uphold that?
I do.
Yeah.
And I think that's why there's even more— you could— you can see the struggle when men hear feminism. It repulses them.
Feel they are threatened?
Yes. And that's because, you know, when you are bringing equality to a space where you are enjoying the privileges, it's a threat to you. So I understand. I don't see how I would want a privilege taken from me except if I see that there is also harm. And that's, that's one of the things I really discuss with people. You see, patriarchy is harming men as well.
Are you serious?
And I'm going to explain. So there are 5 pillars of patriarchy. The first is the individual perception that men have of masculinity. The definition of masculinity is flawed. Now, when men see certain elements, like, it looks like this element of masculinity is missing in my life, it looks like they are not complete, that's harmful to them. The second is when you talk about the family construct, you talk about men's relation with women, you talk about the institutionalized, um, system of patriarchy. And then even in some Palaces, you have the political ideologies as well. So across those pillars, you would see that in every pillar there is a way that it's harming men themselves. If you say that we have women advocating for paternity leave, for example, they do that because a man who just— who is aware that his wife just put to bed yesterday and has to go to work tomorrow, if we are saying allow these men to also be at The movement pushing for that is the feminist movement, by the way.
So there's a feminist movement pushing for men to also get paternity leave?
Yes.
Because their wives give birth?
Yes.
You feel men are the ones pushing back against that?
Men attack feminists not even knowing feminists are fighting for that in particular.
Imagine that.
That's just one of the many, the many aspects.
So I mean, what you're saying is there are aspects of feminism that is also advocating for men?
Yes, because it is challenging patriarchy, and patriarchy has the capacity to very destructive if it's not checked.
How would you describe patriarchy?
Patriarchy is essentially the dominance of the male gender on the entire planet, and this also implies that patriarchy is saying that only men are powerful and capable enough to do certain things. The danger where that comes in is that even sometimes men don't have the capacity to do that.
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