The Gender Knot

Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy, 3rd Ed.

By: Allan G. Johnson

Narrated by: Gary Roelofs

The Gender Knot, Allan Johnson's response to the pain and confusion that men and women experience by living with gender inequality, explains what patriarchy is and isn't, how it works, and what gets in the way of understanding and doing something about it. Johnson's simple yet powerful approach avoids the paralyzing trap of guilt, blame, anger, and defensive denial that often results from conversations about gender.

This edition features:

• Updated references, data, resources, and examples, especially in relation to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity (e.g., gay marriage, transgender)
• A new chapter, "What Changes and What Does Not: Manhood and Violence", that provides an extended analysis of the causes of men's violence as a patriarchal phenomenon

The book is published by Temple University Press.

©2014 Allan G. Johnson (P)2016 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Johnson's book is beautifully written, thoughtful, and provides compelling analyses of patriarchy and the powerful ideology that supports it and inhibits change. It is a guidebook for a life-changing adventure." ( Contemporary Sociology)

"An excellent gift for anyone who 'just doesn't get it' about feminism." ( Psychology of Women Quarterly)

Fascinating book and research!

This was a very interesting book exploring power structures from the perspective of gender. It's a great introduction to gender issues as well.

Men like me! Please read/listen!

This is essential reading/listening for any man who cares about this world. Highly recommend and I’ll be buying this in print to read over and over again. Education and change can free you.

Great book!

I was very skeptical about this book because the author is a man, but it was recommended by Feminist Frequency. It's one of the best feminist books I've "read"! I am recommending to everyone. The narrator was really terrible to get used to though, sounds like Google Voice-to-Speech, I had it at 1.1% speed to make it endurable and by chapter 3 I wasn't distracted by it anymore... if I had access to this physical book I would have rather read the physical copy, but I'm in Brazil. All in all, recommended, as I'll be telling people about this book. #radicalfeminism #provocative #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

The simplest explanation for systems of inequality

The author presents an explanation for how patriarchy arose and what keeps it moving: the psychological need for control induced by a culture of competition. This is the simplest and most foundational argument I have heard as an academic. It is also the most comprehensive argument I have heard in that it posits the same mechanism for both the creation and maintainable of systems of inequality.

Comprehensive look at Patriarchy

This book was incredibly informative and growth inducing. A must read for everyone. The narration is clear and top notch. At many points I was impressed by the ferocity and sharp indictments the author dished out to the systems and complicit parties responsible for the oppression of women, poc, and other men. Some parts will make people uncomfortable or may be hard to get through, but it is imperative that you work through that discomfort for the good of your own life and the lives of those around you.

Very informative. Slightly tedious.

I learned quite a bit about what the patriarchy is and how it operates. I particularly enjoyed how Johnson explained how social systems operate through paths of last resistance as well as his insight on how to change those systems by making a conscious decision to resist the flow. It was perhaps a bit dry and academic, but what would you expect from a book on feminist theory?

The narration was good, too. Roelofs' voice was just right, I think.

Would smash the patriarchy again, would recommend.

Terrible Book

The author makes definitive and hyperbolic claims without any backing, citing little to no evidence other than their own opinion, using poor logic leads to many false conclusions. The content is super repetitive and reductionary and lacks useful insight. The authors viewpoint is extremely myopic, without nuance. Soooo many wrong presumptions underpin the conclusions, but remain unstated or under-discussed. Terrible Book!

Leftist Bullcrap

This book presents information that is biased, untrue, harmful and morally degrading. Would not ever recommend.