Chris O’Dowd has said it is “not necessarily the case” that men have “been the beneficiaries of the patriarchy”.
The Bridesmaids star, who is set to appear in new BBC Two drama State of the Union, argued it is not only women who have been victims of the patriarchy and that we do not talk enough about how “damaging” it has been for men.
“One part of the conversation about the changing state of man that we have not fully talked about yet is how damaging the patriarchy has been to men – and it’s a minefield to even say that,” O’Dowd told The Times.
“Yet the truth is, we haven’t benefited, necessarily, from thinking we are the providers. We have benefited hugely in other ways, but by thinking that we are there to protect, not to feel, and to be aggressive — all those things that are beaten into us, or certainly me — well, that hasn’t been healthy.”
He added: “And we are learning, as time goes on, to try to get through that. Thankfully, women are really helping. So it feels like men have been the beneficiaries of the patriarchy, but I don’t know if it’s necessarily the case.
“Modern men mostly feel a lot of guilt for the fact that we’re men, even if, most of the time, I feel I haven’t done anything wrong. But I’m a man. White, middle-class — so I must’ve done something wrong? Being part of the patriarchy is a double-edged sword.”
O'Dowd will star in State of the Union alongside Rosamund Pike. The 10-part drama follows Tom and Louise, a couple who have started marriage counselling.
The BBC2 show, written by Nick Hornby, begins in September.
