Patriarchy, Gender and Violence: Towards a New Masculinity in bell hooks

Taking bell hooks' thought as a guiding thread for reflection and analysis, this article studies patriarchy as an ideological structure that promotes and legitimises various forms of violence, such as oppression and sexist discrimination. It further argues that patriarchal violence is not only directed towards women, but also towards men, as the traditional gender identities they are encouraged to assume foster toxic attitudes and values. In coherence, we affirm that the conformation of new alternative gender subjectivities that are alternatives to the hegemonic one and that are decolonised from the patriarchal ideology, is required to eradicate sexist violence and to build a more just and egalitarian society. In this sense, we study hooks' proposal to build a new masculinity that is more supportive, understanding and affable than the traditional one.