Brian Atlas enters the conversation cool and composed, armed with facts and logic. Across from him sits a self-proclaimed “woke” feminist, visibly agitated, insisting that all women are victims of a patriarchal society. She argues that systemic oppression, toxic masculinity, and male privilege dominate every aspect of life.
Brian leans in and calmly asks, “Do you believe all women, regardless of their personal choices, are oppressed? Even the ones who are CEOs, politicians, or billionaires?” She fires back that those women are just “exceptions” and have likely “internalized patriarchy.”
He challenges her further: “So personal agency means nothing? If a woman succeeds, it’s the system. If she fails, it’s also the system?”
The feminist struggles to respond without contradicting herself. Brian points out that assuming all women are victims strips them of agency and paints them as weak—exactly what feminism once fought against.
He continues: “Equality means seeing people as individuals, not as permanent victims or villains based on gender.”
By the end, the room is quiet. Brian didn’t shout or mock. He simply held a mirror up—and let the contradictions speak for themselves.
