Gabrielle Civil Patriarchy

Black feminist performance artist Gabrielle Civil, demonstrates how she found her identity as a writer, poet, artist, daughter, women and feminist through live art performances. Such representation is displayed through the connection of the red dots that links between the groups throughout the performance. The theme of oppression is prevalent throughout the performance which is explored even further during a question and answer session when Civil reflects on experience which shaped her. The performance used Red rope as a metaphor to explain patriarchy, and Civil experience of facing sexism within her own family
Gabrielle Civil has discovered herself because of the connection she made with the group of people during the performance with red rope. For example, she states “Red dots turns into recognition of your red blood, veins cells,
However, the string falls away, yet she feels connected, which compelled other volunteers to come into a circle. She further describes during the performance that red dots belong to an individual because it’s in connection with everyone else. The first part of the production raises a question such as “what if you don’t need string, what if there is a bigger picture.” The performance portrays how she wants to see equality no matter your gender identity. The bigger picture of that is revealed through the presence of the patriarchy in society. The performance relates to Allan Johnson's book Gender Knot that has applied the definition of patriarchy based on societal manifestations of social patriarchy. It refers to patriarchy as “A social system that promotes male privilege, which is an unearned advantage given to males. Patriarchy is male-dominated, identified, and centered” (Johnson 5). Hence Civil is trying to convey through the performance that the group has a domination over her even when string falls away because of her status as a black