> Patriachy isn't men dictating every action of every individual, it's structuring society so that the only real choice is the one that benefits the ruling class.
No, that's literally what patriarchy means, that the ruling class is men.
When the ruling class is women, that's called matriarchy.
When the ruling class doesn't favor either, it's neither.
My point is that under a patriarchy, or any system of rule, people still have the ability to make choices. It's just that most/all of those are set up so that the only logical choice to make will benefit and reinforce the system of rule.
So "X is not in the ruling class and X made a choice to improve their life" does _not_ suggest that a system of rule is not in place.
No, that's literally what patriarchy means, that the ruling class is men.
When the ruling class is women, that's called matriarchy.
When the ruling class doesn't favor either, it's neither.