Katarzyna Wojnicka on How to Dismantle Patriarchy

What would it take to build a more equal society—and what role do men have in making it possible? In this episode of Studio CEE, Maryna Shevtsova of KU Leuven speaks with Katarzyna Wojnicka, sociologist and Associate Professor at the University of Gothenburg, whose research explores masculinities, gender equality, and social change.

Drawing on years of work in the field, Wojnicka argues that dismantling patriarchy requires more than engaging men as allies. It demands that we place men themselves within the conversation about unequal power relations and examine how masculinity is shaped by—and helps reproduce—social hierarchies.

The discussion also turns to a distinction often overlooked in public debates: the difference between care and protection. While both may appear benevolent, Wojnicka explains how they relate to power in markedly different ways, with important implications for gender equality and social justice.