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 t

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.