Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are held by men.[1][2][3] The term patriarchy is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in feminist theory to describe a broader social structure in which men as a group dominate women and children.[4][5][6]
This article is about the social system. For other uses, see Patriarchy (disambiguation).
Patriarchal ideology acts to explain and justify patriarchy by attributing gender inequality to inherent natural differences between men and women, divine commandment, or other fixed structures.[7] Sociologists tend to reject predominantly biological explanations of patriarchy and contend that socialization processes are primarily responsible for establishing gender roles.[8] They are the basis of discrimination of women. [9] Sociobiologists compare human gender roles to sexed behavior in other primates and some argue that gender inequality comes primarily from genetic and reproductive differences between men and women. Social constructionists contest this argument, arguing that gender roles and gender inequity are instruments of power and have become social norms to maintain control over women.
Historically, patriarchy has manifested itself in the social, legal, political, religious, and economic organization of a range of different cultures.[10] Most contemporary societies are, in practice, patriarchal.[11][12]
Terminology[edit]
Patriarchy literally means "the rule of the father"[13][7] and comes from the Greek πατριάρχης (patriarkhēs),[14][15] "father or chief of a race",[16] which is a compound of πατριά (patria), "lineage, descent, family, fatherland"[17] (from πατήρ patēr, "father")[18] and ἀρχή (arkhē), "domination, authority, sovereignty".[19]
Historically, the term patriarchy has been used to refer to autocratic rule by the male head of a family; however, since the late 20th century it has also been used to refer to social systems in which power is primarily held by adult men.[20][21][22] The term was particularly used by writers associated with second-wave feminism such as Kate Millett; these writers sought to use an understanding of patriarchal social relations to liberate women from male domination.[23][24] This concept of patriarchy was developed to explain male dominance as a social, rather than biological, phenomenon.[21]
Overview[edit]
Patriarchy is a social system in which men are the primary authority figures in the areas of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property.[25] Sociologist Sylvia Walby defines patriarchy as "a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women".[5] Social stratification along gender lines, with power predominantly held by men, has been observed in most, but not all societies.[11][21][22]
