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patriarchy

Also known as patriarchal system

Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. 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 society.

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Patriarchy is a social system where men primarily hold positions of power and authority, whether in families, clans, or society as a whole. Understanding patriarchy matters because it describes how power and influence have been distributed between genders historically and in contemporary societies, which affects opportunities, resources, and social structures for everyone.

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Image: Molnár Ábrahám kiköltözése 1850.jpg

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Commons category: Patriarchy

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~37 min read

Article

28 sections

Contents

Terminology
Overview
History
Pre-history
Sexual division of labour
Sex hierarchies
Ancient Western history
Modern Western history
Asian history
Social theories
Patriarchy and feminism
Development of feminism
The role of patriarchy in feminism
Feminist ideologies
Feminist theory
Biological theories
Evolutionary biology
Psychoanalytic theories
Gender inequality today
Impact of patriarchy on mental health
See also
Patriarchal models
Related topics
Comparable social models
Contrast
References
Further reading
External links

Sociologists posit that the process of socialization is predominantly responsible for the establishment of gender roles. They contend that gender roles and gender inequity function as instruments of power and have evolved into social norms that serve to maintain control over women. Patriarchal ideology explains and rationalizes patriarchy by attributing gender inequality to inherent natural differences between men and women, divine commandment, or other fixed structures.