Patriarchy comes from the combination of the Greek words pater, which means father, and arkhe, which means origin or command. The word "patriarchy" literally translates to man's authority represented by the father figure.
The term has long been used to describe a type of "male-dominated family". This was mainly the case in agricultural societies that took into account gender.
The large patriarchal household included women, children, slaves and domestic servants, all under the rule of one or more men.
Currently the term is also used to refer to to male domination and the power of men over women not only in the domestic sphere. This characterizes the system whereby women are kept subordinate in various ways, in different social spaces.
Before the denunciations of socialist authors such as Friedrich Engels, J. J. Bachofen and Hugh Maclennan, the adjective “patriarchal” was cited in several works by nineteenth-century authors. The term, then, was used in a flattering way in expressions such as “patriarchal virtues”, extolling male power.
For the authors of the time, this is the image of a golden age, which they oppose to the corruption and decadence caused by city life, industry and wage earning.
What is a patriarchal society according to feminism?
For the feminist movement, a patriarchal society is a male-dominated social system in which they are the supreme authority figures and hold the ultimate power.
Characteristics of a Patriarchal Society
- It is believed that only men are capable of leading social, moral, political and economic life;
- Women are believed to be weaker, both physically and mentally, and therefore unable to make important decisions on behalf of others or even for their own lives;
- Obedience and subordination to man are essential elements of a patriarchal society;
- Education guided by the idea of "masculinity". Sons generally receive preferential treatment and an education with sexual and moral freedom, unlike daughters;
- In a patriarchal family, it is the father who controls all economic, social and moral decisions concerning all other members of the family.
Patriarchy and the feminist movement
In feminism, the word patriarchy is used to describe the gender-based hierarchy system within society. This structure attributes more value and supremacy to men, masculinity and even masculine traits.
The feminist movement characterizes most of human society as patriarchal. Their struggle, therefore, is to extinguish the perpetuation of patriarchy, considering it oppressive for women and people of non-binary genders (individuals who no determine their gender identity in entirely feminine or masculine).
This occurs in almost all social spheres. However, according to the feminist movement, it is very noticeable when analyzing the subjugated role of women in the main institutions of the State, in the labor market and even in the family.
Furthermore, another area frequently addressed by the movement is the sexual freedom of women, which within a patriarchal society is sluggish and subjugated.
Male violence against women is also a very strong feature of patriarchy. Many women face multiple social oppressions. In many cases, sexism intersects with other types of discrimination, such as race, class and sexuality.
The struggle of the feminist movement
The banners of struggle of all feminist movements are gender equality and the struggle against patriarchy.
Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the first feminist wave was marked by the struggle for political and legal equality and took especially white and middle-class women onto the streets.
In the 1960s and 1970s, there was the second feminist wave, in which the agenda brought the right to the body and to pleasure. Once again, a fight against men's sexual privileges and freedoms over women.
Second wave of feminists claiming gender equality in the 1970s.
At the turn of the 1980s, the black feminist movement took on great proportions in the United States, bringing racial oppression and class inequalities as its agenda.
Throughout all these movements to the present day, feminist theories have expanded the definition of patriarchal society to describe an enormous social structure in which women are subjected to the power of the men.
That's why feminism is a movement that fights for the end of the domination of men over women.
What is the difference between matriarchy and patriarchy?
There are several obvious differences between these two social systems. O matriarchy, for example, it is essentially a women-oriented society, in which all leadership and authority is in their hands..
Patriarchy, on the other hand, is a social system in which men enjoy all powers, control and authority, and women are given subordinate roles.
The structures of matriarchal and patriarchal societies
Matriarchal societies are also often matrilineal by nature. This means that the descent of the younger generations is traced through the mother. That is, children are given the title of the mother and property and authority are passed from mother to daughter.
Most patriarchal societies are patrilineal in nature. This means that descent is traced from the father and his ancestors, not the mother, and that property and authority are passed from father to son.
Unlike the matriarchal system, here the children inherit the title from the father and not the mother.
Matriarchy is usually a very open social system that has no moral code of conduct that people should follow.
Morality, in matriarchy, is a very personal aspect, in which people can have their own way, as long as they do not harm or disrespect others.
Patriarchy establishes a very strict code of moral conduct, which people are expected to follow, no matter what.
These rules are essentially governed by religion, government, etc. Patriarchy always tries to teach people the difference between good and bad, right and wrong, and so on.
See too:
- Feminism;
- Sority;
- Chauvinism;
- Gender equality;
- sexism;
- Misandry;
- Feminazi.