key term - Patriarchy

Definition

Patriarchy is a social system in which power, authority, and leadership are primarily held by men. It is a system that privileges men and masculinity over women and femininity, often resulting in the oppression and subordination of women in society.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Patriarchy is a system that grants men greater power, privilege, and authority in social, political, economic, and cultural institutions.
2. Patriarchal structures and ideologies often lead to the marginalization, oppression, and subjugation of women, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making power.
3. Patriarchy intersects with other systems of inequality, such as race, class, and sexuality, creating complex and compounded forms of oppression for women and gender-nonconforming individuals.
4. Patriarchal norms and expectations shape gender roles, influencing how individuals are socialized to perform and express their gender, often reinforcing traditional and restrictive notions of masculinity and femininity.
5. Challenging and dismantling patriarchal structures is a key goal of feminist and gender-equity movements, aiming to create more equitable and inclusive societies.

Review Questions

• Explain how patriarchy is manifested in systems of inequality, as discussed in the context of 9.2 Systems of Inequality.
  • Patriarchy is a central feature of systems of inequality, as it grants men disproportionate power, resources, and authority within social, political, and economic structures. This results in the marginalization and oppression of women, who face barriers to accessing opportunities and decision-making processes. Patriarchal norms and ideologies intersect with other forms of oppression, such as racism and classism, creating compounded disadvantages for women and gender-nonconforming individuals.
• Analyze how patriarchy influences the performance and expression of gender categories, as discussed in the context of 12.2 Performing Gender Categories.
  • Patriarchy shapes the ways in which individuals are socialized to perform and express their gender, often reinforcing restrictive and traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. Patriarchal structures and expectations dictate acceptable behaviors, appearances, and roles for men and women, limiting the range of gender expression and perpetuating the dominance of hegemonic masculinity. This can lead to the marginalization and stigmatization of individuals who do not conform to these patriarchal gender norms, as seen in the context of 12.2 Performing Gender Categories.
• Evaluate the power dynamics and implications of patriarchy and matriarchy, as discussed in the context of 12.3 The Power of Gender: Patriarchy and Matriarchy.
  • Patriarchy and matriarchy represent distinct power structures and distributions of authority within societies. Patriarchy, as the dominant system, grants men greater power, privilege, and control over social, political, and economic institutions, often at the expense of women's autonomy and decision-making power. In contrast, matriarchal societies prioritize the authority and leadership of women, challenging patriarchal norms and offering alternative models of gender relations. The examination of these two systems in the context of 12.3 The Power of Gender highlights the significant implications of power dynamics and the ways in which gender shapes the distribution of power within a given society.

Related terms

Gender Norms: Socially constructed expectations and beliefs about how individuals of a particular gender should behave, think, and present themselves.

Hegemonic Masculinity:

The dominant form of masculinity that is culturally idealized and reinforced, often at the expense of other masculinities and femininities.

Sexism:

Discrimination, prejudice, or stereotyping based on an individual's sex or gender, typically manifested in the belief that one gender is inherently superior to the other.