Assignment: Patriarchy in gender
studies
Submitted by: Muhammad Talha Usmani
Submitted to:Dr.Ihsanullah
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What Is Patriarchy?
For anyone who has ever wondered why women take their husbands' last names, or why women
even fifty years ago couldn't control a bank account on their own, then they might be interested
in learning about the meaning of patriarchy. A patriarchal system is a society in which
men control all aspects: from politics to morals to economics and even the
actions of women. For centuries, the patriarchy has determined what is right from what is
wrong, what can be done and what can't be done, where women go, how they act, and how much
control they can have (which, in a patriarchal society, is very little.) Men, in this type of society,
are the ultimate authority and power.
● Characteristics of a Patriarchal System
All patriarchal societies, whether existing across the globe or hundreds of years ago, share a
certain amount of characteristics with each other. Those characteristics are Male Domination,
Male Identification, Male Centeredness, and Obsession with Control. The following sections will
discuss these characteristics more in-depth, with explanations and examples.
● Male Dominance in Patriarchy
Male domination is an important aspect of patriarchal culture and is perhaps the number one
reason for patriarchy in any sort of society: men see themselves as better, stronger, and smarter
than women. They see women are playthings who cannot possibly contribute in more ways than
just doing the dishes and bearing their children. Male domination in a patriarchal society refers
to the fact that men make all the decisions in both their family unit and society itself. They hold
every position of power and authority possible. They are considered superior in all ways.
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An example of male domination in a patriarchal society would be a man who holds the
position of CEO of a company. He goes to work every day, controlling all aspects of his job, then
goes home. While home, he demands his wife has dinner on the table at exactly six, and that she
takes care of the children while he sits and watches TV.
● Male Identification in Patriarchy
Male identification in a patriarchal society refers to the fact that men become concerned with
identifying with qualities such as control, strength, and competitiveness. The men in a society
such as this become obsessed with being forceful, rational, and having a strong work ethic.
Male identification is necessary to patriarchy because, without it, men would likely allow their
true personalities to show and allow women to participate.
What Is a Patriarchal System?
A patriarchal social system can be defined as a system where men are in authority over women
in all aspects of society. In modern American culture and society, the idea of patriarchy is not as
accepted or practiced as it once was decades ago.
In today's more progressive American society, women work in executive positions, maintain
leadership roles in organizations, and are often decision-makers in their households and
communities. In the past, men were more often the established gender of authority and
exhibited control in all situations. Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of a patriarchal
system and where this social system is active today.
Characteristics of a Patriarchal System
Some characteristics of a patriarchal system include:
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● Male Dominance: In a patriarchal system, men make all decisions in both society and in
their family unit, hold all positions of power and authority, and are considered superior.
● Male Identification: Men are concerned with identification that includes qualities of
control, strength, forcefulness, rationality, strong work ethic, and competitiveness. Each
of these qualities contribute to male identification in a patriarchal system.
● Male Centeredness: In a patriarchal system, the center of activity and progression is on
men and what they do to move the society forward. In any patriarchal system, men will
be the focus and developer of all events and inventions, men will be the heroes in all
situations, and men will be the center of social engagement, fun, and entertainment.
● Obsession with Control: Men living in a patriarchal system or society must be in control
at all times. They have a desire to control all social and family situations and must make
all decisions regarding finances and education.
Additionally, in a patriarchal society, the oppression of women is emphasized. The term
oppression means to push down or restrict; therefore, women are not allowed to rise up
to leadership levels or make decisions. Women are also not allowed to demonstrate
independence or suggest changes to any social order.
In essence, women also have a role in a patriarchal society, but only in a sense that is
submissive and subservient to men. Let's look at some cultures and societies that recently or
still operate under the patriarchal system.
Examples of Patriarchal Systems:
Military
Many have argued that the military has historically operated under a patriarchal influence, not
only in the United States but around the world. It wasn't until the last two years of World War I
that women were allowed to join the military (1917-1918). Women were allowed to enlist as
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nurses and support staff; however, they were not allowed to rise through the ranks of the
traditional military ranking system until the 1940s.
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