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The
concept of patriarchy has evolved from the struggles
of women all over the world. It encompasses the totality of structures of
Domination and Exploitation that affect women's position in society.
The term
patriarchy essentially means the rule of the father or the patriarch (a male
member of the household or society). In feminist theory and practice,
patriarchy has been looked at differently from the liberal to socialist
feminism. Defined simply however, it implies a system in which the father or a
male member who is considered as the head of the family, controls all economic
and property resources, makes all the major decisions of the family and thereby
maintains ongoing control over all members of the family and those related to
it. Very clearly, this system establishes male dominance and control over women
in society, in general, and particularly so within the family. The
"unequal power relationship" between men and women, accrues power to
men in an important institution of society. Thus, it is important to see
patriarchy as both an ideology of women's subordination and control, and, a
concept of struggle against the same.
The
origins of patriarchy can be traced through different stages of civilisation
and, several views have been expressed regarding the origins of patriarchy and
its universality. Its roots have been traced in history, religion and in
nature. For some, patriarchy as a system has a beginning in history, is
man made and thus can be ended by historical processes in the future. For
others, patriarchy is a natural phenomenon, i.e., it is based on biological
differentiation of human beings into male and female categories. It is
understood that, patriarchy is universal, God‑given, natural and cannot
be questioned. Therefore to change patriarchy would amount to changing nature.
Still others, have not accepted the above explanations and have talked about
the existence of a stage in society prior to patriarchy – that of a matriarchal
or matrilineal society, where have had a dominant status. Evidence for such a
society is quoted till today,
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through religious myths and
symbols over different periods in history, citing examples of matrilineal
heritage in some parts of
While we
can endlessly debate on the differing perceptions about the origins of
patriarchy, it is more significant to understand the modes of patriarchal
control and its institutional manifestations as it has impacted upon processes
of women's subordination in society.
In this
context, one would also like to analyse the often asked question ‑
"Do women have no power at all?" It has been seen that women are not
totally powerless or totally deprived of rights, influence and resources, but
that they are subservient to male control. Men have laid down the acceptable
social norms for women – the role models for women in society. Women are thus
made unwitting partners in the perpetuation of the patriarchal system, in
different ways: "Gender indoctrination (i.e., role‑stereotyping of
men and women), denial of education and knowledge of their own history,
dividing women from one another, by defining norms of behaviour i.e.,
respectability and deviance according to their sexual activities, by
discriminating women in access, and/or control over economic resources and
political power, etc." (Gerda Lerner, 1986)
Since
patriarchy is perpetuated through a process of institutionalisation of the
social, cultural and religious practices in society, as well as legitimised
through the political, legal and economic systems of society, it leads women to
internalise, as well as further perpetuate patriarchal ways of thinking, both
in values and behaviour. Therefore, women are not part of this system or out of
it by choice alone. The system is so complex with interplaying factors such as
sex, gender, class, caste, ethnicity, and race that it encircles women within
its control of exploitation, discrimination and oppression. It is this cycle
that needs to be understood by women themselves and by those who are working to
support women's struggles in society.
Let us
further elaborate some of the issues in patriarchy and examine its
institutional manifestations, which will enable us to refine our analytical
tools for
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strategies to
fight against patriarchal forms of control over women ‑ their identity,
their bodies, their minds, their actions and their very existence...
The
institutional manifestations of patriarchy can be seen in
1.
Family
2.
Educational processes and institutions
3. Media
(in perpetuating sex‑stereotypes)
4.
Medical, health practices and systems
5.
Religious influences and structures
6. Micro
and macro economic systems and institutions
7. Legal
procedures and violation of women's rights
8.
Political processes
9.
Government and its various areas of control
AT A GLANCE
Patriarchy is:
¨
The rule of the father or patriarch, in a sense, rule of
men
¨
Existing at ideological and
material levels
¨
An ideology of women's
subordination
¨
Underlying basis that men are
superior to women and women are part of men's property
¨
Interacting with other systems
(economy, class, race, ethnicity, caste and gender) in the construction of
social institutions like culture, the state and law
¨
Establishing male dominance and
control in personal relationships, the family and society at large
¨
Based on a material basis that
benefits men
¨
Perpetuated through
institutional beliefs and structures, which are kept in control through
violence
¨
Not static, keeps changing over
time, varies historically, in different socio‑econ‑political
contexts, and with different classes, race and ethnic groups, etc.