WHAT IS PATRIARCHY?
The term "Patriarchy" is characterized by the idea of men being superior to women in a social system which has political and economic influences as well. While patriarchy can take various forms, the central idea or the defining constituent to it is "Male dominance or supremacy and authority". On a bigger note it accounts for exploitation of women.,where women are identified as less capable in terms of cerebral , emotional and physical abilities and are devoid of deserved opportunities because of their gender.
TYPES OF PATRIARCHY
SLYVIA WALBY ,a British Sociologist in her "Theorizing Patriarchy "puts forward two very obvious forms of Patriarchy - Public and Private. As it can be inferred from the names itself.
Private Patriarchy revolves inside a household where the authoritative figure is a male and dominates the decision making and choice in every sphere. While Public Patriarchy accounts for a wider level of discrimination and control in work places and other political places of choice and decision. However the degree of oppression, control , exploitment differs from region to region, culture to culture . The form of patriarchal functioning is not saturated everywhere. The first ,second and third world countries have different levels of patriarchy functioning. In Walby's Theorizing Patriarchy ( 1990) she mentions that Private Patriarchy has so far been accomplished but Public Patriarchy still continues to function.
PATRIARCHY AND RELIGION
Though when we use the term Patriarchy, we are instantly reminded of differences, inequality,sexism , oppression and other discriminatory values associated with it.
There are several factors shaping and claiming the normalization of Patriarchy, one of them is Religion. For instance - "How different religious books ,texts and institutions describe the idea of modest dressing and behaviour in women'',establishing a so-called ideal way women should identify themselves. It also emphasizes on the idea of understanding of femininity and how it should be imbibed in women and young girls.Some examples of Religion inclusive of Patriarchy includes Brahmanical Patriarchy which emphasizes on sexual control over women for patrinilineal succesion and purity of caste.
Which aims to achieve both an oppressive system of caste and patriarchy.
PATRIARCHY AND TOXIC MASCULINITY
The idea of Patriarchy not only characterizes the "general to be attitude" for women but for men too .
The general attitude to suppress emotional upheavals , and appear "manly enough" to be called man. Defining some traits as to be of manly nature like aggression, pride, not registering hurt and continuing a superficial outer winning spirit.To wear pride of superiority on sleeves and bottle up emotions of sadness to the extent that it leads to degrading mental health status and toxic relationships with self and others. The subjugation of women and defined general attitudes in different areas are key factors which need improvement.
PATRIARCHY AND WOMEN
It's not surprising that Women are referred to as the "Watchdogs of Patriarchy" .
The beauty standards ,lose weight , shave legs , look appealing became so obvious that most of us forgot that having body hair( not shaving ) is a choice of self.
The attitude where women are okay with oppression , or the degrading mindset to put another woman down through demeaning comments and unsolicited advice . The "female trolling female" culture is what we have been familiar with for a while now. It too had deeply entrenched views and values that some women hold for themselves. For instance- "Women can't be equal to men" ,the value of gender roles imbibed in the veins which leads to suffering across the ball either through trolling or bearing the injustice considering it a role to be played.
PATRIARCHY AND PROTECTIVE MISOGYNISTS
We often come across male figures with fabricated values where they think that they have allowed their wives , sisters , daughters to make choices , to study or have given them permissions for business startups. The core belief that women are mentally and emotionally unstable , can't make decisions of their own and need protection with smallest of things rather than making the world a better place and that they are responsible for women around them leading the lives of their choices , this form of entitlement which serves and breeds misogyny is worth condemning and and gives roots of patriarchy to strengthen . The emphasized protective character which tends to interfere into the social, political ,economic and educational decisions for women through different elaborate forms from manipulation to violence or abuse and prevents them from exercising independence is what hampers mental flexibility on both ends.
PATRIARCHY AND STATE
The representation of women in
Executives, Administration and Law/policy forming positions reveals a lot about the Patriarchal character of "The State",which has a major role in exercising male privileges and not questioning the existing differences making women to lag behind in participation and representation which devoids the state of more female benefitting and uplifting perspectives resulting in a state less inclusive towards scopes of improvement in advancing the role of "female centric development" which is the crucial need . Even if women get into positions of power and change , the challenges they face moving up the ladder are much more different and mentally challenging for them than their male counterparts. The position , participation, representation of Women have a whole lot of contribution in Economy , while the challenges being different and other social constraints women still are paid less as this was put forward by the "Marxist Feminist Theory" which states about the practices , structures and institutions stifling a safe and secure outcome through exploitation of labour in more than just economic ways.
CONCLUSION
While Patriarchy involves destruction of humanistic values on both the ends.,its extreme effects are yet to be sustained by women. Even women who advocate Patriarchy are not being benefited from it,and the only males who are being benefited from this are not thoughtful and questioning enough towards the social system which inevitably is leading to a social cleavage inclusive of hatred, abuse , oppression, unaddressed issues of trauma,and rising statistics of degraded mental health issues , which needs to be brought into the minds of the younger and to be adult generation more than anywhere where values are still shaping themselves and are not strengthened till core to advocate a more equal, informed and independent society in the coming decades.
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