Patriarchy

Biography

Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. The term patriarchy is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in feminist theory to describe a broader social structure in which men as a group dominate society. Sociologists posit that the process of socialization is predominantly responsible for the establishment of gender roles. They contend that gender roles and gender inequity function as instruments of power and have evolved into social norms that serve to maintain control over women. Patriarchal ideology explains and rationalizes patriarchy by attributing gender inequality to inherent natural differences between men and women, divine commandment, or other fixed structures. Patriarchy has manifested itself throughout history in the social, legal, political, religious, and economic organization of a range of different cultures. Most contemporary societies are generally patriarchal in practice.

Bio from Wikipedia