Get Inspired, Be Empowered Forums Sexism & Patriarchy Examples of Patriarchy in Everyday Life

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6 replies, 6 voices Last updated by Samriti Sharma 2 years, 2 months ago
  • Woospire
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    DISHA SAPKALE
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    @42disha
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    Patriarchy means society gives more priority of power to men than women like in family women are asked to do household chores and take care of the child whereas men will be the head of the family and hold control over women and kids. In our society everyday in someway it happens that men and women are not treated equally.
    Let us see, some examples of patriarchy in everyday life as following:
    1. Men can go outside at night for both the purpose like for office shift and also enjoying with friends at night whereas women are not allowed to go outside at night. so, it can be for office shift or it can be to enjoy with friends they are always get restricted and not allowed to go outside at night. And if they go out people start judging her character.
    2. Men can wear clothes whatever they want without getting judged and stereotypes from society but when it comes to women they has lots of restrictions to wear clothes of their choice they don’t have freedom to wear their choice of clothes and society also judge and pass comments on women if they wear short clothes or their choice of clothes.
    3. Education, higher studies and work life this things are given more priority for men in daily life they are always asked to focus on their studies and also gets encouragement to follow their career goals. And, on other side women are given less priority for their education and work life they are always asked to get married instead of that they should tell her to follow career goals and be independent.
    4. Expectations from women to learn household chores and cooking whereas there will be no expectations from men to learn household chores and cooking they are always asked to give priority for their education.
    These were the examples of patriarchy in everyday life that our society is still doing, to stop this inequality people need to understand that both men and women are equal and need to be treated equally.

    Manpreet Singh
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    @manpreet
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    Patriarchy is the only societal sickness that threatens life in our country and attacks the human body and spirit. However, most males in their everyday lives do not utilize the term “patriarchy.” Most men don’t think of the patriarchy-the way it is produced and maintained. Many guys in our country could not spell or correctly pronounce the word. The word “patriarchy” is simply not a typical part of your daily thinking or speech. Men who have heard and know the word normally relate it to the freedom of women and to feminism and so reject it as unrelated to their own experiences. In a patriarchal environment, the unrecognized advantage of males has become socialized and as a result, it is hard to understand that we men start with a head start every morning for nearly half of the world’s people. For centuries men had practically exclusive access to education, voting, property, etc. While campaigns for civil rights and women’s movements around the world have contributed to this development, men continue to have a clear benefit. People can recognize male privilege every day. There are many instances where we can find deep-rooted patriarchal rules that, unfortunately, women have to bear the brunt of. A woman moving about late in the night is reproached for returning to her home late, frequently with accompanying falsehoods trying to make her feel guilty.

    This implies that she can not work outside late in the evening but also cannot enjoy being without the fear of future penalties or confrontations. Walking freely on road is a challenge for most women on a daily basis To do so, she has to make extra mental or physical preparations for any purpose. While universal fear of being robbed, the stigma associated with sexual assault and patriarchal domination of the public space (while sexual abuse by men is known, women are nearly entirely ‘raped’ or even gang-rapped) makes public space dangerous. Men dominate the workplace still. The higher a man climbs, the company ladder, the greater the expectations he is expected of the patriarch Thanks to its dedication to this patriarchal culture when placed in a managerial position, the man might become controlled and powerful and thus less sensitive to the requirements of his employees and colleagues, and we see that every day in offices. On the other hand, the female manager can feel obliged to perform the conventional role of women in a workplace that is more sensitive, emotional and team-oriented, to the needs of others. Gender roles and stereotypes in patriarchs may vary in each class, age and culture, but they are natural and universal through the mechanisms, structures, and institutions outlined before, thereby reducing the chances of achieving dreams and ambitions for both genders.

    038 deepika Singh
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    @038-deepika
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    “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them”.

    Quoting ‘Margaret Atwood’, there are no better words that can explain the horrors of patriarchy than hers.

    What is PATRIARCHY?

    THE DOMINANCE OF MEN OVER WOMEN. Dominance in the roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.
    Since the beginning of time, patriarchy has been prevailing in our society and has often gone unnoticed by a majority of people. For generations, the idea that you can only be a good mother if you uphold the PATRIARCHAL BARGAIN to your daughter has been perpetuated. From the time they wake up in the morning to the time they go to bed, women face patriarchy in each and every step of their life. And the sad part is, that they are not even aware of it. They are made to believe that, ‘this is how the world works’, and this is how ‘they are supposed to work’.

    Patriarchy at home

    For a majority of women in India discrimination and bias against them begin from a very young age at their own house and by their own parents. The most toxic patriarchal control is the one that thrives within families and forms the very foundation of the patriarchal world. Girls are supposed to wear certain kinds of clothes that the society wants her to, ‘Quiet girls’ are often termed as ‘good girls’, sex and periods cannot be discussed openly in the house, learning to cook and clean is mandatory for a girl as she will have to do the same once she gets married. These are the small things that forms the very roots of Patriarchy leading to bigger problems like female suppression and domestic violence.

    Patriarchy at workplaces

    Discrimination we are taught at home, when taken outside, makes it a global problem. Men at workplaces often engage in unsolicited behaviour towards women, that we commonly refer to as ‘sexual harassment’. Prejudiced treatment at the time of hiring, getting paid less than a Male employee who does the same job, being denied a promotion, pay raise or training opportunity are some of the common issues that women face at work, making them believe that the most suitable place for them or the place where they belong is their home.

    But I believe in my humble opinion that ‘men and patriarchy do not go hand in hand’. They, too, can fall victim of the patriarchal practices of our society. Since men are expected to grow up and reach powerful positions, they are raised to believe that they can never show any signs of weakness. Moreover, causing them to suppress their fear, pain and anxiety. This results in the same men growing up as ‘emotionally damaged’ beings that sometimes are unable to solve conflicts without the use of violence.

    The solution?

    FEMINISM.
    Feminism in the only way one can smash patriarchy. As an ideology, feminism seeks to highlight the disastrous impact of patriarchy in a women’s life. To think like a feminist means to question the way you live, the way you do things and the way people treat you. In order to smash the patriarchy outside first you need to smash the patriarchy from within you. Educate yourself and the people around you. Question each and every rule that has been set up, specifically for you. Why me? Why not him? Why not them? And don’t stop, until you get the answer or the equal treatment.

    Afshan Iqbal
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    With many social issues existing in our daily lives, Patriarchy is still dominating. Although, we’re in the 21st century, we usually see a woman being told to do things as per a man’s wish. Patriarchy is simply a disease that is persisting in our society and no matter how much we try we won’t be able to curb it until and unless it is healed from the roots. The main cause of patriarchy is ignorance. Patriarchy is present in every household. We might name it as something else but it is there and we are ignoring it. It is present among us in so many ways like a family being identified by a male and not a female and the concept that a man is supposed to work outside and be a breadwinner for the family while a woman should work inside and take care of the household.

    In a household when a boy is born, he is given toys like cars, balls, cricket sets, etc. As he grows up, he is expected to take interest only in sports or careers like engineering, piloting, finance and so on. It is in the mind-set of society that God has made males for these solid tasks. However, when a girl is born, the first toys she gets is either doll or a kitchen set, she is likely to behave “like a girl” and only focus on learning how to cook or clean which sets a base that when she grows up all she has to do is work in the kitchen, take care of her family and do household chores. Even if a girl is allowed to work outside it is limited to a certain parameter. She is stated to pursue teaching, nursing or to work in an environment where there is hardly any encounter with males. She is considered “too emotional and sensitive” for hard work. Similarly, when a boy wants to pursue higher education, he has no restrictions in choosing his subjects or institution but with regard to a girl it becomes a matter of debate whether or not she will be allowed to study further and even if she’s allowed where she will study so that she remains behind the curtains of the societal judgement.

    Certainly, times have changed and women are soaring in every field. When it comes to a workplace, sometimes there are traces of women falling prey to misogyny. When men witness women doing better than them, they hardly accept a woman’s leadership and as a result she is required to work in a tactful environment where her opinions do not matter as much. We see women juggling through the demands of work, family and society every day. Being a woman is strenuous, they get opinionated at every point and this society always finds reasons to judge a woman on the basis of her looks, speech or personality. We often hear statements like “you’re a woman, so sit straight, talk politely, dress properly, don’t put your perspectives because nobody is going to listen to it” and what not! Women are considered either “too young or too old” for most things, for instance marriage where a man can decide whenever he wants to get married and nobody will judge him but when a woman decides to marry late, she gets a label. Women still have a night curfew and are expected to complete all the tasks before sunset because it is a preconceived notion that women cannot protect themselves and there’s an underlying stigma of being sexually assaulted if she stays out late for work or anything else.

    The truth is patriarchy affects every one, it is a curse to society. A man is affected by patriarchy as much as a woman. Due to patriarchy, men become victims of social stigma that they have to be the breadwinner, carry the responsibilities of the family and they have to be stoic, strong and non-emotional all the time. This stereotyping of male and female has caused many problems in the society and will continue to be a big threat if it isn’t treated from the core. As a society, we have to learn, unlearn and relearn a number of things and that can only be possible if we change from within. Though, it is a relief that the world is changing for the better, now there is awareness of patriarchal norms in the society and men and women are working together to make this world a place which believes in equality and empowerment of both the genders uniformly.

    Aditi Sahu
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    @aditi
    #33521
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    Patriarchy, a structural system that facilitates in reducing women of any country to be second grade citizens. Be it a developing country like India or as highly developed country as Germany, the picture is the same for women everywhere. This system has been ingrained so deeply in the structure of any country, that common everyday incidents that are highly patriarchal in nature are neglected and accepted as something very “normal”. And anyone who dares to call out or voice opinions against such everyday incidents, is termed as a snowflake—an insulting slang which basically means someone who is easily hurt or offended by actions or statements of the others. But the obvious truth that people nowadays seem to ignore so effortlessly is that, no matter how many rules or laws are made against gender discrimination in any part of the world, we are a long way from achieving a society which is free from everyday patriarchy, until and unless we muster up the courage to address the patriarchy that we witness around us on everyday basis.

    Patriarchy is real and very common, anyone with even a little bit of sense should be able to understand that. However, we as a society have become—or rather remained—so backward in our beliefs and practices, that we fail to acknowledge the male privilege. The everyday patriarchal customs have been accepted by us as the only way to be! As if that’s how any change is going to be brought in our country. We desperately need to get hurt and offended at the smallest issues conforming to patriarchal standards in order to wipe this deeprooted system from our world. And the saddest part is, even the tiniest patriarchal custom is not so tiny once you understand its implications. Let me offer an example to understand this better. A little girl wins a prize in her school for one or the other talent; the judge, while giving her the prize she won, asks her, “What’s your father’s name, child?” That’s it, that’s the example. Seems too miniscule, right? Well let us go over it once again: what was the need of asking that little girl of her parentage? And even if there was a need, why was the only parent that was considered was the male one? One might think it is a very small thing to make a fuss about, but it is honestly not. How is wiping one parent’s existence—always the female one— at every milestone in life, a small thing? How does no one seem to notice that in almost every form one fills out, it’s always the father’s income that is asked? As if it is not even a possibility that a mother has an income. Why can’t we take the middle way and just ask parents’/family income? Why can’t we ask someone’s parents’/guardian’s name whenever they achieve something? Why is the whole credit always given to the patriarch of the family?

    Acknowledging one’s father’s efforts or work is in no way denying how much work the mother does, but when do we ever take the step of acknowledging the work done by mother? On mother’s day? Sure, on mother’s day we applaud our mother for doing everything she does and then go back to denying her existence in every paperwork we fill. Why can women either be their father’s daughter or their husband’s wife? Why is it so that on every paperwork, a woman has to write her father’s name when she is unmarried and then after marriage she is supposed to fill the column of w/o? How come a husband is never supposed to fill a column that says h/o? How come a husband’s identity never changed after marriage? When he turned 18, he became “Mr” from “Master”. In the same way, when a woman turned 18 she became “Ms” from “Miss”. But…oh wait, she has to become “Mrs” from “Ms” after marriage too. The fact that she is married is so important that it should be mentioned even in the title she uses. Why exactly? Why is so much importance placed on the institution of marriage when it comes to women? Why is it that being married is a part of a woman’s identity while for a man it’s just a choice that he made in life?

    The answer to all the above questions is patriarchy, everyday patriarchy, to be precise. The patriarchy that has made us believe that a woman is nothing if she is somehow not presented in relation with a man. Her identity, her worth is nothing. No matter how much she has done in her life, no matter how much she keeps on doing, she can only either be one man’s daughter or another’s wife. She cannot and does not exist on her own.

    Samriti Sharma
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    @samriti
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    Patriarchy in profession
    ➢ Introduction: –
    Patriarchy is not a new concept to the Indian society it has been in existence since time immemorial. As a matter of fact according a study conducted by Lill Mathews, every known society distinguishes between a women and men. Patriarchy basically is the system of promoting male dominance in the society. It has been rightly stated that “ Any society that fails to harness the energy and creativity of its women is at a huge disadvantage in the modern world”.
    ➢ Meaning: –
    The term “PATRIARCHY” generally means male domination.
    The word has originated from the GREEK word ‘patriarkhes’ which literally means ‘the rule of the father’.
    In simple terms it means as “the absolute rule of the father or the eldest male member over his family”. The eldest male member of the family or a particular tribe has the legitimate control and also plays a dominant role in the political, moral, social activities.
    ➢ Origin of Patriarchy: –
    Patriarchy is not a modern concept but has been in practice since the ancient times when man of the family was considered superior in the society it is rooted deeply in our Indian society in present times as well. Patriarchy supports the ideology which makes a clear distinction between a man and a women on the basis of sex.
    There is no specified time but broadly it can be traced back to the 16th and 17th century . It can be stated here that ever since the evolution of society women have been considered inferior to men and the domination of men over women in particular has been approved by society which further promulgated the patriarchal setup in society.
    Many patriarchal societies are patrilineal in nature which means that only male lineage are entitled to inherit the property and the title.
    ➢ Patriarchy in profession: –
    The relationship between patriarchy and profession is not a neglected one, it isn’t a surprise anymore that women employees have been over looked in the sociology of professions. For centuries, women have been deliberately denied the opportunities for personal and professional growth in the name of socio- cultural practices and religion. Constant male domination and denial of freedom even in households with rigid inferior status have been supressing the voice of women throughout the history.
    1. The vulnerability of women to sexual offences in work places is the result of the patriarchal setup of our society which empowers a man to outrage the modesty of a women. Various incidents come into lime light where the men holding a superior position in any particular workspace asks for sexual favours from women employees.
    2. After the vishaka guidelines against sexual harassment at workplace ( vishaka and ors vs. the state of Rajasthan) by the Honourable Supreme Court of India there are still many incidents of the same kind which have been reported.
    3. In context to India there are still many professions which are not considered idol to be pursued by a women due to the mere fact that it requires long working hours, travelling to various parts, interaction with males etc.
    4. Male dominance in society is acceptable to the extent that in certain rural area education as a right is exercised and is also preferred for the male child as they are regarded as a means of social security. India is one of the 43 countries in the world where male literacy is 15% higher than female rates.
    5. Due to the subordinated position of women, they have always suffered fear of discrimination, exploitation and subjugation.
    6. Unequal wages for equal work have been a prevalent practice not only in India but across the globe. Globally, women carry two- third of the burden of the worlds work and yet receive only a tenth of worlds income as has been reported by various studies. To put it simply the work of women is and has been values less in comparison to the other sex. This again is an outcome of the patriarchal mindset.

    ➢ Conclusion: –
    To conclude here as a matter of fact we are well aware that the position of women in India has improved a little after the independence many remarkable movements have been started which have led to socio-economic development of the women as a whole many laws have been framed to protect the interest of women but there still remains a void which is yet to be worked upon and that is the patriarchy in the mentality of the male members in the society.
    Every social change begins with a mindset which is free from discrimination of any kind and progressive at the same time. Gender equality is the key to uproot patriarchy from the society and the world.

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