Introduction
Patriarchy is a phenomenon that has been associated with human civilization during most periods. Male-dominant societies evolved in ancient times and became the predominant way of distributing power in most societies. The struggle for control and the need to hold the position resulted in the oppression of other groups and women. In patriarchal systems, females were considered subordinate to males and faced discrimination and biased attitudes.
However, the shift in human thinking and the growing importance of humanistic values altered the perspective on the phenomenon. Today, patriarchy is integrated into many societies despite many attempts to struggle against it. The existing literature reveals its negative impact on an individual’s mental health and work-life balance, and outlines changes in socio-cultural realities aimed at reducing the phenomenon’s significance.
Description
The definition of patriarchy focuses on describing its main peculiarities and outlining its nature. For instance, Gupta et al. (2023) describe it as a system of government in which men hold positions of authority within communities due to their roles as heads of households. It is also presented as the model when men dominate women and assign them subordinate positions (Gupta et al., 2023).
In such a way, the system cultivates the idea that inborn characteristics, such as sex, provide a person with the right to hold leading positions and suppress others. Pierik (2019) also acknowledges that hierarchy can be perceived as a hierarchical authority within the family and the structure that men use to dominate women. Both paradigms emphasize that women may face numerous challenges due to their roles.
Examples of Modern Societies
The existing research also evidences that nowadays, there are typical patriarchal societies based on the principles mentioned above. For instance, Adisa et al. (2019) state that in male-dominated societies in Nigeria, women’s desire to achieve a work-life balance often fails due to the frustration caused by the existing system. They are assigned duties and jobs existing within patriarchal paradigms, which negatively impact their ability to evolve, freedom, and reproductive health (Adisa et al., 2019). It means that male hegemony is preserved in some parts of the globe and may threaten females and their hopes for a better life.
Furthermore, the global balance of power in contemporary societies can be associated with patriarchy. Suliman et al. (2019) admit that wealth accumulation, gender and environmental inequality, and access to resources are directly correlated with the male dominance that has occurred for decades. As a result, the male minority controls most of the money and resources, as evident in the example of extractive industries generating substantial revenues (Suliman et al., 2019). The power relations and control are critical for cultivating equality, meaning that patriarchy serves as a factor reducing the speed of communities’ transformation.
Reconsidering Patriarchy
Nevertheless, there are attempts to expose the patriarchal patterns that exist today and reconsider them to provide effective solutions. For instance, analyzing the movie Barbie, Terry (2023) acknowledges that both Barbie and Ken engage in conversations about the extent to which modern approaches are shaped by patriarchy. The movie also illustrates that competing over power within this paradigm makes men the problem, while this approach is unproductive (Terry, 2023). Instead, males should be considered a solution to transforming patriarchal patterns. This idea applies to larger contexts, as it is impossible to alter societies without utilizing resources that men mainly control.
Conclusion
Altogether, the existing literature shows that patriarchy remains deeply rooted today. Being a system where males dominate women, it guarantees that the first group has access to most resources, while the second group might face numerous hardships. The given pattern requires reconsideration, although the attempts to exclude men from the process might not be effective. Positive change requires the participation of all parties and a collaborative effort to achieve desired goals.
References
Adisa, T., Abdulraheem, I., & Isiaka, S. (2019). Patriarchal hegemony: Investigating the impact of patriarchy on women’s work-life balance. Gender in Management, 34(1), 19-33.
Gupta, M., Madabushi, J. S., & Gupta, N. (2023). Critical overview of patriarchy, its interferences with psychological development, and risks for mental health. Cureus, 15(6), e40216.
Pierik, B. (2022). Patriarchal power as conceptual tool for gender history. Rethinking History, 26(1), 71-92.
Suliman, N. N. (2019). The intertwined relationship between power and patriarchy: Examples from resource extractive industries. Societies, 9(1), 14.
Terry P. (2023). Ken the Movie: Allyship and when KENough is not enough. American Journal of Health Promotion.