Patriarchy: A Woman's View

The working out of a morality within the aware masses..comes to strengthen the structure of revolutionary ideology and to bring an important contribution to the preparation of a new culture, at the same time as it totally repudiates the culture of the bourgeoisie.   - Manifesto of Libertarian Communism

For years I thought I had it all figured out: I was a woman living in a world designed by men for men. Yet it was only recently that I learned this ugly truth: I have only just begun to understand the level of my own oppression. Every woman is a victim of patriarchy-in some form or another. Patriarchy is a salient feature of society, yet it’s often so subtle that many women do not realize the extent of their own victimization. Men too often fail to recognize their own sexist beliefs and behaviors. The simple gaze at a woman’s breast is enough to send a message to her: you are an object of desire.

So what is patriarchy and how is it manifested in society? The question does not have a simple answer. Patriarchy can be described as a hierarchical system in which men have power and control over the social, political, and economic domains of society. The manifestations of patriarchy are far more complex and often difficult to identify. Since both men and women have been socialized in the same manner, the dynamics of oppression are interwoven and layered deep into fabric of society. Women’s oppression is so ingrained in the human consciousness that we often lack the tools to recognize its forces.

Women have been socialized to meet the needs of men. We are told to remain beautiful at all times. To be thin; to do whatever it takes to ward off winkles and signs of aging. We spend hours at the hair salon; hundreds of dollars on the best clothes and shoes, and undergo the most painful cosmetic treatments-all in attempt to impress the opposite sex. If we fail to maintain our youthful, beautiful appearance, we are deemed undesirable. We are taught from childhood to want a husband, a home, and children. Unfortunately, those who remain unwed and/or childless, run the risk of being ostracized and condemned for their “radical” choices.  From youth, women are socialized to be less than; we are the weaker, meeker sex. And by and large, women have come to accept this as truth.

So why do we continue to perpetuate our own oppression? There are a variety of theories describing the forces of power and control. Conflict theory is the most widely accepted theory examining macro level conflict. According to this theory, groups in society are arranged according to a social, political, and economic hierarchy. The dominant group maintains power and control through a variety of means, including overt and covert forms of oppression (i.e. through the formulation of stereotypes).

“Minority group collusion” is a phenomenon that defines how disenfranchised groups internalize messages given to them by dominant groups. These messages become truths, and minority groups often fail to recognize their devastating impact. These “truths” serve a purpose: they create in-fighting and allow the dominate group to maintain social, economic, and political control.

Patriarchy and sexism go hand in hand. Sexism is a belief system that has been developed by the dominant group to perpetuate inequality. Both men and women are socialized with sexist beliefs and behaviors. Every man and woman has had a sexist thought or engaged in a sexist manner. Women are the primary victims of sexism. Like previously mentioned, sexism serves a purpose-consciously or unconsciously. Does this mean all men seek to dominate and oppress women? No. Patriarchy has existed since the development of civilization. Its foundations have long been established. To blame men exclusively fails to address the structural foundations that created patriarchy to begin with. In order to achieve a truly non-hierarchical society, the fight to end patriarchy needs to be concurrent with the abolishment of the system that perpetuates power and control.

Does this mean we ignore male chauvinism and focus solely on changing the structure that perpetuates patriarchy and sexism? No. Patriarchal forces are present in every facet of society: relationships, families, communities, and social movements. On a micro level, we need to actively identify and correct sexist attitudes and behaviors. Men need to be held accountable, while women need to remain cognizant about perpetuating their own oppression. Learning to identify and address sexism in our daily lives will help us develop the tools necessary to change current conditions.