In 2010, a feminist author wrote "The End of Men", where she basically acknowledged that the patriarchy was losing its grip and women were coming out ahead of men academically and economically, I believe she's one of the few feminist who actually admitted this. While I agree that the patriarchy is losing its grip, I don't really think the patriarchy will ever end. Feminism has become a profitable business, 6.3 billion dollars were spent from 2012 to 2015 on women and girls in the United States, add that to the feminist merchandise and apparel that's sold in millions yearly, keeping the patriarchy alive is what keeps feminism alive and profitable. There's many ways feminist keep the idea of the patriarchy alive without hindering the progress women and girls are making. The gap in stem between men and women is one prime example. Studies have shown that the more egalitarian society's are, the greater the gap in stem between men and women, so this gap will possibly always exist furthering the need for feminism and establishing the existence of the patriarchy. In an ironic sort of way, smashing the patriarchy will be the death of feminism, so in order to stay culturally relevant and financially dependant, feminism will have to rely on the existence of the patriarchy.