Definitions of patriarchy:

  1. -Patriarchy is an androcentric social system in which the role of the father is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. Historically, the principle of patriarchy has been central to the social, legal, political, and economic organization of Hebrew, Greek, Roman, Indian, and Chinese cultures, and has had a deep influence on modern civilization.

  2. -Most forms of feminism characterize patriarchy as an unjust social system that is oppressive to women. In feminist theory the concept of patriarchy often includes all the social mechanisms that reproduce and exert male dominance over women.

  3. -A society or system which is ruled or controlled by men. Generally, patriarchy is a system of roles that women do housework and that men work outside and support their family. Patriarchy is a hierarchy in society such as women earn less money than men. Patriarchy is not just formed by men. It has a connection with a social economic system such as capitalism. According to Heidi Hartmann, patriarchy is “Controlling women’s access to resources and their sexuality, in turn, allows men to control women’s labor power, both for the purpose of serving men in many personal and sexual ways and for the purpose of rearing children. Patriarchy can not be separable with capitalism, however, how the division of labour which is women work at home and which is men work outside started is not clear. I think that the system of patriarchy is a social dominance by men, however, I don’t think patriarchy is directly constructed by men, because men don’t necessarily try to form patriarchy.

However, I am ignoring the bit about "capitalism" as, well, it's kind of insane. That's not to say that I'm 100% for capitalism or anything...it's just that, at it's root, the idea that the means of production are privately owned is not, in any way, patriarchal.

The way I see it, it's not a patriarchy if:

  • the father isn't central to social organization

  • the father doesn't hold authority over women, children and property

  • the system, or society, does not oppress women as a distinct class.

  • males, as a class, do not hold dominance over females, as a distinct class...there is no overriding hierarchy placing males at the top and women at the bottom.

  • The society or system is not ruled or controlled by men, as a distinct class.

  • women are paid the same (or more) for the same work as men.

The US is not a patriarchy

  • The mother is considered central to social organization, not the father...as evidenced by the bias in the courts re custody disputes.1

  • Mothers and fathers both hold authority over their children and their property. Neither holds authority over another gender.

  • As a class, women are free to do everything men can do, socially and legally.

  • Women control more than 50% of the vote in US elections.2

  • Single childless women under 30 (those born after much of our nation's institutional sexism had been eradicated), living in cities (which are pretty much always at the forefront of social change) actually earn a little bit more than men when performing the same work with the same credentials.3 Other studies have shown that the wage gap may be attributable to life choices.4 Also, a recent study has found that lesbians earn about 6% more than other workers.5

[](/)1 - http://www.electromagnetism.demon.co.uk/08094.htm

[](/)2 - http://www.america.gov/st/elections08-english/2008/April/20080523105153WRybakcuH0.5036737.html

[](/)3 - http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2015274,00.html

[](/)4 - http://www.consad.com/content/reports/Gender%20Wage%20Gap%20Final%20Report.pdf

[](/)5 - http://bigthink.com/ideas/25492

Please point out any errors in my reasoning and any other ways this could be improved. Also, if you know of any existing refutations, please post a link.