Why Patriarchy Persists

frames that perpetuate patriarchal ideas

"boys will be boys" Celebrating "macho" or "alpha" males Men believing they should be silent, instead of challenging other men on patriarchal and sexist ideas/actions. "it's a women's issue"

workforce

-Men disproportionately occupy top leadership positions, often because they exhibit those very same traditional male traits (e.g. outspoken, "rational," and individual-based leadership). -In addition women often have "lower salaries, appointments at lower ranks, slower rates of promotion and lower rates of retention, and less recognition through awards." This trend continues despite widespread recognition, which to me indicates that we still need to address the root causes (i.e. patriarchal culture).

"patriarchy has no gender"

-bell hooks' quote is a clear reminder that patriarchy does not just describe male actions of domination, but also how some organizations and cultural narratives function. -From Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony to bell hooks, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Audre Lorde, people have been resisting this mentality and pointing out another path away from unjust power systems.

how to start ending the patriarchy

Changing the patriarchal narrative Changing how we approach sexual violence prevention

Protection of traditional patriarchal social structures.

If a person or group challenges patriarchy in any form, then the patriarchal response is to increase control. In particular, this means increasing control over oppressed or marginalized groups.

Celebrating "macho" or "alpha" men.

Jackson Katz, in his book The Macho Paradox, discusses how society often promotes violent and controlling aspects of male culture. From lifting up the "strong" hero to denigrating "sissies," our language and media foster this image of what "real men" look like.

core attributes of the patriarchy

Male qualities as central Dualistic and gendered thinking of roles Male domination Protection of traditional patriarchal structures Reinforcement of other types of oppression

how patriarchy manifests itself in current society

Media Workforce Sexual violence Family

Male domination.

Men often occupy the most important and visible roles (e.g. executives, politicians, public leaders, etc.). Women who do hold these positions are expected to subscribe to male norms.

The media amplifies patriarchal viewpoints through:

Negative coverage of sexual violence Promoting gender binaries Unceasing discussion of women's appearances and body image Objectifying "transgender women's bodies by focusing on their physical transitions" In addition, the journalism industry itself reserves most senior analyst and producer positions for men. Further, both men and women that do have these jobs must make sure to spin their stories that subscribe to dominant patriarchal narratives, instead of challenging them.

Men believing they should be silent, instead of challenging other men on patriarchal and sexist ideas/actions.

One of the most insidious characteristics of patriarchy, as mention above, is that it seeks to protect traditional male traits and actions. Even of some men would never subscribe to certain actions/ideas/language, they ignore when their peers commit those very same things.

Reinforcement of other types of oppression.

Patriarch contributes to racism, sizeism, and homophobia. "patriarchy is generally not an explicit ongoing effort by men to dominate women. It is a long-standing system that we are born into and participate in, mostly unconsciously."

"It's a women's issue."

Patriarchy and sexual violence impact both men and women. Patriarchy impacts everyone, at all levels of society.

Sexual violence

Sexual violence impacts both men and women, and relationships along the spectrum of sexual orientations. -However, "99% of people who rape are men." "Patriarchy tells men that their need for love and respect can only be met by being masculine, powerful, and ultimately violent." This viewpoint also contributes to the high amount of male bystanders who do little or nothing to prevent sexual violence.

Holds up the traditional male qualities as central, while other qualities are considered subordinate.

The attributes of power, control, rationality, and extreme competitiveness are examples of these traditional male qualities. Emotional expressiveness, compassion, and ability to nurture are examples of subordinate qualities in patriarchal systems.

Family

The traditional nuclear family, with men as the "leaders" and women as the "nurturers," is still incredibly prevalent. This translates into male figure as the "authority" on all important decisions. "strict father model" as the dominant conservative worldview, which he uses to explain why many conservatives pursue the "war on women."

"Boys will be boys."

This idea that men are biologically "programmed" to behave certain ways, against all scientific evidence, is one of the biggest cultural narratives that continues our current patriarchal systems.

Dualistic and gendered thinking of roles.

Within this structure, men and women both have their own specific roles (e.g. men leading, and women supporting). Even though this view may appear to be fading in some areas, it's clear that certain careers historically associated with women (e.g. childcare and teaching) have disproportionately lower salaries.

Patriarchy

like most forms of oppression, has a way of trying to convince us that, in the words of the Crunk Feminist Collective "things are the way they are because they have to be, that they have always been that way, that there are no alternatives and that they will never change."