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A patriarch (from Greek: patria means father; arché means rule, beginning, origin) is a male head of an extended family exercising autocratic authority, or, by extension, a member of the ruling class or government of a society controlled by senior men. The word patriarch also denotes any of certain high-ranking bishops in some hierarchical churches; see patriarch; the word patriarchy in that case refers to his seat and domain.1 Example
Under patriarchy, if a man whose father (and whose father's father, etc.) has died, has two married sons and two married daughters and 15 grandchildren, then any money earned by either of his two sons belongs, not to the individual who earns the money, but to the family, and he, as patriarch of the family, has authority to decide how the money is to be distributed among the family members. He has no similar authority over his married daughters, who are under the authority of the patriarchs of the families into which they have married.
2 In anthropology
Anthropologists define patriarchy relatively narrowly, as a society in which men are the "dominant element" in public political affairs. This is also known as andrarchy or androcracy. By this definition, anthropologist David Brown considers patriarchy to be a "human universal" (Brown 1991, p. 137). Patriarchy is distinct from patrilineality and patrilocality, neither of which are universal.
3 In gender politics
In gender politics the word patriarchy refers to any form of social power given disproportionately to men. Many construe this to mean a gender hierarchy in which men dominate or exploit women, but that doesn't need to be the case.
3.1 Feminist view
Many feminist writers have considered patriarchy to be the basis on which most modern societies have been formed. They argue that it is necessary and desirable to get away from this model in order to achieve gender equality. Although "feminism" is a term in widespread use since the 1970s to refer to the movement that seeks greater power for women, some feel that it is a misuse of the word since to feminize a man is to castrate him; they argue the more appropriate (and less offensive) term would be "equalitarianism."
Some critics argue that these writers are oversimplifying the complexities of society, or that such gender roles are not necessarily harmful.
4 See also
- Patriarch
- Matriarchy
- Paideia
- Classical definition of effeminacy
- Traditional authority
- Patriarchs (Bible)The Patriarchs known as the Avot in Hebrew, are Abraham, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Collectively, they are referred to as the three patriarchs sh'loshet ha-avot of Judaism, and the period in which they lived is known as the patriarchal period.
- Matriarchs (Bible)The Matriarchs known as the Ima-[h]ot in Hebrew, are four important women mentioned in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible. They are Sarah wife of Abraham, Rebecca wife of Isaac, and Leah and Rachel the wives of Jacob. They are considered to be the an
- FatherA father is the male parent of a child. Fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of pate
5 External links
6 References
- Brown, Robert. (1991). Human Universals. Philadelphia: Temple University Press
AnthropologyAnthropology (from the Greek word ANTHROPOLOGIA consists of the study of humankind (see genus Homo . It is holistic in two senses: it is concerned with all humans at all times, and with all dimensions of humanity. Central to anthropology is the concept of
Feminism
SociologySociology is the study of social rules and processes that bind and separate people not only as individuals, but as members of associations, groups, and institutions. A typical textbook definition of sociology calls it the study of the social lives of huma
