A Denial to Patriarchal Mindset

 What is patriarchy? Patriarchy means 'rule of father'. A society or social system is patriarchal to the degree that it promotes male privilege by being male dominated, male identified, and male centered. It also involves the oppression of women. Patriarchy establishes gender divisions. It attributes different characteristics to men and women, and exalts male qualities as superior. 

Patriarchy affects the way we think. patriarchy has shaped cultural attitudes and practices and effect how we think and behave, until we become aware of its presence and challenge it. The traditions, rules, and values of patriarchy from last six millennia, are often taught or modeled to girls and boys by mothers who believed they were helping their children to survive in a male dominated world.

"We all have an inner patriarch who controls us from the inside...from our unconscious."- Sidra Stone (Psychotherapist)

The inner patriarch operates in men as well as women, his voice is the voice of our culture. The inner patriarch, much like outer patriarchy, wants to make women feel safe by keeping them confined within old, well-defined boundaries so that they will not be exposed to danger or disappointment. 

On one hand the inner patriarch in women either questions women's intelligence, knowledge, and abilities, or is concerned about women's emotionality, trustworthiness and self-discipline.On the other hand inner patriarch in men is proud to be a men,and claims natural authority and privilege because of his gender. The patriarch within the man expects to be listened to, and expects women to defer to him.

It is extremely important for all of us to get rid of this awful mindset. This can be done by educating women. As growing number of women get education and join work force, the shackle of patriarchy is slowly loosening up.Change is unstoppable, and it is evident everywhere, in small ways. Patriarchy is a losing battle today.

Patriarchy, now dissolved in each drop of our blood, is a tool that was created to subordinate women. No matter what political explanation critics of feminism try to come up with, this fact cannot be overlooked.