patriarchy
PAY-tree-ahr-kee
/ˈpeɪ.tri.ɑːr.ki/
A social system or system of government in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
Refers broadly to systemic structural dominance by men rather than individual interpersonal prejudice.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'patriarkhes', combining 'patria' (lineage, family headed by a father) and 'arkhein' (to rule). It originally denoted biblical tribal leaders before evolving in modern sociology to describe systemic male domination.
Word relationships
- paternalism: Paternalism emphasizes protective, authoritative oversight, whereas patriarchy focuses on systemic male control.
- matriarchy: A system where women hold primary governance and authority.
Commonly confused with
- patrimony: Patrimony is inherited property or inheritance, whereas patriarchy is a social power structure.
Word family
- patriarchal (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of a patriarchy.
- patriarch (noun): The male head of a family or tribe.
Collocations
- entrenched patriarchy
- smash the patriarchy
- patriarchy and power
Example sentences
- "Critics argued that the legal framework of the nineteenth century reinforced patriarchy by restricting women's property rights." Sociological analysis
Memory hook
PATR (father) + ARCH (ruler) = Rule of the fathers. Rule of the fathers.
When not to use
Do not use merely to describe an individual rude man; it refers to overarching institutional structures.
Fun facts
- The term was heavily adapted by second-wave feminist theorists in the 1960s and 1970s to describe institutional power beyond family structures.
Related words
Also appears in
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