Too Many Dicks, Not Enough Chicks.

 

            Patriarchy is a huge part of the American culture and extremely hard to get away from. It is embedded in our everyday lives. A working definition of patriarchy, as we used in class, is a social system in which power and privilege are more readily available to heterosexual (or perceived heterosexual) men than women. A patriarchal society is male-dominated, male-identified, and male-centered. There is even a t-shirt for sale in support of patriarchy (whether the makers realize it is or not) the says “I have the dick, so I make the rules.”

            In the article “Patriarchal Norms Still Shape Family Care” written by Nancy Folbre, she discusses how patriarchy is present in religion and in family care. She explains how patriarchal views differ between Republicans and Democrats, but exist nonetheless. She states that the Mormon Church and the Southern Baptist Convention practice patriarchy by not allowing women to become priests and saying that women should submit to their husbands.

            Patriarchy is everywhere: in religion, the work force, famiy systems, naming, and language. Women make less money than men. This means that women have to work twice as hard an twice as much to be as successful as a man is. As well, women are expected to stay home and do the housework, such as watching the kids, cooking, and cleaning. Patriarchy is present in our naming systems as a child always (it is rare to see otherwise) takes the last name of the father, as well as a wife taking the last name of her husband and not vice-versa. As well, patriarchy is present in the way that was speak, as we use words such as “guys” and “gentleman” to address a group of both men and women. Along with all of this, our country is primarily run by men, and almost all of our history is written by men as well. The female voice and story just does not seem to be heard.

             Getting away from patriarchy will be very hard and will take a long time, but it can be done. A good, strong step toward diminishing the male dominance that runs this country is to make sure the female voice is heard. Ladies, don’t give in to patriarchy. Defy the odds and make sure that you don’t get stuck into the rut of being a less-than. And gentleman, stick up for the women in your lives and make sure they have an upper hand in the household and don’t just fall under you. If we work hard at it through even the smallest acts of activism on a daily basis, we will one day live in a society where women are just as equal as man.

 Patriarchal Norms Still Shape Family Care- Nancy Folbre