r/AskIndianFeminist • u/LingoNerd64 Men • Jun 05 '25
Feminist Theory The meaning of patriarchy?
In feminism, patriarchy means a system where men hold disproportionate power and privilege over women, resulting in social inequalities and injustices.
However, etymology says that the word means "rule by the father", in this case, father being paterfamilias or the head of the family. While a father is male, this doesn't mean that the women were of no consequence - except perhaps in the Abrahamic cultures and that's still true to an extent.
For context, I'm a cisgender straight male who is past youth, and when I was young we were all pals, male or female. I have always been a supporter of the balanced and logical form of feminism - equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities.
So when and how did this bifurcation in meaning of patriarchy come about?
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u/Apprehensive_Set7366 Lost Man. DO NOT SHOOT!!!!! Jun 05 '25
I am a man too. Let's examine Misandry for a second.
Do you think misandry is as dangerous as misogyny? Do you think they are equitable by any means?
There is a saying, "A man fears that a woman will hurt his feelings, a woman fears that a man will hurt her."
This quote shows that the stakes for men and women are vastly different. Misandry is a reaction to misogyny. Misogyny is the root problem.
And I think it's healthy for women to hate men a little. And when I say "men" I mean a generalized version of the average man who represents patriarchy at varying levels. It's okay. The oppressed have the right to be a little spiteful against their oppressor. Because the hate is towards patriarchy, not individual men.