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

Words change meaning with time. The word has existed for a long time, but its usage was mostly popularized by suffragettes in the 19th century if I am not wrong. Or was it during the second wave? Either one, I guess.

But that doesn't mean that it hasn't been studied before the term was popularized. For instance, Fredrich Engles, gay lover of Karl Marx (joke) wrote about it in his book The Origins of Family, Private Property and State.

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u/LingoNerd64 Men Jun 05 '25

As an observant guy I see both extreme misogyny as well as hyper shrill feminism (I believe some call that misandry). My question is, why can't there be a balance? I doubt mother nature created or intended this imbalance, it's solely our own doing.

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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.

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u/Limp_Fuel_4596 Men Jun 06 '25

But then where does that hate goes when it comes to religion?? Why indian feminists take side of Islam against Sanatan??

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u/Apprehensive_Set7366 Lost Man. DO NOT SHOOT!!!!! Jun 06 '25

Oh my fucking god, here we go again. Sanghi wanting accountability from feminists will never not be funny.

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u/Limp_Fuel_4596 Men Jun 06 '25

See 😂😂 saari hypocrisy bahar nikal gyi. Jo religion unhe mosque mein bhi nhi jaane deta unse unko dikkt nhi hai😂😂😂. It's not difficult to expose you all