Patriarchy
is a system of male authority that oppresses women through political, social,
cultural and economic institutions. It is a system which accords men power and
privilege and subordinates the women. The following seeks to illustrate to you how
patriarchy has been natured, reproduced and sustained in our communities.
Masculinity
and the media. The media helps to internalize and reinforce certain gender stereotypes
that make the men superior and subordinate the women. The media is a
socializing point for the children as they grow up exposed to both print or
displayed media. In today’s society parents do not have control over what the
children view as they leave them in the hands of house helps or even alone. It
is important to note that the news rooms are filled with men; even where the
women are they are often given the petty issues like fashion while real issues
are given to their male counterparts. There are different roles women and men
play in the media houses and the nature of publication is always different. The
media plays an instrumental role in placing the men above the women,
Culture and
masculinity People
do not become men and women in the sterile environment of the womb rather; they
do so in specific social and cultural contexts.
The social production of masculinity and femininity
is often begun at home through socialization practices, which aim to instill
specific personalities and identities into male and female children.
Socialization experiences inscribe superiority into maleness and masculinity,
and inferiority into femaleness and femininity.
It is important to examine some of these practices and
values that are instilled in the male and female children and decide whether in
this day and era, we still want to instill the same values. Male children are
less likely than female ones to suffer rejection, prejudice, discrimination,
and abandonment.
Power relation
Patriarchy
derives its power base from men’s access to and control over resources. The
owner of resources has all the decision making powers in the household and
overall economy. In the Household the man is the bread winner which give him
