Answer:
Patriarchy is a societal structure where men hold the majority of power, dominating positions of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control over property. In patriarchal systems, power dynamics are typically centered around male authority, with social norms and values often favoring men’s experiences, needs, and perspectives over those of women.
Patriarchy limiting Women’s chances for growth and advancement:
- Denial of life: Patriarchy begins from the womb of a woman, resulting in female feticide and infanticide taking away the girl child’s right to life, though the sex ratio at birth has improved to 929 females per 1,000 males by 2019–21. [e.g., Son meta-preference]
- Denial of equality: Patriarchy deprives woman the chance of equality in multiple spheres like unequal job opportunities, a ~20% gender pay gap, and a glass ceiling effect, with women holding only 10% of senior management roles in business and politics.
- Socio-Economic development: The patriarchal system denies women access to work, health, nutrition, education, financial autonomy etc. reducing their suitability for playing greater role in society, economy or even within home such as in economic decision-making.
- Denial of liberty and dignity: Women and girls are denied the profession of their choice, right to marry partner of their choice, access to safe public spaces or workplace safety, restricting the liberty to live a dignified life.
- Patriarchal crimes: Patriarchal crimes like dowry deaths, domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape deprive the women an opportunity to lead a happy life.
- Mental Health: Stresses relating to harassment, discrimination and safety take mental toll on women. The stigma attached with mental health is greater for women, which limits them from seeking help due to threat of being abandoned by family or being married off.
- Discriminatory Structures: some community-specific personal laws still restrict women’s economic and social liberties [e.g. Muslim Personal Law on inheritance], despite reforms like the Hindu Succession Act, 2005.
- Discriminatory work opportunities: women are usually steered towards pink-collar and low paying jobs [e.g. care workers or as pre-school teachers], which is considered suitable for their gendered roles as per the patriarchal setup.
- Politics: due to patriarchal values and norms, women are considered weak and indecisive which covertly keeps them out of leadership roles in the political setup, though women’s representation in the Lok Sabha reached 14% in 2024.
- Workplace Biases: these biases are covertly at play in workplaces where women are either preferred due to their low pay expectations, or they are ignored at the hiring stages due to ‘burden’ that hiring a woman entails [e.g. paid maternity leaves].
- Balancing home and workplace: even professional women find it difficult to let go of their domestic roles leading to the “double burden” of balancing professional responsibilities with traditional domestic roles, thereby hindering their ability to fully commit to or excel in their careers.
Addressing and dismantling these patriarchal structures is essential for achieving gender equality and ensuring that women have equal access to opportunities, rights, and power in all aspects of life.
Legacy Editor Changed status to publish June 13, 2025