End Patriarchy

Patriarchy: Introduction

Patriarchy is defined as a social system in which men hold primary power and authority. 

This structure manifests in various aspects of society, including political leadership, where men often occupy the majority of influential roles and decision-making positions. 

In addition to governance, patriarchy encompasses moral authority, granting men the ability to dictate societal norms and values that are often unchallenged. 

The system also favors men in social contexts, giving them advantages in education, employment, and personal relationships.

Moreover, property rights under patriarchy are typically skewed in favor of men, giving them control over resources and wealth, while often marginalizing women’s ownership and economic independence. 

This hierarchical arrangement reinforces existing gender inequalities and shapes the dynamics between the sexes across different cultures and communities.

Instances of Patriarchy around us

A passage from the Manusmriti states that a woman must always remain under the control of her father, brother, husband, and subsequently her son; she cannot have an independent identity in society. This statement encapsulates the very definition of patriarchy.

It is not as if men alone are responsible for enforcing or upholding patriarchy in society; women themselves are at the forefront of sustaining a patriarchal society. Women themselves criticize those among them who have shown the courage to break social norms.

• Even today, the birth of a daughter is not celebrated in many families.
• The practice of female foeticide continues, and people are seen misusing ultrasound check-ups for pregnant women.
• Although the trend of prioritizing boys over girls has declined somewhat—especially following the ‘two-child’ rule—it remains a bitter truth of this society that people still regard boys as their natural heirs.
• Over the past decade, a pervasive negativity has spread through society, leading to a massive surge in crimes against women. Incidents of rape and molestation have escalated to such an extent that people have become weary of raising their voices against them.
• The standard of girls’ education has declined alarmingly due to repeated school closures, as parents are more concerned about their safety than their education.
• One might think that girls are unsafe outside the home, but the reality is that they are not safe even within their own homes, where predators—often disguised as people they know—lie in wait to molest or exploit them. When girls are unsafe everywhere, the question arises: what kind of social structure have we created?
• The way people dress has changed significantly over time, so how could girls possibly lag? Yet, our society—with its self-appointed role as the guardian of morality—is not only quick to judge girls but also, first and foremost, holds their attire responsible for the crimes committed against them.
• There was a time when girls had to seek permission from their families for education or employment; can society explain why this situation has not changed in most places even today?
• In many institutions, the hostel in-timing for girls is 9 PM; while this is understandable—after all, where else would students stay at night—why isn’t the same rule applied to boys?
• Why is the atmosphere outside so frightening that women have to ask male colleagues or friends to accompany them back to their hostels or homes when it gets late? What kind of society do we live in, where half the population feels afraid even to be, walk, or move about alone?
• Everyone needs a job—and rightly so—but why are only girls told that by working, they will snatch away a boy’s livelihood?
• Even though we live in the digital age, malicious people are making girls’ lives hell through digital means—resorting to cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying, and, above all, adopting new tactics like using AI to create morphed videos and photos to harass and blackmail them.
• Children are taught about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ right from nursery school, yet society fails to ensure that no child falls victim to such exploitation; are all these moral lessons confined merely to the classroom?

Does the idea of ​​patriarchy create disorder in society?

Answering this question will give rise to further questions—both in your mind and mine. 

No matter how much people talk about being progressive, the truth is that in recent years, contrary to expectations, society has been regressing in its mindset, and the statistics regarding crimes against women reveal its ugly face.

Just think about where the call to “dismantle patriarchy” originates. 

Why must women persistently advocate for fundamental rights that should inherently be theirs?

I frequently write in my blogs that women secured their right to vote only after enduring immense suffering; it is not just in India—women in most countries have waged long battles for their legitimate rights, and that struggle continues to this day. 

Why Must Women Still Fight for Basic Rights? 

I do not know why society is so ungrateful that it refuses to grant its own female population their due rights without them having to ask—or rather, without having to fight—for them.

Isn’t this a very uncivilized and cruel thing for a civilized society?

Why do almost all religious texts and traditional literature advocate keeping women in a subordinate position? 

Why are women considered weak?

Why do up to 90% of the fetuses aborted following sex determination turn out to be female? 

Why do women in many industries not receive equal pay to men?

You do not grant women their due rights in society without a struggle, yet when they empower themselves, you claim it creates chaos. 

What kind of illogical double standard is this? 

There is no sound argument to support it; it is merely a repetition of centuries-old practices. 

When voices are raised, there is a charade of enacting new laws and regulations, but in reality, it is all just a sham—mere window dressing.

Smashing Patriarchy Does Not Mean Hating Men 

Men and women are not competing populations; they are equal participants in society. 

A society cannot reach its full potential when gender-based restrictions hold back half of its population. 

This implies that society can only progress and reach new heights of advancement if men and women move forward together, side by side. 

Yet, in reality, women are held back by numerous restrictions. 

Crimes are committed against them in such a manner that future generations would think twice before even daring to raise their voices.

Generally, women neither hate men nor work against them. 

It is the male section of society that places obstacles in women’s paths; furthermore, they have cultivated an army of women—driven by a regressive mindset—who stop other women from progressing at any cost.

This is that bitter truth of society that no one wants to talk about.

What Would a Post-Patriarchal Society Look Like? 

Perhaps, in this day and age—after enduring centuries of countless forms of oppression—no woman can even begin to imagine the contours of a post-patriarchal society, right? 

After suffering such varied forms of abuse, it might be difficult to even conceive of it—especially for those women who have genuinely known nothing but suffering at every step of the way.

This is a resounding slap in the face of a society that is making strenuous efforts to improve its image, yet has failed to yield any concrete results for women.

The clear implication is that policymakers’ mindset and intent are flawed; they are merely going through the motions.

A post-patriarchal society would not exclude men; rather, it would celebrate the birth of daughters just as much as it does sons. 

In this society, a girl’s education would be viewed as a right rather than a privilege. 

A woman’s clothing would not be seen as an invitation for unwanted attention, and safety would not rely on male protection. 

Employment opportunities would not be framed as a competition between genders. 

Instead, leadership, property ownership, education, and personal freedom would be determined by an individual’s abilities and choices, regardless of whether they were born male or female.

Conclusion: Equality Is Not a Favour 

I deny any form of political influence. 

I had been thinking about writing this article for a long time. 

The truth is that while voices are occasionally raised in society against the anarchy of the patriarchy, one rarely sees major leaders or religious groups stepping forward to champion women’s rights. 

Naturally, then, let alone equal rights, there are still countless obstacles standing in the way of women securing even their basic natural rights.

Equality is not a favor; rather, it is the legitimate right of half the population.

A Reflection on Gender Equality, Freedom and Social Justice

Smash the Patriarchy: Why Equality Is Not a Favour

Patriarchy is not merely a word describing male dominance. It is a deeply rooted social structure that can influence women’s freedom, safety, education, employment, dignity and rights.

Patriarchy: Introduction

Patriarchy is defined as a social system in which men hold primary power and authority. This structure manifests itself in various aspects of society, including political leadership, where men have historically occupied a large proportion of influential roles and decision-making positions.

In addition to governance, patriarchy can encompass moral authority, giving social institutions and individuals the power to dictate norms and values that may go largely unchallenged.

The system can also favour men in social contexts, influencing access to education, employment, property, economic independence and personal freedom. Such hierarchical arrangements reinforce gender inequalities and shape relationships between men and women across different cultures and communities.

Instances of Patriarchy Around Us

Traditional texts and social customs have historically been used in different societies to justify women’s subordinate position. A passage commonly cited from the Manusmriti describes women as being under the protection or authority of male relatives at different stages of life. Whatever one’s interpretation of the text, such ideas illustrate how deeply gender hierarchy has been embedded in some traditional social thinking.

It is not as if men alone are responsible for enforcing or sustaining patriarchy. Women, too, can internalise patriarchal expectations and sometimes become the very people who criticise women who dare to challenge established social norms.

• Even today, the birth of a daughter is not celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the birth of a son in many families.
• Sex selection and female foeticide remain serious social concerns despite legal prohibitions and public awareness campaigns.
• Son preference continues to influence attitudes towards inheritance, family lineage and economic security.
• Crimes against women continue to raise serious questions about women’s safety, dignity and freedom.
• Parents may restrict girls’ education, employment or mobility because they fear for their safety.
• Women and girls can face danger not only in public spaces but also within homes and communities, sometimes from people they know and trust.
• Society frequently judges women’s clothing and appearance and, in some cases, attempts to associate their attire with crimes committed against them.
• Girls may still face restrictions on education, employment and independent decision-making that boys are less likely to encounter.
• Some educational institutions impose stricter mobility or hostel restrictions on female students than on male students in the name of safety.
• Women often have to think about their safety when travelling or returning home late, sometimes depending on male friends or colleagues for accompaniment.
• Women entering the workforce may still be portrayed as taking jobs away from men rather than being recognised as equal participants in the economy.
• Digital technology has created new forms of harassment, including cyberstalking, cyberbullying and the malicious creation or manipulation of images and videos using artificial intelligence.
• Children may learn about safe and unsafe forms of touch at an early age, yet society must do much more to ensure that these lessons are supported by genuine protection and accountability.

Does the Idea of Patriarchy Create Disorder in Society?

Answering this question gives rise to further questions—both in your mind and mine.

No matter how much we talk about being progressive, we must honestly examine whether social attitudes are progressing at the same pace. Continuing violence, discrimination and restrictions against women force us to confront the uncomfortable reality that legal and technological progress alone cannot eliminate deeply rooted gender prejudice.

Just think about where the call to “dismantle patriarchy” originates.

Why must women persistently advocate for fundamental rights that should inherently be theirs?

Women secured the right to vote only after enduring immense struggle in many parts of the world. It was not simply an Indian struggle; women across countries fought long battles for political, social and economic rights—and many of those struggles continue in different forms today.

Why Must Women Still Fight for Basic Rights?

I do not understand why society can be so reluctant to grant its own female population equal rights without women having to ask—or rather, fight—for them.

Isn’t this a cruel contradiction for a society that considers itself civilised?

Why are women so often expected to prove that they deserve the same freedom, opportunities and dignity that men are routinely assumed to possess?

Why are women still considered weak? Why does son preference continue? Why do women continue to face barriers to economic independence? Why does unequal treatment persist in workplaces and other institutions?

You do not grant women their due rights without a struggle, yet when they empower themselves, you claim that their empowerment creates chaos.

What kind of illogical double standard is this?

There is no sound argument for denying equality. Too often, what is presented as tradition is simply the repetition of practices that have survived for generations without being questioned.

When voices are raised, new laws and regulations may be announced. But laws alone cannot transform society if attitudes, institutions and social behaviour remain unchanged.

Smashing Patriarchy Does Not Mean Hating Men

Men and women are not competing populations. They are equal participants in society. A society cannot reach its full potential when half of its population is held back by gender-based restrictions.

Smashing patriarchy does not mean smashing men. It means challenging a system of unequal expectations, privileges and restrictions that limits people because of their gender.

Women should not have to choose between independence and respect, ambition and family, safety and freedom, or professional success and social acceptance.

Patriarchal thinking can also be reinforced by women who have internalised the same social expectations imposed upon them. This is why dismantling patriarchy requires a change in attitudes across society—not merely a confrontation between men and women.

What Would a Post-Patriarchal Society Look Like?

Perhaps, after centuries of restrictions and unequal expectations, it is difficult for many women to imagine a society completely free from patriarchal thinking.

But we should try.

A post-patriarchal society would not be a society without men. It would be a society in which a daughter’s birth is celebrated as naturally as a son’s; where a girl’s education is not negotiated as a privilege; where a woman’s clothing is not treated as an invitation; where safety does not depend upon male protection; where employment is not seen as a competition between genders; and where leadership, property, education and personal freedom are determined by ability and choice—not by whether someone was born male or female.

Such a society would not need women to constantly prove that they deserve equality.

Equality would simply be understood as normal.

A Society Beyond Patriarchy

Imagine a society where gender does not determine how far a person is allowed to dream, learn, work, lead, inherit, travel or live.

Conclusion: Equality Is Not a Favour

I deny any form of political influence behind this article. I had been thinking about writing it for a long time because the questions surrounding women’s equality deserve to be discussed openly.

Voices are occasionally raised against the injustices created by patriarchal thinking, yet society still has a long way to go. Equal rights cannot remain merely an aspiration written into laws or repeated in speeches.

Women should not have to fight endlessly for the right to live with dignity, pursue education, earn a livelihood, inherit property, make personal choices and participate equally in society.

Equality is not a favour; it is the legitimate right of half the population.

“Equality is not a favour; rather, it is the legitimate right of half the population.”

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