Final answer:
Conflict theory posits that men have maintained power in government to protect their resources and maintain systemic inequality, ensuring dominance over subordinate groups like women.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to conflict theory, men have maintained their controlling role in government in order to preserve their power and resources, perpetuating systemic inequality. This macro-level approach, stemming from the work of Karl Marx, views society as a battleground where social classes, and various social groups including gender groups, vie for scarce resources. Through control of social institutions such as government, the dominant group — in this case, men — use their power to maintain an unequal social structure, thus ensuring their resources and privileges remain protected. This maintains oppression and limits opportunities and advancement for subordinate groups, like women, who find steep challenges in achieving equality due to rules and systems designed by the dominant group to safeguard their interests. Conflict theory, particularly in the realm of gender, posits that men have maintained their controlling role in government and other societal institutions in order to perpetuate and reinforce their own power and privilege. According to conflict theory, society is characterized by inequality and social conflict, and those in power (often men in the context of gender) work to maintain their dominance over other groups. In the specific context of gender, conflict theory suggests that men, who historically held positions of power, have sought to preserve their dominance by shaping and controlling political, economic, and social structures to their advantage. This perspective highlights the role of power struggles and social inequalities in shaping the dynamics of society.