Question

Research has shown that sexual violence and abuse are more common in societies where there is a power unbalance between genders in society, and particularly when there is a strong patriarchal structure in place. What are some characteristics of a patriarchal society?

A. Men hold primary power in political leadership.
B. Men dominate in ownership of land and property.
C. In 2020, on average, women in the U.S. earn 81 cents for every dollar a man earns.
D. Women are the head of the household and make decisions within the family.
E. Male authority supersedes that of any other gender.

Answer 1

Patriarchy is a system where men are favored in various aspects of society, including political leadership, property control, and social authority. Characteristics of a patriarchal society also manifest in economic disparities, such as the gender wage gap. Despite claims of modern societal equality, ongoing gender stratifications point to the persistence of patriarchal structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and are predominant in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. Some key characteristics of a patriarchal society include men holding power in political leadership, dominating in ownership of land and property (B), and their authority being considered supreme over other genders (E). Additionally, the gender wage gap, such as the statistic that in 2020 women in the U.S. earned on average 81 cents for every dollar a man earns (C), indicates underlying patriarchal values within the workforce.

Despite legal equality, social and economic practices can maintain gender stratification, which often results in women having fewer opportunities for educational and employment advancements. This inequity is further compounded by the expectation that women engage more in unpaid household labor. While contemporary societies may not openly endorse patriarchal ideologies, the persistence of such power imbalances and gender-based violence suggests that patriarchal systems still influence daily life. In essence, patriarchal societies perpetuate gender inequalities through cultural norms, laws, and institutional practices that favor male dominance and authority over women and other genders.