March 5, 2024

Negative Consequences of
Patriarchy.
No more conservative, patriarchal ways.

It is deeply distressing that patriarchal systems continue to in ict harm and

even lead to devastating consequences, including death. These systems re ect an

unequal distribution of power and privilege predominantly favoring men, while

marginalizing and oppressing women, and gender-nonconforming individuals.

The repercussions of such oppressive systems are far-reaching, impacting

individuals and communities on various levels. After further re ection, I am

convinced that it is crucial to eliminate patriarchy.

Patriarchy literally means rule of the father in a male-dominated family. It is a

social and ideological construct which considers men (who are the patriarchs) as

superior to women. Patriarchy is based on a system of power relations which are

hierarchical and unequal where men control women’s production, reproduction

and sexuality. It imposes masculinity and femininity character stereotypes in

society which strengthen the power relations between men and women. (Baral,

Komal Kaushik)

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF PATRIARCHY 1

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 I have railed against patriarchy and believe that it perpetuates harmful gender

norms and inequalities that limit the potential and autonomy of individuals,

particularly women. Patriarchy reinforces the idea that men are inherently superior

to women, leading to discrimination, violence, and oppression. It restricts women's

access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making power, ultimately

hindering their ability to fully participate in society. I believe in dismantling

patriarchal systems and working towards a more equitable and just society where

all individuals are treated with respect and have equal rights and opportunities.

To begin with, in societies that follow patriarchal norms, women are often

perceived as subordinate to men, which can cause a higher rate of sexual violence,

particularly within the con nes of the home. In Indonesia, numerous instances of

sexual violence involve women who have been victimized by their partners or

family members. The prevailing patriarchal beliefs can shape societal attitudes

towards sexual violence, leading some victims to internalize these beliefs and

believe they are deserving of such mistreatment. Due to the stigma and tendency

to blame the victim, many individuals are reluctant to report such incidents.

Additionally, patriarchal systems restrict women's access to education,

employment opportunities, and decision-making authority, which in turn a ects

their ability to make choices regarding their bodies and reproductive health. Toxic

masculinity in patriarchal societies encourages harmful behaviors such as

aggression and dominance, perpetuating cycles of violence.

In addition, UN data reveals that % of planned homicides targeting women

are perpetrated by individuals who are closely associated with them. The number

of such cases has seen an alarming increase over the years, with cases

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF PATRIARCHY 2

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 reported in , , cases in , and , cases up until October . The

issue of femicide encompasses various scenarios, including the killing of women

themselves ( , cases), husbands murdering their wives ( , cases), Murders

committed by girlfriends ( cases), ex-girlfriends ( cases), and ex-husbands (

cases) (National Commission on Violence Against Women, ). A total of

incidents has been documented, all of which were instigated and motivated by

factors such as: mental health problems in the workplace, masculinity insecurity,

threats, divorce, pressure to marry, rituals, dissatisfaction with the services (sexual)

provided, unrequited love, and more (National Commission on Violence Against

Women, ).

In conclusion, as an alternative to patriarchy, I suggest gender equality. With

gender equality, society can objectively perceive gender di erences. Literally,

gender equality refers to the equal conditions for both men and women [Zulki i

Ismail, Melanie Pita Lestari, Panti Rahayu, Fransiska Novita Eleanora. Kesetaraan

Gender Ditinjau dari Sudut Pandang Normatif dan Sosiologis. . Volume .

Nomor . Hlm ]. Gender equality needs to be instilled from an early age so that

in the future, patriarchal culture can be replaced by the concept of gender

equality. To make breakthroughs in fostering gender equality, the involvement and

participation of the various parties, especially parents and educational

institutions, are necessary.

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 Reference

Matthew, Jessiana Angelia. . BandungBergerak.id. Accessed March

. https://bandungbergerak.id/article/detail/ /mengganti-budaya-patriarki-

dengan-kesetaraan-gender-dimulai-dari-keluarga-dan-sekolah

National Commission on Violence Against Women. . Press Release, the

National Commission on Violence against Women. Accessed March .

https://komnasperempuan.go.id/siaran-pers- detail/siaran-pers-komnas-

perempuan-tentang-femisida- -desember-

Siti Aminah et al. ( ). Unidenti ed Femicide: Neglecting Women's and

Girls' Right to Life and Right to Justice. Jakarta: National Commission on Violence

Against Women.

Baral, Komal Kaushik. Approaches to Understanding Patriarchy. Department

of Political Science, Sonada Degree College, University of North Bengal. Accessed

March . https://wbsche.wb.gov.in/assets/pdf/Political-Science/Approaches-

to-Understanding-Patriarchy.pdf

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