Do we live in a patriarchy?

Question

• What is the patriarchy?
• Do we live in a patriarchy?

Sources

• https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/p/do-we-live-in-a-patriarchy
• https://quillette.com/2025/03/27/how-to-tell-if-youre-living-in-a-patriarchy-feminism-medieval-history/

Answer from Wikle

Patriarchy, as defined by the sources, is a social system where men hold the primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. It is a system where the father or eldest male is the head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.

According to the article by Steve Stewart-Williams, whether we live in a patriarchy or not is a complex question. He argues that we do not live in a traditional patriarchy, as women have the same legal rights as men and can and do hold positions of power. However, he acknowledges that there are still areas where men have more privileges, such as in business and politics, but he also highlights areas where women have more privileges, such as family courts. He concludes that whether we live in a patriarchy or not depends on how we define the term.

The article on Quillette questions the idea that we live in a patriarchy, arguing that it is a simplistic view of the world. It points out that while men historically held more power, women also had their own forms of power and influence. The author argues that it is more accurate to say that we live in a "heterarchy," a system in which multiple elements are ruled or dominated by others, rather than a single hierarchy. The author also highlights certain areas in modern societies where women have more power or advantages over men. Both articles propose a more nuanced view of gender relations than a simple patriarchal model.