What is Patriarchy?

Patriarchy is a type of social system where men have more power than women. In such systems, men usually lead in politics, religion, family matters, and even control wealth and property.

In a patriarchal family, the father is considered the head of the household. But patriarchy goes beyond the home—it affects the entire society. In patriarchal societies, men hold most of the power, while women are often kept away from public life and decision-making.

Everyday Examples of Patriarchy:

• If a man dominates a conversation, speaks over women, and forces his opinion without listening to others, people might say he is behaving in an “aggressively patriarchal” way.
• When a woman reports sexual harassment at work, and male colleagues ignore or deny her claims, that denial can be seen as a “typical reaction in a patriarchal society.”

What is Matriarchy?

Matriarchy is the opposite of patriarchy. It’s a social system where women have primary authority. Women lead in politics, family, religion, and have control over wealth and property, often excluding men from these roles.

In a matriarchal family, the mother is the head of the household, and in matriarchal societies, women take charge of governance as well.

However, true matriarchal societies are very rare in human history. Many people confuse matriarchal systems with matrilineal systems (where family names or property pass through the mother’s line) or equal (egalitarian) societies, which are different.

Differences Between Patriarchy and Matriarchy