What does patriarchalism mean?
Patriarchalism is the name given to a system of power in which men hold the principal positions of authority, particularly in the family but also in political and social institutions. It encompasses both the structure of male dominance and the belief that men are naturally more capable of exercising authority. The word is frequently used in discussions of gender, family organization, religion, politics, and workplace leadership. Unlike the broader term “patriarchy,” which can describe the arrangement itself, “patriarchalism” often emphasizes the ideology that legitimizes or preserves it. In modern usage the term is generally critical: it identifies unequal access to power as a social pattern rather than a natural or neutral arrangement. Historical discussions of patriarchalism often identify patriarchal authority within the household, the control of property and inheritance by men, and the exclusion of women from positions of institutional power.
nounA social or political system in which men hold the principal authority, especially within the family. The term may also denote the belief that men are naturally entitled to superior power or authority.
- The system, organization, or set of social relations in which men hold the principal authority.
- The belief or ideology that men are naturally superior to women and therefore entitled to greater power.
"The reform challenged the patriarchalism that had kept political authority exclusively in the hands of men."
"Traditional patriarchalism shaped both the structure of the household and access to paid employment."
"She used the term patriarchalism to describe the unequal distribution of authority within the organization."
Rare; the word is ordinarily used as an uncountable noun.
"The study compares several forms of patriarchalism across different societies."
Patriarchalism reaches beyond the idea of a male-headed household: it describes the political and social assumption that men possess the right to rule.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does patriarchalism come from?
Patriarchalism is formed from “patriarchal” and the suffix “-ism,” meaning a system, doctrine, or characteristic condition. “Patriarch” comes through Latin from the Greek patriarchēs, a compound of pater, “father,” and archē, “rule” or “authority.” The same Greek elements underlie the contrasting forms “matriarch” and “matriarchy,” though the latter reverses the gender represented by the root.
How patriarchalism is actually used
The word is chiefly used in social, political, cultural, and historical analysis. It is more explicitly ideological than “patriarchy” and is often critical rather than neutral.
Easily confused with patriarchalism
Patriarchy is a system or social arrangement in which authority is held by fathers or men, whereas patriarchalism more often names the ideology or set of principles supporting such a system.
Paternalism describes authority exercised as though by a father over dependants, while patriarchalism specifically concerns the privileging of men as a group.