Under the branch of human biology, nature has broadly classified homo sapiens into two sexes: male (with an x and a y chromosome) and female (with two x chromosomes). Although it must be noted that the existence of intersex people and others with chromosomal anomalies challenges this neat, sex binary.
Culture, on the other hand, has made an imaginary classification of humankind into genders: man and woman, mainly. This is precisely what defines patriarchy. It is a universal phenomenon that constructs societies across the world.
It basically decodes a set of rules or qualities, such as dressing style, walking style, gestures like shyness, and many other behavioural traits that makes a man a “man”, and a and a woman a “woman”. Any deviation from these preconceived notions will lead to the person being seen as incomplete.
This arbitrary differentiation between men and women is the basis of hierarchy, in a patriarchal society. Thus, patriarchy is an arrangement where men tend to dominate. Being considered as the sole bread winner, he becomes the head of the family by default. The liberty of all other family members are influenced by his decisions.
Patriarchal Norms Have Suppressed Women
As society progressed, these social norms were exaggerated to a devastating level. For instance, women were prevented from investing their time in reading, gaining knowledge, seeking jobs and being ambitious. Consequently, all their dreams and desires were suppressed by a male dominated society.
Thus, patriarchy has imprisoned women within the imaginary boundaries that define “womanhood”. We were forcefully made the victims of social evils like female foeticide, child marriage, sati, purdah and dowry.
For example, when communist China enacted the one child policy, many Chinese families continued to regard the birth of a girl as a misfortune. Parents would occasionally abandon or murder newborn, baby girls in order to have another shot at getting a boy.
Nevertheless, such brutal, social evils are now a criminal offence in most countries including India. Also, criminalisation of marital rape in most of the developed countries, including a few of our neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan, has raised the bar of gender justice by a bit.
It is interesting to note that marital rape continues to be legal in India.
Feminist Revolutions Have Helped Women Gain Freedoms
After the many waves of feminist revolutions the globe has seen, women have achieved a lot of freedoms. I believe that things are changing at a greater pace in 21st century. Today, a lot of women are educated, free to pick the career of their choice, and aspire for anything.
We are excelling in every field, be it science, art, or entrepreneurship. We have been actively participating in politics and influencing policies too.
When Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first woman, and first black and Indian-American vice president of the US, she did not break the glass ceiling overnight, but she slowly climbed the wall using the pegs of education and employment.
Similarly, women have also actively participated in peaceful protests like the one at Shaheen Bagh against amendments to the Citizenship Act; or the more recent farmers’ protest in Delhi.
Let’s not forget young, environmental activists like Disha Ravi and Greta Thunberg, who have raised their voices on climate change issues. Women have been courageous enough to cross the patriarchal boundaries time and again.
India Has Made Some Progress Of Late
Education of women has indeed been fruitful. This is also visible from the recently released NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey), which shows an improvement in India’s sex ratio. Currently, there are 1,020 women per every 1,000 men.
Besides, India’s fertility rate has also fallen to two children per woman. This change has been possible only because women have been able to access education. Hence, they are participating in decision making and engaging in better family planning.
As the famous proverb goes: “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But, if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
However, these seemingly small milestones have in no way damaged the roots of patriarchy. Societies across the world continue to exist in a patriarchal setup, more or less. Such a setup has not just widened the gender gap, but has several other social implications also.
All Religious Fundamentalists Are Sexist
Religious fundamentalism is one such implication. The worldwide rise in fundamentalism is sanctioned by the same patriarchal, moral code of superiority. One of the central points of fundamentalist propaganda is a conservative ideology of gender.
All of the fundamentalist forces, irrespective of their religious leanings, proclaim the specific agenda of restoring the centrality of the family and home, in the life of women. By doing so, they want to retain the patriarchal control over her sexuality.
For example, vigorous implementation of the prohibition of religious conversions in Uttar Pradesh. Countries not offering rights-based, abortion care; or denying marriage equality stems from the same sentiment.
In addition to this, fundamentalism also complements the caste system. I believe that the caste hierarchy in India is legitimised by the Hindu doctrine of karma and reincarnation. The caste system has religious sanction and by virtue of the same, it has become sacred and eternal.
The Caste System Continues To Perpetuate Misery
The social barriers created by caste system is highly prevalent in India. Also, both fundamentalism and casteism have a strong opposition to modernism. While modernism supports liberalism and secularism, the caste system still has deep roots in the Indian society.
Instances of honour killings, atrocities against Dalit people and the legitimate demand for a caste-based census, confirms the very fact that though India might have achieved many things via adopting modernity, it is still shackled by casteism.
Despite having a fundamental right to marry a person of one’s choice under Article 21, most of us are forbidden by an inexorable, social law to marry outside our caste groups. According to a study, hardly 4% Indian youths preferred inter-caste marriages.
Similarly, as a consequence of casteism and patriarchy, most of the Dalits in India are forced to live an undignified life. Government data also suggests that 97% of sanitation workers (or manual scavengers) belong to the scheduled castes.
Casteism And Fundamentalism Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin
They are forced to work without protective gear and for almost negligible incentives. Moreover, the conviction rates of the cases in which the survivor is from a scheduled caste is also very low in India.
According to the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), in 2019, less than 60% (56%) of cases involving survivors from the scheduled castes is chargesheeted; and less than 40% (32%) of such cases resulted in convictions.
Having said this, systemic violence against Adivasi groups is also prevalent in India. Often, they are framed up in false cases and are imprisoned for crimes they have never committed. Thus, their lives are ruined. It is, therefore, high time to sensitise the criminal justice system by bringing in ethical reforms as soon as possible.
While the secular, socialist and democratic principles enshrined in the constitution, demand equality of outcomes, the inherent caste-related inequality continues to dominate reality in the Indian society. Therefore, casteism and fundamentalism are the two sides of the same coin moulded in patriarchy.
The rising terrorism can also be seen as a consequence of patriarchy. Terrorist organisations are against women’s freedoms. This can be ascertained from the fact that recently, when the Taliban reconquered Afghanistan, Afghan women were afraid about losing all their rights and freedom.
We Need To Come Together For Social Equality
There was panic in and around Afghanistan. Images of women throwing their babies over police barricades and abandoning them, was heartbreaking. It is known that the Taliban is strongly against women’s education and their right to work.
Years ago, the now Noble laureate, Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani youth activist, had revolted against the orthodoxy of the Taliban. She daringly advocated for women and girls’ education in her village, when the Taliban banned girls from attending schools.
Later, she survived assassination attempts by the Taliban in Pakistan and became an inspiration for many, across the world.
Thus, patriarchy is the least noticed, yet the most significant structure of social inequality. Establishing social equality—equality between men, women and trans people—has to be the first religion of mankind. For this, everyone has to work together. Though this journey may be long, it is not impossible.
If sensitivity, compassion, love and non-violence are feminine qualities; and if cruelty, violence, inhumanity and atrocity are masculine qualities, then, to make the society progressive and modern, more feminine qualities are needed.