Why Men and Women Are At War: Part Two

 Before I continue on with my story, I am going to provide some information that will help further add context to the story. My parents didn't start the war nor did anyone else who is alive during this present time. The beginning of the war started many, many years ago...

Patriarchy-is a social construct where men predominantly wield power.

The origins of patriarchy began when the nomadic-hunter and gatherer lifestyle gave way to agriculture. The accumulation of agricultural surplus brought about a need for workers to harvest the land. Land ownership and surplus of food made men wealthy and with that wealth came power. The rise of access to resources led to the oppression of women because they were viewed as not being useful to do the demanding and physical work required. Because of this, women were expected to take on all roles domestic. These roles limited their opportunities and autonomy. The long-lasting perception of women’s lack of value outside of being a wife and mother are still prevalent today. Patriarchy has created misogyny, gender inequality and has stabilized stereotypes that have kept women from progressing and victims of violence.

According to Angela Saini “The first clear signs of women being treated categorically differently from men appear much later, in the first states in ancient Mesopotamia, the historical region around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Around 5000 years ago, administrative tablets from the Sumerian city of Uruk in southern Mesopotamia show those in charge taking great pains to draw up detailed lists of population resources.” (Populationmedia.org)

It is no surprise that the origins of patriarchy would lead back to countries like Iraq where the practice of it is off the chain still today.

“Person power is the key to power in general,” explains political scientist and anthropologist James School at Yale University whose research has focused on early agrarian states. The elites in these early societies needed people to be available to produce a surplus of resources for them, and to be available to defend the state—even to give up their lives, if needed, in times of war. Maintaining population levels put an inevitable pressure on families. Over time, young women were expected to focus on having more and more babies, especially sons who would grow up to fight. (Populationmedia.org)

Let’s break this down. In a nutshell, those who practice patriarchy believe the male is most important to society especially those with wealth and therefore power. They believe both are gained through accumulating land and selling items. They also believe there must be men available to protect the land and items, therefore, women must be used to carry the offspring and take full responsibility for their nurturance and growth. We are presently witnessing patriarchy at its worst with the reversal of Roe v Wade. This decision was made mainly by men and unfortunately supported by women who obviously do not understand the implications of what it means to have men telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. The major effects of patriarchy are:

Gender inequality which leads to lack of availability to education, employment and equal income. Women are rarely paid the equivalent of men for doing the same job.

Gender based violence is one of the most heinous biproducts of patriarchy. It is the physical manifestation of male dominance and control over women. This belief is the catalyst for domestic violence, rape culture and sexual harassment.

The right to reproduce or not is consistently challenged by patriarchal views. It consistently tries to keep women from doing what they want with their bodies by limiting access to contraception and safe abortions.

The media has always reflected patriarchal views by perpetuating gender stereotypes and displaying women as objects.

Feminism-Feminism has become a bad word, and it is only because it has to do with women seeking to display their autonomy, to earn equal pay for equal work, to be a part of the political arena, to eradicate sexism and misogyny and to have support with childcare so that women can work outside the home. Feminism is women seeking to have say over their reproductive choices and to be free of violence put upon them simply because they are viewed as “the weaker sex.”

To be continued....