Patriarchy

The patriarchy is a social, cultural system and an ideological construct that has historically concentrated power in men, beginning with the organization of the household, where the man was seen as the figure of authority. This model extended to other spaces, placing women and other identities in positions of inequality. It operates in personal relationships, but also in spaces such as the home, work, politics, and culture, perpetuating gender inequalities at a structural level. It is not fixed: it takes different forms depending on time and context, adapting to different social systems. The concept, developed and politicized by various feminist movements, makes it possible to understand violence and inequality as effects of a broader social organization.

The patriarchy is related to heteropatriarchy, as it not only organizes power according to gender, but also privileges heterosexuality as the norm. It also has an epistemological dimension, as it influences which forms of knowledge are considered valid and which are rendered invisible, especially those produced by women and other marginalized identities. The cooperatives Las Gildas, Pandora Mirabilia, and La Ortiga Colectiva in Spain help challenge patriarchy by creating spaces where women can share their experiences and support one another. Through collective work, they break with traditional norms and promote autonomy, strength, and equality.

In contemporary contexts, patriarchy manifests in issues such as gender-based violence, wage inequality, and the unequal distribution of care work. Patriarchy and capitalism reinforce each other, as the current economic system benefits from women’s unpaid labor and the unequal distribution of resources. In addition, capitalism reinforces discourses and practices that adapt to each era and normalize these inequalities, through silence or invisibilization. The effects of this system are not homogeneous; they should be understood through an intersectional lens, as they intersect with factors such as ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, social class, or migratory status.

References:

• Lorde, Audre. La hermana, la extranjera: artículos y conferencias. Madrid: Horas y horas, 2003.
• Puleo, Alicia H. Ser feministas: pensamiento y acción. Ediciones Cátedra, 2020.
• Crenshaw, Kimberlé. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, 1991, pp. 1241–1299.

Authors of the post:

Anabel Cardoza, Yomary Carrillo Tequia, Carolina Cassese De Vasconcellos Serelle, Patricio D’Acunti, Giuliana Da Veiga, Denisse Mendoza Jaimes, Sebastián Molina, Judith Moore, Yatzary Sinai Soria, Rodrigo Zavala-Cintora, Ofelia Ferrán.