Gender Notes

Describe Gender
According to American gender theorist Judith Butler, a person's gender is complex,
encompassing countless characteristics of appearance, speech, movement and other factors not
solely limited to biological sex. Societies tend to have binary gender systems in which everyone
is categorized as male or female. Some societies include a third gender role; for instance, the
Native American Two-Spirit people and the Hijras of India.

Gender is a social classification based on one's identity, presentation of self, behavior, and
interaction with others. Sociologists view gender as learned behavior and a culturally produced
identity, and as such, it is a social category. Gender is how society thinks we should look, think,
and act as girls and women and boys and men. Each culture has beliefs and informal rules about
how people should act based on their gender. For example, many cultures expect and encourage
men to be more aggressive than women.

The term Gender Role was coined by John Money in a seminal 1955 paper where he defined
it as all those things that a person says or does to disclose himself or herself as having the status
of boy or man, girl or woman.

Gender Identity is how you feel inside and how you show your gender through clothing,
behavior, and personal appearance. It’s a feeling that begins early in life.

Gender is a multi-faceted social system. Gender is largely based on society and culture. There are
some consistencies, but it can be concluded that gender is not predetermined based on sex.
Gender is a multifaceted reality that is culturally constructed and socially determined by society.
In other words, gender portrays culturally and socially constructed roles, responsibilities,
privileges, relations and expectations of women and men. Because these are socially constructed,
they can change over time and differ from one place to another. Gender refers to behavioral
differences between males and females that are culturally based and socially learned. Some
theorists suggest that the biological differences between men and women also result in their
mental and physical differences. They argue that biologically, men are physically and mentally
superior to women. Other theorists suggest that the biological differences between men and
women are exaggerated.

The differences are socially constructed by the patriarchal system of society by which men are
described as superior to women. Therefore women become subordinate to men in the society.
Biological and physical characteristics of men and women are different. Society also determines
some of the different characteristics of men and women at the social and cultural level. It is
mainly about women being cowardly, men being brave, women being weak, men being strong,
women being tolerant, men being aggressive, women being emotional, men being capable,
women being submissive, men being dominant and ambitious. Societies are not created by
nature. This gives rise to the term gender. Society expects men and women to behave differently.
In general, society has stated certain things about what a woman should do, how she should
behave, mainly housework, cooking, child rearing are related to women, while men are expected
to do hard work outside the family.

Characteristic of Gender
Gender is somewhat based on socio-cultural norms and it is completely man made in nature.
Gender refers to masculine and feminine qualities, behavior patterns, roles and responsibilities.
Gender is variable. It changes from time to time, culture to culture and family to family.

Meaning of Patriarchy
"Patriarchy" originally meant the rule of the father or patriarch, describing families where men
held power over women, children, and servants. Now, it's used to talk about how men dominate
women in society. It includes the idea that men are better than women and should control them.
This belief influences many aspects of life, like religion and how women are treated at home and
in public. So, patriarchy is a system that keeps women down both at home and in society.
Some examples to clarify how patriarchy is evident in daily life.
1. When a man loudly argues and insists on his opinion, not letting others, especially
women, speak, it's often called "aggressively patriarchal."
2. If a woman complains about sexual harassment at her job and all the men in her office
deny it could happen, their thinking can be called "typically patriarchal.”
Patriarchy is not just about women being controlled. It's been noted that not all men hold power
in a patriarchal setup. For instance, younger men in families have less authority until they grow
older. Also, men from lower classes, like Dalits in India, have less or no authority compared to
upper-class men. These oppressed men often lack access to society's resources and struggle with
their own masculine identity. Despite this, men generally find it easier to access resources and
power than women in their families or communities. In lower-caste families, boys usually get
better food, schooling, and healthcare than girls. Another example is eunuchs in India who reject
traditional masculinity and are often ridiculed, especially those from lower castes and classes.
Worldwide, patriarchal, hierarchical gender structures still dominate today. One example is the
use of the family name of the man after marriage. Another is the gender pay gap: in the labour
market, women are generally paid less than men. Raising children and unpaid care work are
mostly performed by women. Furthermore, around the world there are many more women and
girls who have no access to education.
Patriarchy in Indian Society
The word 'patriarchy' means 'father's rule' and goes back to the 17th century. It's about
households where men have power over everyone else. Nowadays, it's used to talk about how
men dominate women and keep them under control. Feminists often use this word to talk about
these power imbalances. In India, there are discussions about how patriarchy keeps women
subservient to men, denying them their rights and opportunities. This belief that men are better
than women means men have all the power and rights at home, in the community, and in the
government. Women have less access to resources and decision-making because of this. When
we talk about capitalism and women's subordination, we're looking at how the modern state and
patriarchy play a role. Women are often left out of discussions about development because
policies don't consider their needs.

A woman plays a crucial role in society. She forms a family, which makes a home, and together
they build a community, which shapes a country. For a country to thrive, women need to lead
development projects. In India, discussions about women's roles are ongoing as more women
notice the unfair treatment they face. Women are a valuable asset in fighting poverty and
violence worldwide, yet their potential is often overlooked, especially when things are stable. In
the past, Indian culture revered women, considering the birth of a girl a blessing. However,
traditional beliefs and a male-dominated society limited women to traditional roles like
childbearing and caregiving. Even today, women juggle personal and professional duties, often
without support from their husbands. They face challenges like family pressure and sexual
harassment at home and work. Despite these obstacles, women contribute significantly to social
and economic progress. A society that doesn't value women's contributions is missing out on half
of its potential workforce. India needs to recognize and support women in leadership roles more
effectively.

Due to Hindu tradition and law, from birth to death, women are raised to be dependent on men.
The implementation of patriarchy begins in the home through the process of socialization. While
boys are given educational opportunities, girls are expected to become homemakers. An
overarching consequence of this is that boys become decision-makers and girls then implement
the decisions of their husbands.

After marriage, women are expected to conceive as soon as possible to prove their fertility which
means that adolescent marriage is synonymous with adolescent childbearing. Once married,
women are expected to give birth to sons. Due to society’s preference for boy children rooted in
religious customs and traditional beliefs: it is important for the wife’s firstborn child to be a boy.
If not, she may have to give birth to many children waiting for a boy to be born. In Hinduism,
sons are valued because they are expected to look after their parents as they age, and they are the
only ones who can perform funeral rites. Therefore, it is both a practical necessity and a religious
duty to have a son. In many communities, this leads to the devaluation of female offspring. The
birth of a daughter is viewed as a curse and ‘the whole neighborhood weeps when a daughter is
born’. Some ethnic groups do not even view women as human and will respond to the birth of a
female child by saying ‘nothing was born’.

In Indian society, women were worshiped as mothers and gods; while on the other hand, women
were treated as secondary. Today, men often have more power in how families and work are
organized. For instance, when people get married, it's common for the woman to take the man's
last name. Also, in many jobs, women are paid less than men. Women also tend to do most of the
work of taking care of kids and doing unpaid caregiving.

Nature of Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a system where men have power over women, but how this control is exercised can
vary based on factors like caste, class, religion, race, and cultural practices. For example, Indian
women may experience patriarchy differently from women in the USA, and there are differences
between an upper caste Hindu woman and a tribal woman. Each society and historical period has
its own way of operating under patriarchy, with varying social and cultural practices. However,
some common characteristics found in every patriarchal society include hierarchical power
relations and unequal treatment between men and women.
a. Male Dominance: In a patriarchal system, men have all the power. They make
decisions in both society and their families, hold all the important jobs, and are seen as
better than women in every way.
b. Male Identification : In a patriarchal system, men often want to be seen as powerful
and in control. They value qualities like strength, being forceful, thinking logically,
working hard, and being competitive. These qualities are important for how men see
themselves in such a system.
c. Male Centeredness: In a patriarchal society, everything revolves around men and
what they do to progress society. Men are seen as the ones who lead and create
advancements. They are considered the heroes in every situation.
d. Obsession with control: In a patriarchal society, men are the ones in charge all the
time. They want to control everything in both social and family settings, making all the
decisions inside and outside the home. This shows that patriarchy is about men having
power over women.

Forms of Patriarchy
Patriarchy is an ideology that believes men are superior to women. This idea controls many
aspects of human life, including political, social, cultural, religious, and economic spheres. In her
work, "Theorising Patriarchy," Sylvia Walby discusses patriarchy as essential for understanding
gender inequality. She differentiates between two types of patriarchy: private and public.
Private patriarchy happens at home, where men control women's lives, including decisions
about family and work. Women often provide unpaid services in the household. This control
extends to women's reproductive rights as well.
Public patriarchy happens outside the home, where men control women's work and mobility.
Religion also plays a role, often portraying women as inferior. Legal systems are usually biased
towards men, especially in matters like marriage and inheritance. Women's contributions to
society are undervalued, and they have less power in politics and education. Patriarchal values
are learned early and reinforced throughout life. Men have more power and are seen as superior,
leading to gender discrimination.

Private patriarchy exists within the household, where a man controls women indirectly at
home. The family is likely the most patriarchal institution, with a man often considered the head
of the family. He controls women's sexuality, labor, reproduction, and mobility. Women provide
unpaid services to their children, husband, and other family members throughout their lives.
Walby calls this a "patriarchal mode of production" where men's labor is taken advantage of by
their husbands and others in the household. The male makes all decisions within the family, and
women are not allowed to make decisions that affect them. Men also control women's
reproductive choices. In many societies, women do not have the power to decide how many
children they want, when to have them, or whether they can use contraception or end a
pregnancy. Radical feminists believe that women are mainly oppressed because of the burden of
childbirth and child-rearing. There is a hierarchy where men are considered superior and
dominant, while women are seen as inferior and subordinate. The family plays an important role
in teaching the next generation about patriarchal values. It is within the family that one learns
about domination, humiliation, subordination, and discrimination.

Public patriarchy involves men's control and dominance over women outside the home, in
areas such as work and public life. Men control women's labor, often forcing them to work for
low wages or limiting their freedom and movement with clothing requirements or restrictions on
interactions with men. Religion supports male authority by often depicting women as inferior or
sinful. Legal systems in many countries are patriarchal, giving men authority over marriage,
divorce, inheritance, and property. Men dominate economic institutions, owning most property
and setting the value of different activities.

Politics is also male-dominated, with women often used for vote banking and having little
representation in decision-making roles. Education has historically been controlled by men,
sidelining women's knowledge and experiences. Patriarchal values are instilled from childhood
through socialization, education, and religion. These values position men as superior and women
as dependent on men, leading to gender discrimination in society.