Definition: Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control over property. In this system, fathers or father-figures hold authority over women and children in a family.
Etymology and Origin: The word “patriarchy” comes from the Greek words “πατήρ” (patēr), meaning “father,” and “ἄρχω” (archō), meaning “to rule.” The term entered the English language in the mid-17th century, originally referring to the social and legal recognition of the father as the head of the household, with extended applications in sociology and feminism.
