patriarchal structure
Father-ruled social order
A patriarchal structure is a social organization in which men hold primary power and authority—in government, family, religion, or institutions.
The term describes systems where leadership, inheritance, and decision-making flow through male lines: The company's patriarchal structure meant women rarely reached executive positions.
Often used critically to identify gender-based power imbalances.
- masculinityMale gender characteristics
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- chain of commandFormal authority hierarchy
- power imbalanceUnequal distribution of control
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
breadwinner role · government · intersectionality · male dominance · head of household · man of the house · bureaucracy · honor culture · male privilege · boys' club · feudalism · femininity · heteronormativity · emotional labor · chauvinism · paternalism · corporate hierarchy · caste system
patriarchal structureegalitarian society
Group with equal status
egalitarianism · gender equality · flat hierarchy · shared leadership
patriarch, patriarchy, patriarchs, patriarchies, paternal, paternity, patrimony, patriot, patriotic