The term „sex" and „gender" are concepts used by

academicians, researchers and feminist writers to make a

distinction between the biologically different „male" and „female" and

between the socially different „man" and „woman".

In a very broad way, „sex" refers to the biological and

physiological differences between male and female sex. The term

sex is a physical differentiation between the biological male and the

biological female. Thus, when an infant is born, the infant comes to

be labeled “boy” or “girl” depending on their sex.

There is a biological difference between the

sexes and most people are born (expect for a few ambiguous

cases) as one sex or another. However, it has been argued that

having been born into one sex or another, individuals are then

socialized according to specific gender expectations and roles.

Biological males learn to take on masculine roles. They are

socialized to think and act in masculine ways. Biological females

learn to take on feminine roles. They are socialized to think and

behave in feminine ways.

At birth, besides the basic biological differences in the

genitals and reproductive organs, there is not much difference

between the male child and the female child. Society makes the

differences between boy and girl through gender constructions.

Judith Butler argues that sex is natural and comes first.

Gender is perceived as a secondary construct which is imposed

over the top of this natural distinction

This means that the

distinction between „male" and „female" is a social distinction made

by the society, that is, it is a social construction.

simple terms, gender explain the differences between men and

women in social terms as men, and as what a man can do; as

„woman", and as what a woman can or cannot do.

The term gender is also used to describe the differences in

behaviour between men and women which are described as

„masculine" and „feminine".

Some theorists suggest that the biological differences

between men and women also result in their mental and physical

differences.

hey argue that biologically, men are physically and

mentally superior to women. Other theorists suggest that the

biological difference 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.

Masculinity and feminity

The sex / gender differences raises the issues of male –

female; masculine and feminine, male associated with masculinity

and female with femininity. Patters of differences by gender is seen when the character

is either masculine or feminine. For example, pink and blue are

gendered colours, former regarded as „feminine" and the latter as

masculine. Further to be „strong" and „tough" is masculine. Being

„weak" and „soft" are associated with feminine character. There are

several other traits that are categorized as masculine and feminine.

The concepts of masculinity and femininity as need in

feminist discourses and writing to explain the differences between

their biology while others reject this argument and emphasize that

the differences are socially constructed.

PATRIARCHY
he question here is “what is patriarchy?” In casual conversation,

whether in English or any other language the term implies “male

domination”, “male prejudice (against women)”, or more simply

“male power”.

Patriarchy is

thus the rule of the father over all women in the family and also

over younger socially and economically subordinate males.

Literally, patriarchy means rule by the male head of a social unit

(like family, tribe).

When a man raises his voice in the course of an argument

and insects on his point of view, without letting others especially

women get to utter a single word, his actions are likely to be

described as “aggressively patriarchal”.

If a women complains of sexual harassment at her work

place, and all the men in her office deny that this could ever

happen. The reasoning of men can be described as being

“typically patriarchal”.

oth wifehood and motherhood become glorified in the

patriarchal system. These roles are granted social sanctions

women who are not fertile or

those who cannot bear children especially male are ridiculed and

held in contempt and their position in the family is a non-existent

one. The position of widow, especially upper caste widows under

the patriarchal system was even pitiable. Widow remarriage was

prohibited. The widow was excluded from also social and religious

functions of the family, confined to the house and household

For example in India, upper caste widows were

required to slave their heads, wear no ornaments, or colour

garments as they were viewed with suspicion

Patriarchy has been viewed as more than just the

subordination of women. It has been pointed out that not all men

are powerful in a patriarchal system.

For example younger men in

the family have less authority and power than older men. They

have to defer to older men till their turn to exercise power comes.

What do men control in the Patriarchal System : Different areas of women‟s lives are
said to be under patriarchal control. 1. Women’s productive or labour power : Men
control women‟s productivity both within the household and outside, in paid work. Within
the household women provide all kinds of services to their husbands, children and other
members of the family throughout their lives. Feminist writer Sylvia Walby calls this as
the “patriarchal mode of production” where women‟s labour is expropriated by then
husbands and others who live there. She calls housewives as the „producing class‟ and
husbands are the „expropriating class‟. The work done by housewives is not considered
as work at all and housewives become dependent on their husbands. Men also control
women‟s labour outside the home. They make women to sell their labour or they may
prevent their women from working. They may appropriate what women earn often
women are excluded from better paid work. They are usually working in jobs with low
wages; or work within the home in what is called home based production, which is itself
an exploitative system. This control over and exploitation of women‟s labour mean that
men benefit materially from patriarchy. They benefit economically from the subordination
of women. This is the material or economic basis of patriarchy.
2. Women’s Reproduction : Men also control women‟s reproductive power. In many
societies women have no control over then reproduction capacities. They cannot decide
how many children they want, whether to use contraceptives, or a decision to terminate
pregnancy. In addition men control social institutions like religion and politics which are
male dominated. Control is institutionalized by laying down rules regarding women‟s
reproduction capacity. For example, in the Catholic Church, the male religious hierarchy
decides whether men and women can use birth control contraceptives. In modern times,
the patriarchal state tries to control women‟s reproduction through its family planning
programmes. The state decides the optimum size of the country‟s population. In India for
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the birth control programme limits the family size and discourages women from having more
than two children. On the other hand, in Europe, where birth rates are low, women are lured
through various incentives have more children. Women are given long paid maternity leave,
child care facilities and opportunities for part-time jobs. Patriarchy idealises motherhood and
thereby forces women to be mothers. It also determines the conditions of their motherhood.
This ideology of motherhood is considered one of the bases of women‟s oppression. It also
creates feminine and masculine character types and perpetuates patriarchy. It restricts women‟s
mobility and it reproduces male dominance. 3. Control over Women’s Sexuality : Women are
obliged to provide sexual services to their husbands according to their needs and desires. Moral
and legal regulations exist to restrict the expression of women‟s sexuality outside marriage in
every society, while male promiscuity is often condoned. Another way of exercising control over
women‟s sexuality is when men force their wives, daughters or other women in their control
into prostitution. Rape and threat of rape is another way in which women‟s sexuality is
controlled through notions of „shame‟ and „honour‟, family honour. Lastly, women‟s sexuality is
controlled through their dress, behaviour and mobility which are carefully monitored by the
family and through social, cultural and religions codes of behaviour. 4. Women’s Mobility :
Besides control of women‟s sexuality, production and reproduction, men also control women‟s
mobility. The imposition of purdah restriction on leaving the house, limit on interaction between
the sexes are some of the ways by which the patriarchal society controls women‟s mobility and
freedom of movement. Such restriction are unique to women, while men are not subject to such
restrictions. 5. Property and other Economic Resources : most property and other productive
resources are controlled by men and are passed on from father to son. Even in societies where
women have legal rights to inherit property, customary practices, social sanctions and emotional
pressures that prevents them from acquiring control over them. According to UN statistics,
“Women do more than 60% of the hours of work done in the world, but they get 10% of the
world‟s income and own 1% of the world‟s property”. We have seen how men control different
areas of women‟s lives through the patriarchal order of the society.