Patriarchy, a product of patriarchy

I am not here to defend patriarchy. 

I readily admit to the following and more.

Ø  If there are millions of females gone missing (mostly by not being born), patriarchy is to be blamed.

Ø  If commodification of women is the inescapable fact of life, trace it back to patriarchy.

Ø  If sexual harassment in public space is the order of the day, it is patriarchy that should bear the cross.

Ø  If Delhi is the rape capital of the world, step up patriarchy and accept your responsibility.

Ø  If girls are discouraged from going to school, you know where to turn your gaze – patriarchy.

Ø  If university science departments demand more of girl students, put the dominant power structure, patriarchy, in the dock.

The above is just one corner of the ills that plague our society, all on account of our patriarchal social system.

But, have I seen anyone discuss in a public forum, why patriarchy? How did this come about? What sustains it? How to weaken its hold on society? Is there any acknowledgment that this social system appears universal? Is patriarchy anchored in genetics? Or, is it memetic? Has any of our talking heads even mooted the possibility of patriarchy being the result of evolutionary psychology?

No.

We, both male and female, are good at beating our breasts. We blame the symptoms. We do not even acknowledge the probable existence of underlying causes. Do we blame patriarchy for this? That will be the easy way out, won’t it be?

Therefore, the problems are patriarchal in origin and the origin of patriarchy is in itself patriarchal. We have come a full circle. We really cannot do anything about it. So, let us go home, after taking part in the candle light vigils, our conscience soothed.

Raghuram Ekambaram