Definition of patriarchal

The word "patriarchal" originated in the 15th century from the Greek words "patria" meaning "fatherland" and "archē" meaning "ruler". In Christianity, a patriarch was the bishop of a major eparchy or metropolitan see, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Over time, the term "patriarchal" came to be used to describe a system of society or culture in which men hold authority and power over women, often accompanied by the assumption of superiority or dominance. In this sense, a patriarchal society is one in which men hold control over women's lives, making decisions for them, controlling their access to education, employment, and other resources, and enforcing a rigid gender hierarchy. This term is often used in feminist and gender studies to describe and criticize systems of inequality and oppression based on gender.