Patriarchal society

Patriarchy and feminism

The extended presence of patriarchal structures has led to the establishment of feminist ideals over centuries (Brunell). Several prominent fronts led to and continue to push the development of feminism; including paid and unpaid labor and expectations of gender roles (Thompson). Men are traditionally viewed as the breadwinners in a patriarchal society, and women are seen as homemakers. Formal job occupations outside of the home, traditionally carried out by men in a patriarchal society, are paid labor. Any work done inside of the home without financial compensation, traditionally carried out by women in patriarchal societies, is unpaid labor. Until 1974, women in the United States were not allowed to have their bank accounts, which pushed the financial divide further and placed men in higher economic positions (Adam). The uneven financial compensation between these levels of labor is one of the factors that pushed feminist ideals forward.