Is Britain still a Patriarchal Society?

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Joy Sharrock-Melrose                Tutor: Tom Smith        Module: SO2101

Is Britain still a Patriarchal Society?

Patriarchy is a concept of gender inequality.  Bilton, T et al (2002 pg 139) defines patriarchy as being “A term used by feminists to refer to an overarching system of male dominance, often involving the dominance of senior men over junior men as well as over women.”  In the 19th century women were often domesticated and rarely worked.  Women’s responsibilities lay with the children and chores around the home.  Men dominated 19th century Britain not only in state power, but also often in sex, employment, the family and within religion. The roots of male domination lie in a much earlier time and were arrived at for different reasons depending on the social class of the people.  There was also a cross over between classes as lower classes tried to mimic the upper classes.  Industrialisation and the division of labour also played a large part in this process. However the above aspects of patriarchy are going to be the areas this essay will examine to determine whether patriarchy exists in contemporary Britain.

This essay will begin to establish whether patriarchy exists in state power in Britain today.  It will look at the criminal justice system first as this seems to have the most to do with society on a day-to-day basis.  Statistics show that there are more male judges than women in the criminal justice system.  In Bocock, R. and Thompson, K. (1992 pg 37) women held 9.9% of the general management labour force in 1984.  This is also the case within other hierarchical occupations, which demonstrates how patriarchy still exists in Britain today.  The problem of more men than women within the judicial system is that men may have a biased or different view than women when it comes to deciding a verdict on a women offender.  Pollak’s (1960) theory suggests that men jurors may show signs of chivalry towards women offenders because of stereotyped ideas.  However a woman juror may also have a biased view of a male offender.  Box, S (1983) concurs that the majority of research on chivalry does not give clear support to the view that women receive more lenient treatment.  To prove that women are treated less chivalrously now than previously there would have to be some statistical control.  It is said that men can give harsher sentences especially in cases of murder where a wife murders her husband.  This type of murder is often premeditated.  

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Another aspect of state power that has great relevance in society and in relation to gender issues is the police force.  Reiner, R. (1994) ‘policing the police’ explains his theory of ‘cop culture’ in which the police world is infused by ‘machismo’ which is found to be evident in recruitment and promotion.  There are several recent cases of sex discrimination that have been settled out of court.  Reiner’s studies show that the promotions and deployment decisions made by the older, more powerful group of male officers, which may discriminate against women officers, will be perpetuated as younger male officer’s ...

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