Patriarchal culture is one of the biggest barriers in ending violence against women. The system provides cultural support to men for undermining women. The system institutionalizes male power over women and puts male interests and values at the centre of social life. It allows or encourage men to exploit women.
The supporters of patriarchal society justify patriarchy by attributing natural biological differences between men and women. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle portrayed women as inferior to men morally, intellectually and physically. Patriarchal society gives absolute priority to men and some extent limits women’s human rights.
The patriarchal mindset gave birth to the masculinity and femineity in which both men and women are associated with some attributes, behaviours and roles that are acceptable and appropriate for people based on their gender ignoring the fact that both men (boys) and women (girls) can exhibit Masculine and Feminine traits and behaviour.
For instance, Women are supposed to be shy, passive and submissive. Men are expected to be tough, aggressive, dominant and self-confident. Women are supposed to cook, do housework and raise children. On the other hand, men cannot cook, do house chores or babysit. Women are expected to be beautiful, slim, clear skin and delicate while men are supposed to be tall, rough and muscular. Even jobs are gender-stereotyped, firefighting is thought of as a man’s job, whereas nursing is thought of as women’s work.
It is considered that women’s role in society is to reproduce and serve men in the household. All these gender-based beliefs lead to gender discrimination and unequal or unfair treatment to women.
Men who think they are superior, their destructive beliefs and expectations about what it means to be a man provoke them to show their manhood, strength and power through violence and aggression. More often than not, toxic masculinity ends up inflicting violence on women.
Patriarchy and toxic masculinity have an immense impact on the lives of women in every field of life. For instance, in government women have less formal power and representation. In the household, they are considered a machine who produce the children and raise them. Moreover, they are more likely to being abused physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially and economically. They have fewer opportunities in professional life and also paid less. They are treated negatively in terms of sexuality. They are more misrepresented and used as a commodity in media and popular culture.
Patriarchy does not necessarily mean that every man has control over every woman in every context. all men do not participate or experience patriarchy in the same way. Various groups, most notably the feminist movement, have led efforts to change aspects of patriarchy that they believe are oppressive or inaccurate.
Considering the situation “White Ribbon Campaign” is striving to eradicate violence against women with a unique approach of addressing the patriarchal mindset of induvial and society. It engages men to end the violence because men can play a significant role in ending violence against women by changing their behaviour towards women, challenging other abusive men and convincing others to stop violence against women too.
Working with men and boys can offer new models of masculinity and manhood, which reject gender violence and build respect for women and girls.
White Ribbon’s men engagement campaign engages decision-makers and opinion leaders who hold a good position in the society to get political, financial, and moral support in ending violence against women
White Ribbon also uses the concept of Fatherhood because It can be a strong motivator for men who engage in violence to end it while keeping in view the better upbringing and developmental process of their children. It is well considered to be a part of a long-term solution to ending violence.
We will be able to witness less violence in society as more men will focus on caregiving, nurturing and making efforts to bring up their kids as better human beings. It will ultimately result in less violence against children, less violence against women and less violence against other men.