Patriarchy

Patriarchy is a social system that is based on the belief and associated practices
that men are authority figures in most, if not all, social structures. This places
male figures in positions of POWER in structures such as families and
communities as well as giving them ACCESS and priority to governance.
Patriarchy is
enshrined in practices such as inheritance, whereby older male children inherit
CAPITAL from their parents, or in marriage practices, whereby a woman is given
away by her father and then adopts her husbands surname. Feminists have
challenged and deconstructed patriarchy, showing it to be maintained by
patriarchal discourses, for example, those which construct men as being
natural or good leaders.