1. Patriarchy
Gender discrimination is one of the problems in a patriarchy system. According to Walby
1990: 20, patriarchy is “a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women.” This belief is
socially constructed in the society which considers men are more superior to women. Another scholar, Millet in Carter
, 2006: 94 explains patriarchy as “all- pervasive and treats females universally as inferior. In both public and private life
the female is subordinate.” Both scholars argue that patriarchy is the form of women subordination that oppress and exploit women in family and social life. In
patriarchy, women are subordinated and men hold the highest authority. Men control women in all of life aspects. Another scholar Morris 1993: 4 defines
patriarchy as “self-sustaining structures of power, by means of which women’s interests are always ultimately subordinated to male interests.” It means that in
patriarchy, men suspend women’s rights to do what they want. Therefore, women in patriarchal society are always subordinated by men power and right. This belief
constructs patriarchy as an ideology, which is widely and universally accepted by people who live in patriarchal society.
Patriarchal ideology is the cause of gender discrimination that distinguishes men and women based on their biological traits and it constructs
women role. Millet in Tong, 2009: 52 states that patriarchal ideology “exaggerates biological differences between men and women, making certain that
men always have the dominant, or masculine roles, and women always have the subordinate, or feminine o
nes.” In other words, patriarchal ideology works based
on the distinction between physical appearance of men and women and form what so called as masculine and feminine. Masculine roles dominate the society and
subordinated feminine roles. Patriarchal ideology is strongly dominant in oppressing women in many institutions such as church, family even states because
discrimination is the core in patriarchy. Patriarchy prohibits women not only to participate in social agenda but
also limits the rights of women in the domestic life. Eisenstein in Beechey, 1978: 67 argues that patriarchy manifests in women’s role as mother, domestic labourer
and consumer in the family. In other words, women have no opportunity to devote themselves outside the family. Hence, they cannot develop themselves to gain
their rights in public life. In patriarchy, domestic and private sphere are deserved for women who have role as housewives and mothers while political sphere and
public sphere are exclusively for men. Unfortunately, patriarchy takes control over not only women but also
children. Lerner in Sultana, 2011: 3 defines patriarchy in wider definition as “the
manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in family and society in general.” Based on the above quotation, it is
clear that patriarchal society also sees children as inferior because they are less capable and less skilled than adult. Therefore, children will be easily oppress and
discriminate because society think that children will accept any oppression and discrimination without having power or willingness to fight against it. Thus,
patriarchal society intimidates weak objects; women and children, to be under the controlled of men’s authorities.
2. Gender Discrimination toward Women
Kategori