Introduction
Domestic violence remains one of the largest social issues and has extensive consequences on the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the world. Although more attempts have been made regarding creating awareness and campaigning against domestic violence, lots of women are still experiencing abuse from their loving partners and cannot perform the breakaway that looks simple and straight forward. The purpose is to explore how abused women are forced to stay in abusive relationships. This paper argues that patriarchy as a system reproduces the oppression of women by forcing them to stay in abusive relationships. This paper discusses the following sub-issues: 1) patriarchy as a system, 2) how patriarchy hinders women from access to resources, and 3) how abused women are forced to stay in abusive relationships.
Patriarchy as a System
Patriarchy serves as the foundational structure upon which many societies are built, privileging men at the expense of women’s autonomy and agency.Embedded in gender imbalances in history, patriarchal systems become a tool of gender discrimination which maintain and recommend hierarchical positions between men and women (Johnson & Dawson, 2011). Patriarchy is expressed through the different ways in which men hold power in society, together with the establishment of their dominance and authority, which shape social norms, cultural practices, and interpersonal relationships (Ökten, 2019). These patriarchal structures not only give males more power and resources but also reinforce the negative gender stereotypes, and reinforce the subjugation of women.
Patriarchal structures are powerfully maintained by a combination of formal and informal mechanisms that lead women to be dependant and beholden to men (Chaudhuri et al., 2014). In several societies, patriarchal norms define gender roles and expectations, which then list with the frequent behaviours and responsibilities given to men and women. In this way, these gender-stereotyped expectations not only serve as the reason why women have no access to resources and chances but also encourage negative stereotypes and attitudes to flourish and perpetuate violence against women. Such as, masculinity is usually linked to strength, dominance, and aggressiveness while femininity is associated with submissiveness, passivity, and dependency (Obie, 2018). Gender norms aside from one person’s behaviour also affect other collective institutions and systems, thus making men occupy more powerful positions and continue discriminating against other people based on gender.
Moreover patriarchal systems are sustained and strengthened through cultural rituals and beliefs that attach value and supremacy to men authority and rule. In most societies, there are entrenched patriarchal ideologies in cultures, religious teachings, and societal traditions, which are used to justify and legitimize male dominance over women (Ökten, 2019). To illustrate, traditional marriage vows usually have a declaration of submissiveness and obedience of a wife, therefore enforcing the idea of male authority in the marriage. On the other side, gender roles and believes are being imposed in religious teachings and interpretations which regard the crucial role of men and their control over women by the society’s interpretation of religious scriptures. This paper intends to achieve this by analyzing how the cultural norms and values reproduce the patriarchy and, therefore, contribute significantly to the suppression of women and the cycle of abuse in intimate relationships.
Moreover, the existence of patriarchal systems is built on the institutional structures and practices that emphasis on male interests and undermine female inheritance thus perpetuating the tradition of gender-based inequalities. Patriarchal regulations and policies are constructed to uphold male dominance values, which put male rights ahead of women’s autonomy and freedom (Johnson & Dawson, 2011). For instance, law enforcement systems may not effectively protect women from domestic violence or provide access to resources and support services, thus allowing the cycle of abuse and victimization to continue. Likewise, women may experience discrimination in certain economic sectors by way of access to job opportunities, income, and financial resources, which will add up to their vulnerability to violence and abuse. This paper shows the institutional structures and the power of practices in the perpetuation of patriarchal systems. It gives the overall picture of how systemic inequalities promote women’s oppression and reinforce abuse effects in intimate relationships.
Patriarchy’s Impact on Access to Resources
One of the key mechanisms through which patriarchy perpetuates the oppression of women is by limiting their access to resources and opportunities for independence.A central way patriarchy enforces the exploitation of women is by denying them the chance to obtain resources and means of independence. For example, economic dependence leads to women staying in abusive relationships because they have no financial means to leave or reserve the necessary money to support themselves and their children (Mahjebeen, 2017). Besides, patriarchal ideologies determine gender roles and norms as women are forced to settle for the domestic spheres. In contrast, men have been the ones exhibiting the economic skills and handling all the decision-making matters. These biased disparities in the distribution of resources to women result in a state where women are kept vulnerable, suppressing their freedom, and cannot escape the oppressive relationship.
Economic inequality is another characteristic of the patriarchal system, and women are in a worse position to face poverty, unemployment, and barriers to education and healthcare (Toffanin, 2012). Often, in many societies, women are allocated to jobs that are underpaid, insecure, and have very little chance to boost economically or be more financially secure. The financial dependence on men not only restricts women in their capacity to leave the abuse but also sustains the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. However, patriarchal norms exercise strict control over women’s lives, defining them as caretakers of families and homes, leaving them with hardly any time and energy to find economic independence or a storehouse of their own (Toffanin, 2012). Through the investigation of the interworking of patriarchy and economic disparities, the paper attempts to lay ground for a better understanding of how systemic barriers to resource access help to sustain abusive relations and the suppression of women.
Additionally, patriarchy impedes women’s involvement in social support systems and systems that can help them abandon abusive relationships and resume their normal lives. Isolation is the extreme approach used by abusers to control the victims, limiting their access to family, friends, and other help sources (Mahjebeen, 2017). In addition, the way of thinking and the stigma of our societies cause women to refrain from asking for help or disclosing their experience; as a consequence, women are denied the social support network. This social isolation also increases the stress, anxiety and self-doubt beyond the physical and emotional abuse that is already present. This paper aims to illustrate that the interplay of patriarchy and social support would reveal the issue of system barriers to resource acquisition as the perpetrators of abusive relationships and the oppression of women.
Patriarchy obstructs women’s right to formal legal and institutional help that would help them leave abusive relationships and punish their abusers (Johnson and Dawson, 2011). In most societies, legal systems do not fully take steps to prevent women from suffering from domestic violence and do not offer them access to potential justice and correction. The enforcement of laws may be inconsistent, or abusers are not punished as strictly as before, which leads to more abuse of victims. In addition, institutional responses to domestic violence are not sufficient and unsuitable. Thus, the wave of abuse and retraumatization is furthered. An attempt is made to establish the link between patriarchy and the legal protections which are used to demonstrate how systemic barriers to resource access enable and preserve abusive relationships and subjugate women.
Forced Compliance and Subjugation
In the context of abusive relationships, patriarchy is a source of pressure that makes women bow to their abuser’s demands, stay silent, and become victims of domestic violence. Patriarchal worldviews which promote male dominance and female submissiveness propagate the story of the subservient wife who has to suffer in the name of family unification (Mahjebeen, 2017). Furthermore, the shame and stigma of being assaulted usually keep women from either getting help or disclosing their experiences, which makes them even more aloof and withdrawn from helpful sources like families or friends. The normalization of violence against women under patriarchal societies is still a culture of silence and immunity, which allows the perpetrators to go scot-free, and the survivors are blamed or stigmatized when they dare to speak up. This culture of victim blaming serves to uphold the patriarchal status quo where the women are made accountable for the acts of violence against them and are to maintain silence over their experiences.
In addition, patriarchal systems stay relevant and are passed on through the social norms and traditions which put the men at the centre of authority and power (Toffanin: 2012). Patriarchal perspectives, which are a part of socio-cultural norms, religious beliefs and customs of many societies, can be seen as the means of legitimization and normalization of male dominance over women. Traditionally, marriage vows usually contain a clause where the wife vows to obey her husband, which uplifts the male authority within the marital arrangement. Just like that, religious doctrines and translations mainly exert patriarchal ideals and increase the gender gap that endorses the oppression of Women in religious and cultural contexts.
In addition, patriarchal systems are also maintained and upheld by institutional structures and practices which emphasize male interests and that also imply gender-based inequalities (Johnson & Dawson, 2011). This is the case in many societies, where the legislation, laws, policies and institutions were shaped based on patriarchal norms and values, favouring male power and will instead of female autonomy and ability to act. Such gender-biased laws that do not sufficiently prosecute domestic violence and offer adequate support to female victims lead to cycles of abuse and the continued subjugation of the female populace. Additionally, employment conditions, wage rates, and access to financial resources can be made unequal for women by the economic systems, making the situation worse than it already is.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper discusses the deep patriarchal existence to continue with the victimization and suppression of women who are in abusive relationships. Through the continual denial of their rights, power, and ability, patriarchy makes them lose their freedom and forces them to endure violence without reaction. It is essential to change the patriarchal structures and norms, to empower women to claim their rights and autonomy, and to render support services for the survivors of domestic violence. Destroying patriarchy and promoting gender equality is the only route that can lead to a society free from abuse and oppression through which women will no longer be slaves to the system.
References
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Johnson, H., & Dawson, M. (2011). Violence against women in Canada: Research and policy perspectives. Oxford University Press.
Mahjebeen, J. (2017). Women’s Vulnerabilities, Women’s Voices: Narratives on Patriarchies and Domestic Violence in Assam. ANTYAJAA: Indian Journal of Women and Social Change, 2(2), 166-179.
Obie, M. (2018). Violence against women in Muna, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia (A perspective of gender sociology). The Social Science, 13(1), 154-9.
Ökten, Ş. (2019). Domestic violence and patriarchy in Turkey. European Journal of Social Science Education and Research, 6(3), 102-110.
Toffanin, A. M. (2012). Research on violence against women. A sociological perspective. Interdisciplinary Journal of Family Studies, 17(1).
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