How Male Domination Shaped the World
by Jeffrey Cooper
For thousands of years, the world has been ruled by one force: patriarchy.
✔ A system where men hold the power.
✔ A system where men make the rules.
✔ A system where men control governments, economies, and religions—while women are expected to serve, submit, and survive.
Patriarchy is the oldest power structure in human history.
And while some claim that “women are equal now,” the legacy of male dominance still shapes the world today.
The real question is:
How did patriarchy become the foundation of society—and can we ever break free from it?
The Origins of Patriarchy: How Did Men Take Control?
At the dawn of civilization, men and women played relatively equal roles.
✔ In hunter-gatherer societies, both men and women worked to provide food.
✔ Many Indigenous cultures were matriarchal, meaning women had equal—or even higher—status.
✔ Ancient goddesses were worshiped as the creators of life, honoring the power of the feminine.
So what changed?
As societies became more complex and agriculture took over, men realized that controlling land, wealth, and inheritance meant controlling women.
And so, patriarchy was born.
The Major Turning Points in Patriarchal Domination
Throughout history, men solidified their control through laws, religion, violence, and economic structures.
1. The Code of Hammurabi (1754 BCE) – Women as Property
One of the earliest legal codes, written in ancient Mesopotamia, established women as inferior to men.
✔ Wives and daughters were seen as property of their fathers or husbands.
✔ Women had no legal rights to own land or make independent choices.
✔ Men could divorce women easily—but women had no right to leave an abusive marriage.
This was one of the first written examples of patriarchy turned into law.
2. Ancient Greece and Rome – The Birth of Institutionalized Patriarchy
✔ Greek democracy? Only for men. Women had no political power.
✔ Roman law? Women were legally “children” forever. They always had to be under the authority of a father or husband.
✔ Education? Reserved for men. Women were expected to stay silent and obey.
Even today, many of our modern laws, governments, and philosophies are built on Greek and Roman foundations. And those foundations were unapologetically patriarchal.
3. The Rise of Major Religions – Using Faith to Control Women
While faith has been a source of strength for many, organized religion has often been used as a tool to enforce male dominance.
✔ Christianity – The Bible says Eve was made from Adam, and women must submit to men.
✔ Islam – In many interpretations, men can marry multiple women, but women cannot do the same.
✔ Hinduism – Women were expected to serve their husbands as part of their spiritual duty.
In almost every major religion, men were placed above women—by divine decree.
This wasn’t about faith.
This was about power.
4. The Witch Hunts (1400s–1700s) – The Fear of Independent Women
✔ In Europe and the American colonies, thousands of women were executed for “witchcraft.”
✔ Many of these women were simply healers, midwives, or outspoken women who challenged male authority.
✔ The real crime? Being women who refused to be controlled.
The message was clear:
Women who step out of line will be punished.
This psychological conditioning still exists today. Women who challenge power are often labeled as “hysterical,” “emotional,” or “dangerous.”
5. The Industrial Revolution (1800s) – Keeping Women in the Home
✔ As men built factories and corporate empires, they decided that a “woman’s place” was in the home.
✔ Women were barred from most jobs and denied access to education.
✔ The ideal woman was one who served her husband, raised children, and had no voice of her own.
Even today, women are still fighting for equal pay, equal opportunity, and control over their own bodies. The old systems never fully disappeared.
The Power of Patriarchy Today: Does It Still Exist?
Many argue that patriarchy is over because women can vote, work, and run for office.
But let’s look at the reality:
✔ Only 10% of world leaders are women.
✔ Women still earn less than men in nearly every industry.
✔ Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
✔ In the U.S., men still control the laws that govern women’s bodies.
So, has patriarchy really ended? Or has it just evolved?
Why Patriarchy Persists: The Fear of Women’s Power
The reason patriarchy never fully disappears is simple:
✔ Men in power fear what happens when women rise.
✔ Men fear a world where they are no longer in control.
✔ Men fear that if women truly had equal power, they would rewrite the rules.
Because deep down, they know:
Women have always been the stabilizing force of civilization.
✔ They bring life into the world.
✔ They hold families and communities together.
✔ They have led revolutions, movements, and societies—even while being suppressed.
If women had been fully empowered from the beginning, the world would look completely different today.
And that terrifies the men who have benefited from patriarchy for generations.
Can We Ever Dismantle Patriarchy?
Yes—but only if we confront it head-on.
✔ Educate people about the historical oppression of women.
✔ Challenge the laws and systems that still enforce gender inequality.
✔ Stop accepting the idea that men should “naturally” be in charge.
✔ Raise boys who respect and value women as equals.
✔ Support women in positions of power, leadership, and influence.
Patriarchy was built over thousands of years.
Dismantling it won’t happen overnight.
But history has proven that when women refuse to stay silent, the world has no choice but to listen.
Final Thought: The Future Without Patriarchy
Imagine a world where:
✔ Women are no longer controlled, silenced, or oppressed.
✔ Men and women truly share power and responsibility.
✔ We build societies based on fairness, not outdated gender roles.
That world is possible.
But only if we stop pretending patriarchy is gone—when it’s still shaping the world around us.
The fight for women’s full liberation is far from over.
And history has shown:
When women fight back, nothing can stop them.
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