Patriarchy and Viriarchy: An Exploration and Reconstruction of Concepts of Masculine Domination

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Abstract
The use of the term `patriarchy', in both feminist and sociological analysis, faces problems because of the etymological roots of the term, the form of its connection to political struggles, and the ahistorical fashion in which it is typically employed. There are four principle traditions within which the terms is used: as a kinship based system of government; as generalized masculine oppression; as a mechanism in the social reproduction of capitalism; and as a sex-class system. Elements of these traditions are recombined into a quadrapartite scheme for the analysis of masculine gender-systems which distinguishes between `patriarchy' (rule by male heads of extended families) and `viriarchy' (rule by adult males); and between directly oppressive systems and systems which operate by means of social reproduction.

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