“Synonyms of patriarchy” means we are looking for words that have a similar meaning to “patriarchy”.
One synonym is “male domination”. This term clearly emphasizes the control and power held by men in a society. For example, “The workplace was still characterized by male domination.” Just as patriarchy implies a social system where men hold the dominant positions, male domination highlights the specific aspect of men being in charge.
Another synonym is “paternalism”. Paternalism refers to a system or attitude in which men, like fathers, exercise authority and control. For instance, “The old company culture was steeped in paternalism.” Similar to patriarchy, paternalism suggests a hierarchical structure where men take on a guiding and controlling role.
“masculine hegemony” can also be a synonym. Hegemony means dominance or leadership, and when combined with “masculine”, it emphasizes the dominance of masculine values and power. For example, “The country’s politics was under masculine hegemony for decades.” Like patriarchy, masculine hegemony implies a situation where masculine perspectives and interests are dominant.
In conclusion, words like male domination, paternalism, and masculine hegemony can be used as synonyms for “patriarchy”. They all describe different aspects of a social system where men hold significant power and authority.