Patriarchal Society

A theory in which the illustrations of Kid Rock and P Diddy demonstrate is the theory of a patriarchal society, in which men hold the power and authority in society which results in women lacking status and being undermined. This idea is shown in society, for example, in government where men hold the most power over the country and are over represented in the House of Commons. Men also as a result of this gain better wages compared to women as they appear discredited to society. In the 1960’s and 70’s woman began to react to the way in which they were treated within the media. They were stereotyped as being either a mother whose private sphere was based around family and the home but if not that then immediately they were classed as a whore and a sexual object to men. However, in contemporary society nowadays, women are becoming gradually more equal to men by being able to gain an education and persue a career, which has resulted in them not only being represented in the media as a whore or a motherese figurine.

Coventry Patmore in his poem Angel in the house is referring to his wife as being the ideal wife of the Victorian times. In the poem the angel is seen to be passive, powerless, graceful, sympathetic and pure. The ideal wife is portrayed as being devoted and submissive.


Man must be pleased; but him to please
Is woman's pleasure; down the gulf
Of his condoled necessities
She casts her best, she flings herself.
How often flings for nought, and yokes
Her heart to an icicle or whim,
Whose each impatient word provokes
Another, not from her, but him;
While she, too gentle even to force
His penitence by kind replies,
Waits by, expecting his remorse,
With pardon in her pitying eyes;
And if he once, by shame oppress'd,
A comfortable word confers,
She leans and weeps against his breast,
And seems to think the sin was hers;
Or any eye to see her charms,
At any time, she's still his wife,
Dearly devoted to his arms;
She loves with love that cannot tire;
And when, ah woe, she loves alone,
Through passionate duty love springs higher,
As grass grows taller round a stone.