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'''Chinese patriarchy''' refers to the history and prevalence of [[Biology:Patriarchy|male dominance]] in Chinese society and culture, although patriarchy is not exclusive to Chinese culture and exists all over the world.
== Dynamics ==
[[Biography:Mencius|Mencius]] outlined the three subordinations. A woman was to be subordinate to her [[Social:Father|father]] in youth, her husband in maturity, and her son in old age.<ref name="Birdwhistell2007">{{cite book|author=Joanne D. Birdwhistell|title=Mencius and Masculinities: Dynamics of Power, Morality, and Maternal Thinking|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gaI7zFH1UT0C|access-date=31 July 2013|year=2007|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-8038-0}}</ref> Familial relationships are prefixed, and family lifestyles and behaviors are constrained by social norms. <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chen|first=F.|date=2005|title=Residential patterns of parents and their married children in contemporary China: A life course approach|journal=Population Research and Policy Review|volume=24|issue=2|pages=125–148|doi=10.1007/s11113-004-6371-9|s2cid=71709934}}</ref>

Another one of these famous quotes is also related to the patriarchy found in Athens. "Men are free to roam outside, but women must stay inside."{{cn|date=August 2020}}

A cliché of classical texts, which is repeated throughout the tradition, is the familiar notion that men govern the outer world, while women govern the home.
In the Han dynasty, the female historian [[Biography:Ban Zhao|Ban Zhao]] wrote the ''Lessons for Women'', advice on how women should behave. She outlines the four virtues women must abide by: proper virtue, proper speech, proper countenance, proper merit. The "three subordinations and the four virtues" is a common four-character phrase throughout the imperial period.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

As for the historical development of Chinese [[Biology:Patriarchy|patriarchy]], women's status was highest in the Tang dynasty, when women played sports (polo) and were generally freer in fashion and conduct. Between the Tang and Song dynasties, a fad for little feet arose, and from the Song dynasty onwards foot binding became more and more common for the elite. In the Ming dynasty, a tradition of virtuous widowhood developed. Widows, even if widowed at a young age, would be expected not to remarry. Their virtuous names might be displayed on the arch at the entrance of the village.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

Confucian conceptions of [[Philosophy:Filial piety|filial piety]] has been focused on preserving the traditional role of the father as the primary leader and decision maker of the family. In the hierarchy of traditional Chinese cultural family life, the father and sons take prominence over the mother and daughters.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

== 20th century ==
Features of patriarchy in 20th and 21st century China are a combination of contemporary problems found even in the West and traditional Chinese issues.

Men hold most of the major positions of power within the country, especially in the political and military spheres. However, with the decline of traditional practices through the 20th century, women have come to enjoy virtually equal economic power. This is especially true in the cities, where the social stigma of being a working woman is virtually nonexistent, although skepticism of unmarried, career-minded women is increasing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tatlow |first1=Didi Christian |last2=Forsythe |first2=Michael |date=20 February 2015 |title=In China's Modern Economy, a Retro Push Against Women |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/21/world/asia/china-women-lag-in-work-force-especially-in-top-jobs.html}}</ref> Although both genders face strong pressure to be [[Biology:Marriage|married]], women who remain unmarried past the age of 25 are shamed by state media with the label [[Social:Sheng nu|leftover women]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Magistad |first=Mary Kay |date=20 February 2013 |title=BBC News - China's 'leftover women', unmarried at 27 |work=BBC News |location=Beijing |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21320560 |access-date=29 March 2013}}</ref>

In addition, foot binding and arranged marriages have been virtually eradicated.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schiavenza |first=Matt |date=16 September 2013 |title=The Peculiar History of Foot Binding in China |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/the-peculiar-history-of-foot-binding-in-china/279718/}}</ref>

There is also the issue of forced abortions in China, especially for sex selection purposes; authorities have been accused of giving the women virtually no control over their bodies in this area.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fong |first=Mei |date=5 January 2016 |title=One Child}}</ref>

==See also==
* Chinese marriage
* Marriage in modern China
* Women in China
* Gender inequality in China
* Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals
* Foot-binding
* [[Engineering:Plastic surgery|Plastic surgery]]
* Straight man cancer

'''Selection of children by gender:'''
* List of Chinese administrative divisions by gender ratio
* Female infanticide in China
* Abortion in China
* Missing women of China

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese Patriarchy}}
[[Category:Cultural anthropology]]

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