Patriarchal culture and the issue of oppression; among men - views from married men in Nairobi

Abstract

It has always been assumed that men enjoy a priviledged position in society. However little has been done in the area of men studies to verify this. Much focus has been on women studies to an extent that men who comprise half of humanity have been given very little thought.

While feminist scholars have continued to regard men as the oppressors of women, a new field of gender studies namely men studies has emerged with evidence that men too can be oppressed.

This study has focused on men with an aim of gathering views and information on whether patriarchal culture is oppressive to them or not. This study has attempted to identify the social processes that are oppressive to men, the response of men to the changing gender roles and also come up with recommendations on how male oppression can be tackled.

Study findings reveal that there are some limitations in a patriarchal culture that are oppressive to men. Findings further reveal that gender role changes has contributed a great deal to male oppression. Because of this, findings indicate that men are opposed to gender role change. However, because the role<.,.of ...he women has changed, men have no choice other than to also change their traditional male i'hles.t:Qavoid role proliferation.