Some people question the fact that patriarchy still exists in Greece today and consider contemporary protests, demands, and struggles to be excessive or unjustified. They often suggest comparing the Greek reality with countries in the Middle East, arguing that “real” patriarchy exists only there, so that we should feel grateful for our position. However, in my view, this approach is flawed.
Patriarchy is a global system of power that manifests in different ways: in some societies through direct and more visible forms, and in others more indirectly and subtly. For this reason, its observation and critique must take place both at a local and a global level.
Despite major social changes and steps toward legal equality, patriarchy in Greece has unfortunately not been overcome. It still exists in structures, mindsets, and everyday practices—and it is visible everywhere, from the home to the public sphere. Some exceptional cases are simply exceptions; they do not represent the norm or the majority of situations.
– The false image of the “weak and permanently emotional woman”
Patriarchy portrays women as weak, passive, constantly emotional, and vulnerable beings, lacking decisiveness, strength, courage, initiative, and dynamism, in order to justify the need for their guidance and to reinforce hierarchies. In reality, however, strength, courage, bravery, empathy, sensitivity, and vulnerability are traits of all genders and, above all, qualities of human character.
– Unequal distribution of care and domestic labor.
Women often take on the greater burden at home and in caring for children or elderly family members, even when they work full-time. When a man helps, it is often seen as an achievement and praised, while for a woman it is considered something self-evident.
– The association of women with “mandatory” motherhood.
Motherhood is presented as a natural destiny. Within patriarchal logic, being a woman is often seen as something that is only fulfilled through motherhood. How many times have we heard phrases such as:
“When are you going to have a child?”
“You’ll regret it if you don’t become a mother.”
“No woman is truly happy without children.”
These phrases are not directed at men with the same intensity or taken-for-granted tone. This shows that society does not fully recognize female identity outside of motherhood. Even today, in rural areas, if a woman is unmarried after forty, she may be referred to as a “spinster,” while unmarried men are more likely to be described as “bachelors.”
– The association of women (and all genders) with “self-evident” heterosexuality.
Within patriarchally structured social frameworks, female identity is often linked to “self-evident” heterosexuality. It is taken for granted that a woman will necessarily be romantically interested in men, while ignoring the fact that she may have a homosexual or bisexual orientation, be attracted to all genders, or not be romantically interested in anyone at all, choosing to abstain from an active romantic life.
Men, on the other hand, may undergo a similar identification, but in a different form. Patriarchy associates them with power, the validation of masculinity, and the ability to attract or control women. Heterosexuality becomes a measure of “normality” and social acceptance.
Non-binary individuals and those who do not follow heterosexual norms are also pressured to “fit” into social expectations. Patriarchy often seeks to impose “norms” on sexuality and gender roles, and when someone does not conform, they are treated as a “case to be corrected” or excluded. Patriarchy not only constructs this identification but also devalues and dismisses all forms of romantic identity that do not fall within heterosexuality.
– Control over a woman’s body and her choices.
When motherhood is defined as an obligation, the right to abortion is questioned, sexual choices are controlled, and women are judged for how they “use” their bodies.
This is clear patriarchal control. Compulsory motherhood justifies why a woman is expected to take on the household, legitimizes the unequal distribution of care, and reinforces the idea that women require control and guidance.
– The workplace and different standards of judgment for men and women.
The same behavior is evaluated differently in the professional sphere. For example:
A male manager = decisive
A female manager = nervous, nagging, or difficult
We should also not overlook the fact that Greek legislation protects women—among other things—from dismissal due to pregnancy, wage inequalities, non-payment of benefits, or sexual harassment in the workplace. However, the full implementation of these laws in practice and real equality in everyday working life still remain a challenge.
– Double standards in personal relationships and behavior.
A typical example is that if a woman has multiple romantic partners, she may be labeled as immoral, whereas if a man does the same, he is often seen as a “player,” “macho,” or simply “acting according to his nature.”
– Underrepresentation of women in positions of power and leadership.
Women remain fewer in number compared to men in positions of political power, administration, and business. When they do reach high positions, their competence and worth are often questioned, as well as how they “got there”—something that is frequently accompanied by vulgar, sexist, and defamatory assumptions. Their appearance is scrutinized, even whether they smile or not.
– Sexism in everyday life.
Patriarchy is reproduced through “jokes” and comments. For example:
“Woman driver—what do you expect?”
“Don’t listen to her, she’s nervous, she must be on her period.”
“Women aren’t intelligent, they’re just cunning. Men have innocence.”
“Women are gossipers and love gossip.”
“There is no real female friendship; each one tries to undermine the other, while men have solidarity between them.”
“Put on some makeup, wear some lipstick, smile—you’re a woman.”
“Dress more femininely—walk like a woman.”
When all of the above are treated as reality and as something normal—or even as obligatory traits of genders—rather than as matters of character, personal preference, or individual behavior, and when they are presented as harmless jokes, then inequality and patriarchal conditioning are internalized by society as something self-evident.
Inappropriate questions or assumptions about a patient’s body or needs, as well as a lack of the respect required, are also common. This often leads to delays or avoidance of medical examinations, or even to traumatic experiences. Traditional roles can also prevent both women and men from receiving the support they need. Historically, in some cases, women’s symptoms have been dismissed as “psychological” or “exaggerated,” while men who show vulnerability or psychological struggles often do not receive proper support. Beyond the field of healthcare, patriarchy restricts men as well, pressuring them to be “strong,” “providers,”, emotionally restrained and many others that I have referred to previously here: NO, FEMINISM IS NOT YOUR ENEMY. PATRIARCHY IS…
It is worth noting that, beyond femicides, crimes and attacks against trans, non-binary, and other LGBTQ+ individuals unfortunately occur frequently as well—something that also stems from a patriarchal worldview and restrictive gender norms.
– The example “the woman runs the household”
In some households where the woman is the one making decisions, these cases do not negate patriarchy. “Being in charge” often means that she has taken on the burden of domestic responsibilities, while the man retains greater economic or social power. After all, patriarchy is not abolished by isolated exceptions, nor can a personal experience necessarily represent something collective or representative of the majority.
– Sexist comments toward women politicians and homophobia toward LGBTQ+ party leaders.
Women members of parliament, leaders of various political parties, as well as openly gay party leaders, have at times been targeted with sexist and homophobic remarks respectively—mainly by male colleagues (but also by non-political figures)—instead of parliamentary dialogue focusing solely on their positions, proposals, and accountability for their actions. This shows that even a position of power does not necessarily guarantee equality or respect.
– The priesthood as a role exclusively for men.
In Greece, dominant religious doctrines allow only men to become priests. This means that gender-based religious exclusions still exist even today.
– The exclusion of feminine grammatical forms in everyday speech and writing.
The choice of grammatical gender is not merely a linguistic detail; it reflects and shapes how we think and how we see the world. When we use exclusively the masculine gender as the “neutral” or default form, we reproduce a patriarchal perception that renders the feminine invisible. The deliberate use of feminine or neutral forms, even when referring to collective or general contexts, is an act of linguistic resistance: it brings diversity into visibility and challenges the one-dimensional masculine discourse. It is like saying: “My language does not follow patriarchal conventions; it acknowledges everyone. Read also this: EVERYDAY LITTLE THINGS BUT SO IMPORTANT
Therefore, patriarchy in Greece, with its stereotypes, despite the progress and the steps that have been made compared to previous decades, still persists in structures, stereotypes, ways of thinking, and mentality. Women, people of all genders, and LGBTQ+ individuals continue to demand equality, fair distribution of labor, opportunities, visibility, recognition, and respect.
True social equality and a better world are not achieved through isolated examples—they require substantial changes in structures, mindsets, and everyday practices.
