Swetnam's Theory Of Patriarchalism

Swetnam received an atrocious amount of hate from society because of his way of explaining that women were worthless which lead to his definition of patriarchalism; “for women, patriarchalism was also experienced as a second and gender-specific form of control requiring their subordination to men; for them it was patriarchal authority that had instituted and continued to maintain their legal and economic disempowerment” (Jordan 150). Also, in the seventeenth century, it was a common belief that patriarchalism was in direct relation to the theory of monarchy. Swetnam was attempting to discuss gender and how society should restructure the norms and values according to feminist’s views. His pamphlet contained many examples of androgyny when women …show more content…
This being said, around this time women were always at fault for any misconduct regarding relationships because men were apparently seen as more virtuous. During this time period, it was easy and familiar to help support the treatment of women, though unfair and restrictive (Jordan 161). It was discussed the early connection of women to Eve and by extension, Satan; this highlighted a woman’s deceitfulness. By using bible references in their defence this “developed most fully in clerical defences of celibacy, this vision of woman as deceitful was made susceptible to revaluation largely (and somewhat paradoxically) by literature of political humanism” (Jordan 161). This is why in the play, after Leonida was put on trial, Atticus had to stand up for her and all women by stating that equal blame should be forced upon both sexes in instances of erotic misconduct (Jordan 162). The pamphlet by Joseph Swetnam that led to the play shows how women were treated poorly in society and behind closed doors. He makes it clear that men are held above women because the men hold the most