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PATRIARCHY (3 of 5)

IDEOLOGIES ARE CONCEPTS
In a patriarchal society the terms "husband" and "wife" are clearly defined. Husbands are male, wives are female, and a married pair consisting of one husband and one wife is the core unit of a family.

These terms are conceptual. There is no physical reason why a married pair cannot consist of two men, two women, or more than two men and/or women. Different societies, under the influence of different ideologies, may accept any or all of these other relational patterns.

family groups
In such societies the terms "husband" and "wife" will be defined to fit the situation, or other terms will be used. For example, in the United States at the turn of the century, the term "spouse" has come into use to describe married partners without specifying gender, and the term "significant other" has come into use to describe an unmarried partner. These changes in terminology signify changing ideologies in the society.