Recent Feminist Critique of Patriarchy: Relativization of Universalism

Discusses new perspectives on the alleged universality of conventional gender relations as reflected in the concept of patriarchy, focusing on the contributions of postmodern theory. After noting that while the classical patriarchical pattern identifies only a fragment of gender relations diachronically, cross-culturally & intersocially, it still has a primary symbolic & structural impact. Postmodernist theory challenges the rationalist's essentialist & universalist claims, & advocates a tonal relativization of knowable phenomena. An epistemological study of the balance between gender-construction universals & the infinite historical, cultural, & social realizations of gender is called for. It is suggested that gender difference alone is the only identifiable universal, while the oppositional & hierarchical relations between the sexes is read as a special case. 30 References. Adapted from the source document.