Contemporary Social Theory And Its Classical Roots By George Riter

Young girls are entering beauty pageants, teenagers are wearing excessive amount of makeup, and young adults are receiving boob jobs from their parents as a high school graduation gift. This is modern western society. This is becoming more acceptable as time passes, but was not always accepted by society. Children did not enter beauty pageants and where not so fixated on what they looked like and owned, instead they were out playing with their friends until the sun was no longer visible, and then would go home to their parents for a nice home cooked meal, and a hot shower. Unfortunately, these young girls are growing up too quickly, and if one takes a closer look as to why they are so obsessed with looking a certain way, one can see that

In Contemporary Social Theory and Its Classical Roots, by George Riter, he talks about patriarchy, in which, is a system where men suppress women. Patriarchy is a way to control women, and it can take the roll of physical harm to women, like domestic abuse, but it can also be hidden in fashion and the beauty industry, as well as, harassment to women in the work place.

The family structure has always been (until recently) father, mother, and/or children, not only for the western culture, but also for many cultures around the world. This family structure is built on the idea that the husbands are the provider of the family, and the mother tends to the children and household chores. Although we have migrated into an era that not only has male dominance in the family

Women have come along way to gain respect not only from society, but also in the work place. It was not long ago that women did not have the right to vote and were basically laughed upon when they wanted to help and provide for their family. Women were seen as caregivers, and maids, but we have migrated into a time that women can now vote, and they can be more than just a caregiver, they can actually own their own business, or become CEO of a company. Consequently, there are men who are not as accepting of powerful women, thus, resulting in sexual harassment in the work place. Ritzer goes on to say, “Through participation in patriarchy, men learn how to hold other human beings in contempt, to see them as nonhuman, and control them. Within patriarchy, men see and women learn what subordination looks like” (Ritzer 213). Men can control women in the work force, by having their way with them. Women may feel obligated to do so, because they may feel this is the only way to be taken seriously, or if they refuse they might miss an important opportunity to advance into a high position. Men may even be little women in the workforce, degrading them in front of their peers. Although this does not happen much today, it still tends to happen, and women may not come forward, because they may feel this is what they have to do. N order to prove themselves to the company they