7.2 Gender roles Inquiry Info Point 11: What is patriarchy? Patriarchy is a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded.20 7.2.1 A Patriarchal Society propped up by Violence It is commonly claimed that men and women enjoy equal status in Samoan society but the Inquiry found extensive evidence to the contrary and patriarchy reigns instead. This lies at the heart of the majority of family violence, as it does with GBV in the rest of the world. The entrenchment of the patriarchal society has been the status quo for many years now. The SFSS 2017 clearly demonstrated this when it reported that:    90% of female respondents believe a good wife obeys her husband; 79% of non-victims of abuse and 87% of victims believed a man should show her partner who is boss; 97% of men believed women should obey. The Inquiry has already identified how gender roles are attributed from birth and the case studies and research clearly show how this leads directly to the prevalence of family violence. “It is clear that actions of men against women are a reflection of gender-based power and control. This means women are subordinated to their husbands and assumed to have less or no control over family affairs and their own bodies. The act of family violence is seen as a ‘policing mechanism’ to keep women in the household and society more generally.” Samoa Family Health and Safety Study 2000, Inquiry document 83 The consequences of the gender hierarchy, instilled from birth are evident throughout the case studies so far. From Talia who had a shotgun pointed at her for taking her children to church to Losa whose partner would abuse her at the slightest sign of independence. Patriarchy is threatened by the independence of women so it is not uncommon to see men behave as they did in the case of Talia or Losa, because their power and control is under threat. 20 Refer to K. Bhasin. What is Patriarchy? (2006). Women Unlimited: New Delhi cited in Abeda Sultana. (2010-2011). “Patriarchy and Womens subordination: A Theoretical Analysis.” The Arts Faculty Journal. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a1a1/956fe39a514e5128ec48b29fab7f45b1848e.pdf. Accessed 30 May 2018.