Phallocentrism

Male Domination of Women

Phallocentrism The term Phallocentric was coined by

Ernest Jones, and is centred around men or on a male viewpoint,  the belief in the superiority of the male sex.

It was held to entail the domination of women by men.

This theory described women as a castrated version of the men. This evidently deprived women of any positive sense of their own sexual organs.

Psychoanalysis Phallocentrism originated as a study

of psychoanalysis. The Lacanian theory of the Phallus.

The concept of A and A-. Castration of women on the basis of

not having the phallus. Induced the dominating sense in

men. Heterosexuality as A.

Position of Women in Ancient Times

• Archaeological sources show that men were not always in power.

• Women shared an equal status as men in the society.

• Ancient civilizations like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, show that women shared an equal status as men.

• Egyptian women achieved parity with Egyptian men.

Cleopatra the lady pharaoh of Egypt

Male Domination Began.. Men realized their biological strength. The role of the male seed in

procreation was understood by the men.

The domination of women was then started.

Men began to treat women as the castrated version of phallus.

The domination of men in the field of art, politics and religion started and women lost their equal status.

Current Scenario The present world is dominated by Men. Women are considered as their

property. Women have to follow the norms made

by men and under go the domination by men.

Domestic violence, rape and sexual harassment are the examples of male domination.

Contrary to the ancient societies.

Phallocentric form of Law The law seems to follow the

phallocentric mentality. Very difficult to prove Rape. Accused uses the psychoanalysis

theory which says that the sub conscious mind of the girl actually agreed to RAPE.

“Don’t Say You Didn’t Enjoy It”

A rape victim actually enjoyed the act of RAPE, because the Man enjoyed.

Their No is actually Yes. Cases of rape and domestic violence depict

that the courts follow the phallocentric norms, resulting in suppression of women.

State v. Sushil Sharma (Tandoor case) Tukaram Ganpat Pandare vs. State Of

Maharashtra on 6 February, 1974 (Mathura case).

Mohd.Habib Vs. State.