Asserting Dominance Through Physical Punishment

Asserting Dominance Through Physical Punishment:

Often times most families have one parent that is more authoritative than the other, usually the father being the head. However, sometimes this parent gains their authority through fear and physical abuse towards both their children and/or spouse. In today's society it is not uncommon for a father or male figure in a family to assert their dominance by beating his wife and children. This issue is becoming more and more prevalent in the media because this idea is promoted through magazines and television telling males that it is alright for this behavior to continue like this. Popular magazines usually will contain articles and ads that claim that in order for a man to keep his woman he must be the one who is in charge, and most of the time implying that he needs to take control and be the aggressor, especially when it comes to their sexual life. Also, in TV and movies the idea that the male must be tough, masculine, and dominate and stand out above all is the only way in which a guy can win the love of the girl that he is chasing after. This way of thinking helps to prompt the idea that the man has to be dominant over everyone he thinks of as inferior to him. I found this thought process particularly prevalent in the book Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo felt that he was justified to beat any one of his children or his wives if they did something that he would consider to be the slightest bit lazy or, if it were one of his sons something that was considered feminine or womanly.  Okonkwo did not feel remorse or that he was doing something wrong because of his preconceived notion that as the man he had to assert his dominance of those inferior to him and put them in their place. I personally feel that this idea is turning society backwards. For centuries females have fought for their rights, and with this idea that the man is still overtly dominant over all others is just going to take away the rights that people have fought so hard to get. Also, this idea brings dangers to relationships. A large percentage of females will experience some sort of physical or verbal abuse in a relationship. I do not think that this extreme view is beneficial to our society and that this idea of total male dominance should be presented in any media for the fear of abusive relationships increasing.