Portfolio Item #3: The Patriarchal Dividend from Gender: A Short Introduction

         For the context of this Portfolio, it is important to define the patriarchal dividend - a concept that 

identifies the ways in which men adhering to notions of hegemonic masculinity are rewarded or privileged 

within society. In this excerpt from Raewyn Connell's influential book "Gender", the term patriarchal 

dividend is coined and defined. The patriarchal dividend refers to the advantages, benefits, and other such 

positives given to men who conform to hegemonic masculinity and thus uphold an unequal gender order. 

 These advantages can come in the form of increased wealth, security, independence, autonomy, and 

emotional supports, among other things. It is an important piece to examine as it sheds a critical light on the 

kinds of advantages men have access to, but only if they adhere to traits and behaviours within the paradigm 

of hegemonic masculinity. Some men, for instance, CEOs with lots of income reap more benefits from the 

patriarchal dividend than men who are working class, because they fit the idea of capitalism's cultural 

definition of "success", which society also conflates and attributes with being male (dominant, intellectual, 

high achiever, competitive, risk-taking etc). It also points out that not all men have access to this dividend 

(as mentioned) - for instance homosexual men do not gain nearly as much particularly because their 

behaviour falls outside of stereotypical masculine norms. It also talks about how women can benefit from the 

patriarchal dividend - by entering into marriages with wealthy, high income earning men, benefitting at the 

expense of other exploited womens' labour. (Connell, 2009)