a family centered around men

[alpacinou]

Hello.

I want to say that families in a society were centered around men. Can I use "man-oriented"? What other options do I have? I know I can use patriarchal but I'm looking for other options.

I need something to use in a sentence like this:

In the past, families used to be man-oriented. Men would be the only source of income and they made all the important decisions. But these days, women also work and play a bigger role in the family.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

I want to say that families in [STRIKE]a[/STRIKE] society [STRIKE]were[/STRIKE] used to be centered around men. Can I use "man-oriented"? What other options do I have? I know I can use "patriarchal" but I'm looking for other options.

I need something to use in a [STRIKE]sentence[/STRIKE] paragraph like this:

In the past, families used to be man-oriented. Men would be the only source of income and they made all the important decisions. But these days, women also work and play a bigger role in the family.

I'd use either "men-oriented" or "male-oriented".

Slightly off-topic: Your final sentence is a rather sweeping statement. There are plenty of cultures/societies in which the role of women hasn't changed, and also plenty in which women play an equal role in the family. If you opened your paragraph by saying which country/society you're talking about, that would help.

 

[jutfrank]

In my view, man-oriented, men-oriented and male-oriented are all inappropriate. The correct word is patriarchal. Sometimes you shouldn't waste time looking for alternative options—just use the correct word.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

. . . In the past, families used to be man-oriented. . . .

Often. Not always. You're generalizing way too much.

And a style suggestion: Use In the past or used to be. Not both. It's redundant.

 

[tedmc]

Other possibilities: male-centric, androcentric, male-dominated

 

[Rover_KE]

I was about to suggest 'male-dominated', Ted, but I couldn't 'like' the other two.