The Patriarchy - By Angela Krueger

Written By: Angela Krueger

Category: poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Angela Krueger presents a compelling piece titled "The Patriarchy" in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This competition invites voices from around the globe to share their unique perspectives. In her poem, Angela delves into the intricate themes of gender roles and the societal constructs that have historically shaped them. Her work encourages readers to reflect on the roots and impacts of patriarchy, making it a resonant contribution to this year's competition.

About the Work

"The Patriarchy" by Angela Krueger is a thought-provoking poem that examines the historical and cultural dimensions of gender inequality. With evocative imagery and a candid tone, Angela articulates the systemic roots of patriarchy and its pervasive impact on women's lives. Her writing style combines sharp critique with a narrative that challenges traditional narratives, inviting the reader to question long-standing societal norms and encouraging a dialogue on equality and empowerment.

The Patriarchy

Original Submission by Angela Krueger

The patriarchy

I have this theory

on how the patriarchy came to be

Because I thought about it

And it doesn't make sense to me

First off

We call her mother earth

Because the feminine is life giving

Kind of like how women give birth

And that's how it began

A woman birthed a child

in front of some man

He saw her power

It made him sour

Feel like a coward

The agony

The pain

The contracting

The tearing

The crowning

The crying

The placenta

The babe

A human life

From the very place

Men see as their right

If a woman can create life

Let it grow

Give it a home

Then what are men good for

Surely we can't make a baby on our own

Surely we can't do anything on our own

So we should probably stay home

Cook and clean

Give birth

but we should still stay lean

And don't forget

You have a baby to hold

Women are fragile

We belong in the home

We need to be taken care of

At least that's what we've been told

In my mother's lifetime

women couldn't own a home

My grandma didn't have the rights to her own uterus but she was Catholic

so birth control was a definite no

But when my great grandma was around women couldn't even vote

Second class citizens

Like we're a bunch of helpless simpletons

But we're the ones making the citizens

Long story short

Men felt lesser

So they did the only thing they knew how

They incited violence

instilled fear

and worst of all

they put their big fat thumb

on the best thing to happen to them since Eve gave Adam

that rib in that garden

Yeah that's not how the story went

Well the story is dumb

And for a while I thought men had one less rib

But they don't

We're both the same

Except for the fact

that one of us can create a life

and go through excruciating pain

just to get up the next day

And have everyone expect you

to be the same

So, sorry to the men

who think life is some kind of game

You don't have to manipulate the other side to try and keep them tame

It's not a competition of teams

It sounds like an inferiority complex to me

Ah, I get it now

That's what you call the patriarchy

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious event that celebrates literary talent from across the world. It provides a platform for writers to express their creativity and share their stories, shedding light on diverse themes and perspectives. Participants engage audiences with their unique voices, enriching the global narrative landscape through poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Angela Krueger for her insightful poem, "The Patriarchy," submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her contribution highlights the power of poetry to initiate meaningful conversations about societal structures. We look forward to seeing more of her work and the impact it will undoubtedly have on fostering understanding and change.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.