ABSTRACT
The research suggests that amongst South Asian women in British society there are two forms of patriarchy. Moslem women experience an intense form of private patriarchy, followed by Sikh and Hindu women. Other 'independent' women experience a public form of patriarchy. Private patriarchy is based upon the household as the main site of women's oppression; this takes place through arranged marriages, the giving of dowries, the distribution of domestic labour and domestic financial organisation. Public patriarchy is based upon the labour market as the main site of women's oppression. Education and employment influenced the forms of patriarchy experienced by South Asian women. Religion influenced whether South Asian women had an arranged marriage and were given a dowry, Moslem women were more likely to have an arranged marriage, followed by Sikh and Hindu women. Women's position in the labour market influenced their position within households.
