ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the status of patriarchal traditions in the early 21st century, amid continued regional variations. It also deals with recent developments, including the important (but globally disputed) movement for gay rights; new concerns about protecting women from sexual molestation and violence; global changes in the birth rate; and the gender-differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the whole, trends in the past 30 years have complicated generalizations about the directions of changes in gender patterns.
