Abstract
This study examines the complex dynamics of power and control relationships, challenging the notion of a patriarchal society. Through a critical discourse analysis of various texts, including a Nollywood movie, the Bible, and Half of a Yellow Sun, this research reveals how women employ manipulative strategies to navigate and subvert patriarchal structures. The findings highlight the ways in which women use emotional manipulation, marriage, sex, and kitchen dynamics to exert control and agency in their relationships. By shedding light on these subtle yet significant power dynamics, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of gender relations and encourages a reevaluation of traditional patriarchal narratives. The study, therefore, concludes that most societies worldwide are indirectly matriarchal due to the manipulative power wielded by women.