"And of course we are familiar with the English common law rule of thumb that said a man could in fact use a stick no bigger than his thumb to discipline his wife and family"

Patricia Ireland, an American feminist and former president of the National Organization for Women, references the "rule of thumb" in her quote as a way to highlight previous oppressions underpinned by legal and cultural standards. The expression "general rule" is typically utilized today to denote a general standard instead of a repaired rule. Nevertheless, its reported origin suggests it was a legal concept enabling a man to beat his other half with an execute, as long as it was no thicker than his thumb. Although discussed amongst historians, this analysis highlights a wider critique of historical patriarchal structures that sanctioned domestic abuse.

By invoking this expression, Ireland sheds light on how traditional laws institutionalized gender inequality, backing male authority over women within the home. It is important to clarify that there is minimal historical evidence that "general rule" was ever codified in English common law. It seems rather to have become part of popular misconception as a sign of old-fashioned and unjustified legal customs. Still, the misconception persists as a powerful metaphor for the permissibility of domestic violence entrenched within historic legal systems.

Ireland's usage of the phrase serves to remind modern audiences of how deeply embedded gender inequities have remained in social frameworks, often warranted by problematic or produced legal reasoning. It highlights the progress made in redefining legal obligations and securities in favor of gender equity however likewise brightens the long journey still ahead to remove remaining attitudes and practices that belittle or undermine females's rights and self-respect. The contextual power of this referral depends on its capability to draw the line from past oppressions to contemporary advocacy for women's rights, prompting a continuous examination and reevaluation of social and legal standards that perpetuate gender-based violence and inequality.