This research explores the various forms of male domination and their effects on female characters as depicted in three culturally distinct novels: Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk by Ahmad Tohari (Indonesia), Yukiguni by Yasunari Kawabata (Japan), and A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi (Afghanistan). Using Sylvia Walby’s theory of patriarchy as the analytical framework, the study identifies how patriarchal structures operate through mechanisms such as sexual exploitation, economic control, restriction of mobility, denial of rights, emotional manipulation, and social marginalization. The qualitative approach employed in this research involves close reading and textual analysis to reveal how male characters exercise dominance and how this affects female characters’ autonomy, dignity, and quality of life. The findings show that in all three novels, women suffer from systemic subjugation rooted in traditional values and norms, leading to physical, psychological, and socio-economic consequences. The study concludes that literature serves as a powerful reflection of real-world patriarchal oppression and highlights the need to critically examine gender dynamics to promote equality and justice across cultural and social boundaries.