How and why did the patriarchy evolve?

55 replies

toptramp · 07/10/2011 23:48

I mean surely it's within everyone's interests, both men and women to have equality right? Is it something to do with capitalism? Are there any equal societies in the modern world or indeed in the past?

Also I feel so conflicted between wanting to find a big love in my life pitted agianst a fear of being controlled by a man again and a big cultural pressure urging me to find someone.

OP posts:

sieglinde · 08/10/2011 16:21

rosy, most of the rulers of both (Egypt and Crete) were male. Goddess-worship did nothing for women in the ancient world. Incidentally, too, men are only better in upper-body strength.

Sorry, but I don't believe there was ever an ancient society better than, well, now.

This is it. This is as good as it's ever been.

As for where 'the' patriarchy came from, it came from the same place as the class system and capitalism. :) But i think colditz is right. Don't forget too how low women's life expectancy was int he past, even in quite recent times.

rosy71 · 08/10/2011 09:33

Hunter-gather societies are/were generally equal. Ancient Egypt and Ancient Crete were egalitarian societies.

I imagine it's impossible to say exactly how and why patriarchy evolved. It could be to do with the change from a hunter-gather way of living to farming, where notions of property owership would have evolved. Ideas surrounding the role of fatherhood and the development of monotheism would also have changed the structure of societies.

GrimmaTheNome · 08/10/2011 00:00

Interesting question! Colditz probably has the nub of it - equality started to emerge in our society when women started to be freed from constant pregnancy (not just the pill, the reduction in infant mortality before that) and when physical strength started to become less important. So its logical to assume these were factors in inequality.

colditz · 07/10/2011 23:49

They are bigger than us and they don't get pregnant.

southeastastra · 07/10/2011 23:49

i blame thatcher

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