How and why did the patriarchy evolve?

[toptramp]

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.

But I DO loathe gravity.... Yes, what Grimma said. It's such a biiiig excuse for anything and everything.

how: humans developing a theory of mind. realising that by putting people down you can control them

why: opportunism.

I don't think its an excuse for anything. Just think it is good to understand how it works.

Otherwise people get stuck on questions like the OPs - 'how can [xxx objectionable behaviour] have evolved when it is not fair/in everyone's best interests/sustainable/good for the community as a whole/good for survival of the species?'

Or conversely get stuck on the excusers' argument '[xxx objectionable behavior] is excusable because its natural/a product of evolution'

I don't think its an excuse for anything. Just think it is good to understand how it works

Yes, exactly. Its an explanation (in part) of how we got to where we are; its not an excuse for perpetuating behaviours which, using our reason, we know to be unethical.