There have been matriarchal cultures around (even though there have been so few of them that the spellchecker in my phone wants to correct that word to “patriarchal”).
Most anthropologists hold that there are no known societies that are unambiguously matriarchal, but possible exceptions include the Iroquois, in whose society mothers exercise central moral and political roles.
However, this reluctance to accept the existence of matriarchies might be based on a specific, culturally biased notion of how to define ‘matriarchy’: because in a patriarchy ‘men rule over women’, a matriarchy has frequently been conceptualized as ‘women ruling over men’, whereas in reality women-centered societies are—apparently without exception—egalitarian.
In other words, there isn’t a trivial symmetry between those societies that are called “patriarchy” and those that are called “matriarchy”.
Feminism is necessary because of auto-correct feature that suggests closely related words that are used more often?
The word “patriarchy” and its derivatives are used extensively by feminists and feminist scholars. If anything, the fact that the word “patriarchy” pops up more often can indicate that there is more awareness of current and historic gender asymmetry.
Also, the word patriarchy is bound to be used more often simply due to historical context.
There are legitimate reasons for the feminist movement to continue. This is not one of them.
I’ve seen too many comments like yours on Facebook or on Reddit without a hint of irony to think that it’s a joke. Or maybe I’m just terribly dull when it comes to differentiating what is and isn’t humor.
I think it’s fair to say that most of us here would prefer not to have most Reddit or Facebook users included on this site, the whole “well-kept garden” thing. I like to think LW continues to maintain a pretty high standard when it comes to keeping the sanity waterline high.
No problem; even before your comment I considered adding a disclaimer so that people wouldn’t misinterpret it as a slam against feminism. (The downvote on the great-grandparent wasn’t from me, by the way.)
There have been matriarchal cultures around (even though there have been so few of them that the spellchecker in my phone wants to correct that word to “patriarchal”).
Name three (please).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy
From army1987′s link:
In other words, there isn’t a trivial symmetry between those societies that are called “patriarchy” and those that are called “matriarchy”.
“Across all cultures and all times and by a large margin” is still an exaggeration.
This is why we still need feminism!
:-)
Feminism is necessary because of auto-correct feature that suggests closely related words that are used more often?
The word “patriarchy” and its derivatives are used extensively by feminists and feminist scholars. If anything, the fact that the word “patriarchy” pops up more often can indicate that there is more awareness of current and historic gender asymmetry. Also, the word patriarchy is bound to be used more often simply due to historical context.
There are legitimate reasons for the feminist movement to continue. This is not one of them.
I was making a joke (hence the smiley).
I thoroughly agree and consider myself a feminist.
I’ve seen too many comments like yours on Facebook or on Reddit without a hint of irony to think that it’s a joke. Or maybe I’m just terribly dull when it comes to differentiating what is and isn’t humor.
I suspect it’s the latter.
I think it’s fair to say that most of us here would prefer not to have most Reddit or Facebook users included on this site, the whole “well-kept garden” thing. I like to think LW continues to maintain a pretty high standard when it comes to keeping the sanity waterline high.
No problem; even before your comment I considered adding a disclaimer so that people wouldn’t misinterpret it as a slam against feminism. (The downvote on the great-grandparent wasn’t from me, by the way.)