The origins of patriarchy (from the BBC)

I came across the following via my subscription to Nature Magazine’s daily briefing: an interesting article describing the evidence that patriarchy did NOT start with the development of agriculture, but as a result of social elites!  

From bbc.com/future/article/20230525-how-did-patriarchy-actually-begin?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=4943fc99ad-briefing-dy-20230601&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-4943fc99ad-47830664  

“ Rather than beginning in the family, then, history points instead to patriarchy beginning with those in power in the first states. Demands from the top filtered down into the family, forcing ruptures in the most basic human relationships, even those between parents and their children. It sowed distrust between those whom people might otherwise turn to for love and support. No longer were people living for themselves and those closest to them. Now, they were living in the interests of the patriarchal state.
…

The lasting psychological damage of the patriarchal state was to make its gendered order appear normal, even natural, in the same way that class and racial oppression have historically been framed as natural by those in power. Those social norms became today's gender stereotypes, including the idea that women are universally caring and nurturing and that men are all naturally violent and suited to war. By deliberately confining people to narrow gender roles, patriarchy disadvantaged not just women, but also many men. Its intention was only ever to serve those at the very top: society's elites.”

The example at the start of this article is particularly telling. 

 

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