Was Patriarchy a Women's Scheme to Control Men?

self | 10/30/2002 | SauronOfMordor

[SauronOfMordor]

Does Patriarchy Benefit Women?

Much has been said in feminist circles about how women are oppressed by patriarchy. Patriarchy literally means “rule by fathers” and is a system where men effectively are in control of property and decision-making. An important characteristic of patriarchal systems is that they are generally also patrilineal (a child’s descent is described by who his father, and father’s father were, rather than through the mother’s line).

The question I’m putting forth here is: Does the patriarchal/patrilineal system act more to oppress women, or is it actually more a way for women to tap and control male energy? My assertion is that patriarchal society creates an incentive structure that enables women to harness male energy and initiative for the benefit of women and their children.

In patrilineal societies, men tend to be confident that the children of their household are theirs, and take an active role in their upbringing. The men also tend to perform long-range planning, and invest time and effort into making life better for their offspring.

Matrilineal societies have been recorded in early history, and still exist in sections of Africa. The matrilineal societies of ancient times did not leave much in the way of historical record. In modern times, where they exist, they are generally poor and technologically primitive. To some extent, the welfare enclaves of our inner cities are increasingly matrilineal. In the developing matrilineal societies in our inner cities, the defining characteristic is that males have no permanent attachment to the children they father, nor to the women who are the mothers of their children. In such an environment, males tend not to make long-range plans for the well-being of their children, nor do they make much effort to create the institutions that would be needed for long-term stability and prosperity.

In classic patriarchal cultures, men are motivated to amass wealth through the acquisition and enhancement of productive facilities: land, ships, businesses – things that will produce revenue to support a family, and which will provide an inheritance to pass along to their children. Part of the motivation is from love and emotional attachment. A large part of it is also pride and self-image -- the desire to leave a legacy, to be remembered as a great person after he's gone.

Having children who are emotionally attached to you has mutual benefits: the children can rely on support during their vulnerable years, and parents can have the expectation of support in their declining years. This can be very important in societies where survival is not assured unless you have a committed provider looking out for you.

Once someone has property, he has a strong incentive to promote institutions to protect and preserve his property. He bands together with his neighbors, in mutual protection. He has an incentive to cooperate with his neighbors to create improvements for their mutual benefit: roads, irrigation systems, etc. The incentive system promotes the institutions needed to preserve itself

Now let’s consider the incentive system for males in a matrilineal environment. When a man cohabits with a woman, he has no assurance of any of the children being his. He is less likely to experience any emotional bonding with them, and may consider them an interference with his relationship with the woman. He will have no expectation that the children will take care of him in his old age, and will be much less likely to make any investment in the children’s well-being.

In such an environment, the male won’t expect to survive much past the point where he’s no longer strong enough to obtain food and resources through his own strength. He’s likely to be invited to share the bed of a woman as long as he provides for her and protects her, and invited to leave when she acquires a better provider. The incentive will be to acquire wealth the fastest and easiest way he can: by getting together into a strong gang and taking it from somebody else. In matrilineal societies, whether in Somalia or South Central LA, the men tend to band together into warring gangs rather than engage in productive work.

In a competition between a patriarchal society and a matrilineal society, the patriarchal society will tend to prevail. The men of the patriarchal society are more likely to stand and fight off encroachments to territory they consider their property, while the men of the matrilineal society will be more likely to seek easier targets in another direction. A man will fight for his wife, his children, and his property – they are HIS, and part of his self-identity. A man is less likely to endure long-term conflict to protect the property of a woman he considers to be just a temporary girlfriend – it’s simpler to just find another girlfriend in an area with less conflict.

Comparing a patriarchal culture with a matrilineal culture, the advantages for women become apparent. By channeling male energy and imagination into long-term planning, patriarchy creates an environment where women and children are better provided for and better protected, thus better assuring long-term survival for all concerned.

[waterstraat]

Today, marriage and children are close to a death sentence for a man, and I dont understand why men still willingly walk down the aisle with these pampered, pre-plump princesses.

Instead of marrying, every 10 years or so, a man should go out, and find a woman that he hates, and then buy her a house. The end result is much the same for many men.

[Mark17]

Instead of marrying, every 10 years or so, a man should go out, and find a woman that he hates, and then buy her a house. The end result is much the same for many men.

LOL, it might even be better, because the odds are, he won't be paying her child support.

[Ohioan]

Interesting. However, I think that the determinant of whether a Society is Patriarchial or Matriarchial has far more to do with the instinctive orientation of the population involved, than any deliberate weighing of consequences.

Frankly, human Societies vary because humans vary. No two of us are alike--nor are any two ethnicities or races. However, that said, one thing that we all have in common is a sexual nature. Regardless of the preferred structure among differing peoples, the happiness and well-being of all peoples depends upon the common interests of the two sexes. Anything which suggests a war between the sexes--other than as recurring theme for comedy--is a form of madness. From the Creation to the present, we are and will remain completely dependent upon each other--male and female, that is.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[BuddhaBoy]

If men would learn to just not marry or impregnate these women, things would change drastically in time.

No matter how smart or successful a woman becomes, her stock in trade boils down to finding a man to support her and give her children. (closing the deal)

Men and courts have made this too easy for women, and women no longer feel that they need to do anything special to attract a good man.

If women as a group were one day faced with the prospect of forever working to support themselves in COMPETITION with men, as opposed to being able to quit whenever they want to give birth and nurture children, you would see a kind of fear never before seen in America.

Look at that horrible show "The Bachelor", if you want to see just how much women want to win a decent man, and how terrified they become at the prospect of rejection.

Just 10 years of men refusing to marry would change this country forever.

[NEWwoman]

This article is very much in line with a chapter in the late Alan Bloom's book - "The Closing of the American Mind."

Yes, women libbers get there panties in a knot when it is suggested that women are treated as men's property. (I concede that it sounds degrading.) Yet, men tend to take care of their property and are committed to their property.

Frankly, women and children have been harmed when their isn't a committed father in the picture. I know some struggling single mothers and my heart goes out to them and their children. Often, their life does not get easier until they marry or remarry.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I know you do and I greatly appreciate that. This is just another daily thread with the same Neaderthal Freepers bashing women.

And they wonder why they are alone. Trust me, it's as obvious as a pig in a parlor.

[BuddhaBoy]

Yet, men tend to take care of their property and are committed to their property.

Bingo!!!!!!

All a women needs to do is watch how a man takes care of his car and his tools. If she likes it, then she should learn to act like his car and his tools!

Turn on easily, no complaining, clean and shiny, nice features and 'accessories' and dependable.

Men tend to keep these things well garaged, warm, clean, well oiled and fueled, and they use their own forever, instead of looking elsewhere.

[sonserae]

You are so full of it. My friends and I are very successful in business (I myself make $200,000 a year), we are looking for men who are strong and can take charge and we can't find a decent man in this town...When we do, guess where they are? Yes, they are right there buying the trophy wife who has fake boobs and no brains.

[BuddhaBoy]

You are so off the money, I think YOU are the one who must be alone.

I happen to love women too. What you dont get honey, is that men want women to be WOMEN. They dont resort to silly ad-hominums like "Neanderthal Freepers" when they come across something they dont agree with.

You might try joining the discussion with something to say, or better yet, work on knocking that chip off your own shoulder. I've lurked here long enough to know your story, and I dont think you ever listen to anything but your own complaining.

If men DIDNT love women so much, we wouldnt have so much to say! We would just ignore you. Think about it.

[BuddhaBoy]

Gotcha!!

You made my point. I'm sorry your large income has not made you more secure. How much money you make has nothing to do with this at all. This is the bill of goods you all bought from your feminist masters. Do you think a man CARES how much money you make? Is that where your self-esteem comes from?

What men care about boils down to sex, and sexiness. Even if you only made a 10th of what you quoted, but had a nice soft voice and didnt seem resentful of men going after what THEY want, you might have better luck. Your post speaks volumes, and it is always only a matter of time before the resentment comes to the surface with most of you.

On top of that, real men HATE fake boobs. Men dont want a womans boobs to be big, they want them accessible. Now, please calm down. Your chip is showing.

[sonserae]

You are such a fool...talk about hypocrite and double-standards. Who has the chip? I was just responding to this quote you said earlier....

If women as a group were one day faced with the prospect of forever working to support themselves in COMPETITION with men, as opposed to being able to quit whenever they want to give birth and nurture children, you would see a kind of fear never before seen in America.

I didn't say I had trouble getting men...I said I had trouble finding a decent one...but you wouldn't know anything about that. I speak softly, carry myself in a feminine way and don't want to be in charge of a man. Just because I actually am a success at what I do rather than sitting on the couch waiting for a man to rescue me, doesn't make me unfeminine.... As far as men hating women with fake boobs...sure....that's why they are going for the girls with the silicone.

[FITZ]

Patriarchal societies seem to be the ones where the fathers know their children, help raise them, and spend time with them, educating them etc. Matriarchal societies are there the women are on their own, the children don't know their fathers, the fathers don't much care about them, they tend to stay with women for only a short time --just enough to breed them. It seems obvious patriarchal would be better for everyone.

[BuddhaBoy]

You really should quit while you are ahead. You gave yourself away. You are exactly what the post about "the chip" described.

First, I am full of it, next I am a fool. Just because YOU happen to disagree with me. You exposed yourself, dear.

You see, the women that good men like, can allow for disagrements without slinging arrows.

You are the type of women who has no choice but to be successful in business, because your prospects for finding the kind of man you want are low.

Sorry, but you started it. Adults can disagree without name calling. Finally, if you think men are going for the women with fake boobs, you are hanging with the wrong croud. Men may play with those boobs, but they rarely marry them.

Now, take the last word, and please dont hurt me, ya big bully! LOL!

[sonserae]

You slang quite a few arrows here dear...not just me but at "hillary's lovely legs"

I'm sure you are happily married with a loving wife...NOT!...they woudn't have you...

....I will say the last word...go play with your own boobs "BuddhaBoy"...

[A. Pole]

Bump

[SauronOfMordor]

You obviously don't live in L.A. The guys here want their coffee bought for them...

Normal guys do not make exceptionally-cute women (I saw your home page) buy them coffee. Are you sure you're not dating gay guys who are just caffeine-addicts?

[Illbay]

The problem, as I see it, is not so much "men vs. women" as "radical gender feminism vs. the rest of us."

Most of the posts on this thread reflect that thought.

Unfortunately, as is the case with the "stream of consciousness" posting patterns you see frequently on FR, frustration with the status quo boils over into equally radical--though not really serious--declarations, such as that women ought not be allowed to vote.

I have made this statement on occasion, but I am not serious when I do. I am simply reflecting my frustration with the conventional wisdom that there are "women's issues" which allow the Left the automatic perception that they have the upper hand going in, because they speak to the emotional, which (again, so the "conventional wisdom" holds) is supposed to be preferable to the fairer sex.

[sonserae]

Don't you know, all the guys here in Hollywood are gay! Haha..
Thanks for the compliments....I'll buy you a cup of coffee for that!

[msru]

You claim to make $200,000 a year and you expect a man to buy you coffee? Typical typical typical.

[sonserae]

He asked me out dear...I feel the one asking should at least offer...My salary has nothing to do with his manners.