The patriarchy is not as strong as it seems.
This is the central thesis of Angela Saini’s thought-provoking book, ‘The Patriarchs:
How Men Came to Rule’.
Saini, a science journalist, dives into archaeological findings, historical narratives,
myths, and stories to answer questions of the origins of patriarchy. The book starts with
a description of the Indian goddess Kali, with her fierce visage and clear strength. She
describes how colonisers who came to India were confused and horrified by this
depiction of female power. This both proves that women were not always thought of as
inferior beings to, and that colonisation has a big role to play in why patriarchy is so
widespread in the world as we know it. Saini argues throughout the book that patriarchy
is not the natural order of things or biologically inevitable (as some would have us
believe). She writes, “Power is inventive. Gendered oppression was cooked up and
refined not only within societies; it was also deliberately exported for centuries through
proselytism and colonialism.”
As feminists, we revere women of power in the past because they are seen as radical,
as they fought against oppression to stand as equals with, or even rule over, men.
However, what we see as a radical act of defiance may not have been so at all. Many
prehistoric female ruling figures were doing what they were born to do. The rules of the
societies they inhabited were simply different from our own.
Matriarchal societies have existed all over the world throughout human history, just as
patriarchal ones have. There is even evidence of societies where gender seems not to
have mattered at all. The gender binary is so prevalent in the way we look at humanity
that the possibility of it simply… not being a big deal, is both surprising and inspiring.
These data poke holes in a widespread patriarchal theory – that women are “natural” or
“biological” inferiors to men. Saini puts forward tons of hard archaeological and DNA
evidence to say to that not only has this never been the case, there is also a lack of
evidence that human beings throughout history have always thought so. She describes
societies, both in the distant and the recent past, where the rights of women were in
constantly flux. There is no proof that says that patriarchy is the return to any sort of
natural.
Precedent is important because it allows us to feel included, to feel valid and justified in
our actions. Feminists have this same need. We need to know that women have not
always been subjugated, that women of the past have had voices and yielded power
just the same as men. However, as I was reading the book, I couldn’t help but think that
more than a precedent, what I really wanted was a satisfying conclusion. I wanted an
answer as to why we are the way we are today.
As with all human history, the true story is far more complex, rich, and layered than the
words ‘matriarchy’ or ‘patriarchy’ can define. This book gives us an insight into these
stories, and within their complexities, finds hope for the future.
“In truth,” she concludes, “the past was better nor worse than what we have now; it was
just more varied.” Human beings, she says, have always chosen different ways to live,
and these ways change all the time. And there I had my answer – that there is no one
way that we are destined to live. And if people in the past could change their lot again
and again, we can too.
– Supreeta Balasubramanian
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
- All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us about Women’s
Bodies and Why It Matters Today – Elizabeth Comen - Seeing Like a Feminist – Niveditha Menon
- Ms Militancy – Meena Kandaswamy