What is the literal meaning of the Greek word patriarkhēs?
The Greek word patriarkhēs literally means the rule of the father. It combines patria for lineage and arkhē for domination or authority.
Questions about Patriarchy
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did patriarchal systems arise following the Neolithic Revolution about six thousand years ago?
Patriarchal systems arose independently across different regions following the Neolithic Revolution about six thousand years ago. Gerda Lerner documented in her 1986 book The Creation of Patriarchy that no single initiating event created these hierarchies.
How did Aristotle portray women as morally and intellectually inferior to men while claiming their role was reproduction and service?
Aristotle portrayed women as morally and intellectually inferior to men while claiming their role was reproduction and service. He believed women had colder blood than men which prevented them from evolving into the perfect male form.
Who defended the divine right of kings by tracing authority back to Adam according to Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition before 1653?
Sir Robert Filmer completed his work Patriarcha before 1653 but it remained unpublished until after his death. He defended the divine right of kings by tracing authority back to Adam according to Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition.
What are the six overlapping structures that define modern patriarchal institutions across different cultures according to Sylvia Walby?
Sylvia Walby defined six overlapping structures that define modern patriarchal institutions across different cultures. These include labor expropriation through unpaid housework, exclusion or lower pay for paid work, denial of formal power, violence against women, negative cultural representations of female sexuality, and reinforcement of traditional gender roles.