Survivorship bias. Agrarian societies that were based on male dominance, hierarchical social strata, and conquest of competitors were the ones that developed in

Survivorship bias. Agrarian societies that were based on male dominance, hierarchical social strata, and conquest of competitors were the ones that developed into the early empires that today's societies are descended from. There are and have been matriarchal societies and also more egalitarian and less confrontational ones, but they did not expand at the same rates or compete as well with those that ultimately won out on geographic and resource control. This does not mean male dominance and social hierarchy are preferable. It just explains why they are the norm. There are many good reasons to reject them as the norm now that we can.