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I think you're speaking too categorically. We do know that many matriarchal cultures exist and have existed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy#History_a
by elil17 4y ago
I think you're speaking too categorically.
We do know that many matriarchal cultures exist and have existed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy#History_and_distribution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy#History_and_distrib...). The degree to which these are truly matriarchal vs. simply egalitarian varies, but to say that male gender roles are historically universal universal is patently untrue. They are clearly culturally specific.
- glitchc 4y agoThat's a great point, but unfortunately a non-sequiter. In a matriarchy, men have less power in making decisions for the group, but are still responsible for protecting and providing. Putting it more plainly, even in a matriarchy, hunting, farming and fighting are activities predominantly relegated to men.
- elil17 4y agoI'm not sure I am going to articulate this in a way that is clear, but I think that hunting, farming, and fighting have a different cultural meaning in a patriarchal society vs. a matriarchal society. If the act of fighting is tied up with what it means to be a man, I think Englishman fighting and a Hopi man fighting can be said to be taking different actions for the purpose of what you are discussing. So even though Hopis and English people would say "men fight," they would still view that in a very different way/would not have the same definition of a man in their minds.