Matriarchies in Mythology, Essay Example

The Aegean culture-zone is one of the areas where matriarchy myths have been in operation for many years (Eller 4). In this society, the great woman goddess was worshiped, and women were equal with men. Matriarchy is commonly characterised by gender equality. This is according to the claims in the studies of matriarchy.

Regardless of any historical evidence, many cultures believe that there is a phase in the olden times of humankind when women dominated the society. Many authors have portrayed women of the Aegean culture-zone as evil who only work towards maintaining women leadership. Some historians argue that there is a correlation between the worshiping of female goddess and the egalitarianism of gender. They claimed regions had a variety of religious institutions under the control of women in South America like Aegean culture-zone. A female goddess was an extremely conspicuous section of public religion, and there were various images of female goddess depicted as supernatural beings (Gewertz 19).

Greece is an excellent example where the worship of female goddess was inevitable. There was substantial emphasis to reject any efforts of worshiping female deities (Eller 77). The area did not allow any existence of female clergy and the male dominated the area. During the seventeen century, Greece did not have any legal or social status for women. In Aegean culture-zone, women had the freedom of movement and no one cared to limit or watch their actions. Women were owners of many businesses and separated their properties from men. In Spain, the men sharply circumscribed the role of women and their rights.

Greece was a society characterised by Patriarchal leadership operating on slavery. This society differs from The Aegean culture-zone in that there was discrimination of women (Gewertz 64). They were prohibited from participating in any political activities and were forever under the control of male leadership. There were a series of cities and states, which were all under the control of male defenders responsible for fostering discipline. This paradox reveals the difference between patriarchy and matriarchy. Men had the right to give opinions and make crucial decisions with the exclusion of women. Women were forced in marriage, but men had the freedom to enjoy other extra marital affairs from other women (Eller 121).

The rise of Patriarchy in Greece has been described as the suppression of the role of female in procreation. Men have been granted the right to express and fulfil their sexual desires while they undermine feelings of their women. Men believe that they have to protect their women by surrounding them and unconditionally covering them so that women can be secure for their men. Men had imprisoned women’s thoughts confining them in a patriarchal framework. This was hindering women from transforming their conscious about themselves and campaign for change (Eller 156).

Conclusion

The modern developments in history have provided all conditions, which supports women from subordination. Human being can use historical developments to define their past while giving an interpretation to the present life. This will enable them have an exploration of the limits beneath their responsibilities. Human beings can use history to learn how the men before us failed and made errors (Gewertz 111).

Works cited

King E. Glenn (2003). Traditional cultures: a survey of non-western experience and

Achievement. California: Waveland Press.

Eller, Cynthia. The Myth Of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why An Invented Past Won’t Give Women A Future. Michigan: Beacon Press, 2000. Print.

Gewertz, Deborah. Myths Of Matriarchy Reconsidered. Michigan: University of Sydney. 1988. Print.

Herzog, Kristin. Finding Their Voice: Peruvian Women’s Testimonies Of War. New York: Trinity Press International, 1993. Print.

Wilson, David, John, Indigenous South Americans of the Past and Present: An Ecological Perspective. Texas: Westview Press. 1999. Print.