Guests Meg Conkey, Mel Konner, and Lisa Wade explore topics such as the origins and impact of the Me Too movement, challenging traditional narratives in anthropology, societal attitudes towards motherhood and fatherhood, and controlling women's bodies and sexuality in male supremacy.
Early hunter-gatherer cultures had more egalitarian structures, with women playing crucial roles as food providers.
The development of settled agricultural societies led to power imbalances, with men controlling women and imposing gender hierarchies.
Deep dives
The Origins of Men's Dominance: A Deep Dive into Patriarchy
Scholars challenge the traditional caveman narrative that oversimplified gender roles in ancient societies. Research indicates that early hunter-gatherer cultures had more egalitarian structures, with decision-making being collective and women playing crucial roles as providers of food through plant gathering. The rise of settled agricultural societies, around 10,000 years ago, led to the development of male dominance, as men seized power through specialized roles and excluded women from public spaces. Scholars argue that men's desire for power, control over women's bodies, and the need to pass down property fueled the emergence of patriarchy. However, it is important to note that gender differences and the origins of patriarchy are complex topics influenced by both cultural and biological factors.
The Influence of Culture and Power on Women's Roles
Anthropologists challenge the idea that ancient societies were strictly divided by gender roles. Historical evidence suggests that women participated in hunting and tool-making alongside men in various cultures. Moreover, some cultures recognized more than two genders, breaking the binary understanding of gender. The development of settled agricultural societies led to power imbalances, with men controlling women and imposing gender hierarchies. The history of patriarchy shows how colonization spread these systems to new territories. While men's desire to control women's bodies and sexuality played a role in these power dynamics, the accumulation of property and the need to ensure lineage also contributed to male supremacy.
The Complex Motives Behind Patriarchy
The emergence of patriarchy was influenced by various factors, including power dynamics, desire for control, and cultural contexts. Scholars propose that men's initial motives may have been rooted in their exclusion from the reproductive process and the awe-inspiring aspect of women's ability to give birth. The development of property ownership and the desire for passing down inheritance fueled the need for men to establish control over women and prioritize the concept of biological fatherhood. Patriarchy took shape as societies became more settled and specialized, leading to the oppression and objectification of women as property. However, it is essential to consider both biological and sociocultural factors in understanding the origins of patriarchy.
Nature vs. Nurture: Exploring the Innate vs. Learned Aspects of Gender Differences
The question of whether gender differences are innate or learned is complex and multifaceted. Researchers delve into the nature-nurture debate to understand to what extent gender differences are shaped by biology or cultural conditioning. While there is evidence of some biological influences, such as hormones like testosterone impacting behavior, it is challenging to separate biological factors from socialization and cultural norms. The interplay between biology and culture plays a significant role in shaping gender roles and identities. Part 2 of the podcast will further explore the intricate relationship between nature and nurture in understanding gender differences.
Launching our Season 3 series, co-hosts John Biewen and Celeste Headlee look at the problems of male supremacy. And we visit Deep Time to explore the latest scholarship on how, when, and why men invented patriarchy.
Featuring Meg Conkey of UC-Berkeley, Mel Konner of Emory University, and Lisa Wade of Occidental College.
Music by Alex Weston, and by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine. Music and Production help from Joe Augustine at Narrative Music.
