Early Male Domination
Patriarchy is a system of male dominance, in which men dominate women through control. Historically, patriarchy has manifested itself in the social, legal, political, and economic organization of a range of different cultures. How did male domination come to be normal in human societies? This is a question that is difficult to answer, but there are many theories. (Neave, 2003)
One theory says that men envy the means of reproducing the species. Men evolves hoping to have that same importance, and potentially became controlling over women to make up for it. In connection with this, perhaps men have resented the sexual power that women have over them too. (Neave, 2003)
Comparing humans to chimpanzees, another theory suggests that male dominance as a result of hunting. These male apes distribute the meat, as the females essentially beg for the food. Female chimps have also been known to exchange sex for meat. This shows that even before human kind, male dominance could have played a role in the animal kingdom. (Sanday, 1999)
In anthropological surveys the correlation between male dominance and a stressful environment is strong. Gender equality seems to go along with fertile environments with adequate food and peaceful neighbors. Male dominance arises when the group is in a hostile environment with heavy resource competition. Marvin Harris thinks male supremacism results from the group’s efforts to secure protein. Populations suffering from a protein shortage practice female infanticide in order to raise more warriors and hunters to compete for animal protein. The resulting shortage in females requires men to steal wives from hostile groups. (Sanday, 1999)
The status of women has risen significantly over the last few decades, but in many parts of the world male domination and oppression continues. In many Middle Eastern countries, for example, women effectively live as prisoners, unable to leave the house except under the guardianship of a male guardian. They have
One theory says that men envy the means of reproducing the species. Men evolves hoping to have that same importance, and potentially became controlling over women to make up for it. In connection with this, perhaps men have resented the sexual power that women have over them too. (Neave, 2003)
Comparing humans to chimpanzees, another theory suggests that male dominance as a result of hunting. These male apes distribute the meat, as the females essentially beg for the food. Female chimps have also been known to exchange sex for meat. This shows that even before human kind, male dominance could have played a role in the animal kingdom. (Sanday, 1999)
In anthropological surveys the correlation between male dominance and a stressful environment is strong. Gender equality seems to go along with fertile environments with adequate food and peaceful neighbors. Male dominance arises when the group is in a hostile environment with heavy resource competition. Marvin Harris thinks male supremacism results from the group’s efforts to secure protein. Populations suffering from a protein shortage practice female infanticide in order to raise more warriors and hunters to compete for animal protein. The resulting shortage in females requires men to steal wives from hostile groups. (Sanday, 1999)
The status of women has risen significantly over the last few decades, but in many parts of the world male domination and oppression continues. In many Middle Eastern countries, for example, women effectively live as prisoners, unable to leave the house except under the guardianship of a male guardian. They have