Matriarchal prehistory
Question2
- Good and Bad
According to the article, the commendable things about the myth of matriarchal prehistory is that it allows women not to be hindered by their biological orientation. it is proof that women have always been in leadership and that that it is not a dream but rather an ancient way of life. “More positively, it allowed me to imagine myself and other women as people whose biological sex did not immediately make the idea of their leadership, creativity, or autonomy either ridiculous or suspect.” the author disagrees with this theory because it embeds a theory of sex and gender making it neither original nor revolutionary. The myth expresses women as sexual beings, who are closely connected to nature, as they give birth and nurture generations. The myth expresses women as closely connected with their bodies, and while this is expressed as a strength, today’s generation has made into a weakness which favors the patriarchal system. “…This image of women is drastically revalued in feminist matriarchal myth, such that it is not a mark of shame or subordination, but pride and power. But this image is nevertheless quite conventional and, at least up until now, it has done an excellent job of serving patriarchal interests.”
- Sexist assumptions
By “the sexist assumptions the theory leaves Undisturbed.”, Eller refers to the prejudice that the theory has towards the female gender. The theory expresses the female gender as more superior, better informed and more deserving of leadership than the male gender. the myth is very biased and it supports feminism, and with the much emphasis it puts, women are more defined in this myth, and this may separate them even more. With this, she talks about the many issues that may be used against this theory and in turn make the theory irrelevant today.