The Creation of Patriarchy

De: Gerda Lerner

Narrado por: Elizabeth Wiley

A major new work by a leading historian and pioneer in women's studies, The Creation of Patriarchy is a radical reconceptualization of Western civilization that makes gender central to its analysis. Gerda Lerner argues that male dominance over women is not "natural" or biological, but the product of an historical development begun in the second millennium BC in the Ancient Near East. As patriarchy as a system of organizing society was established historically, she contends, it can also be ended by the historical process.

Focusing on the contradiction between women's central role in creating society and their marginality in the meaning-giving process of definition and interpretation, Lerner explores such fascinating questions as: What can account for women's exclusion from the historical process? What could explain the long delay - more than 3,500 years - in women's coming to consciousness of their own subordinate position?

She goes back to the cultures of the earliest known civilizations - those of the ancient Near East - to discover the origins of the major gender metaphors of Western civilization. Using historical, literary, archaeological, and artistic evidence, she then traces the development of these ideas, symbols, and metaphors and their incorporation into Western civilization as the basis of patriarchal gender relations.

©1986 Gerda Lerner (P)2021 Tantor

Essential reading for all women

This was such an important book for me to discover. The author was so insightful and so knowledgeable. I love what she taught me.

Must read!!!!

this book was insightful, exciting, thought provoking and a must read for every person male and female!!!!

Excellent scholarship

Gerda Lerner was an amazing scholar and this book, part one of a trilogy on patriarchy and feminism is an amazing example of her rigor and insight.

Eye opening to decenter men

It’s is easy to understand although thought provoking but it would give you an insight to patriarchy

The most important history scholarship on patriarchy

Wish I would’ve read it when it was brand new when I was 18. I’ve been involved in feminist and social justice informed psychotherapy for close to 30 years but I had missed ever reading this though I saw it fairly often referenced. I’m male cisgender heterosexual. I did not have a full grasp historically of the creation of patriarchy and this filled in many blank spots and misunderstandings I had and I realized the incredibly vast position of patriarchy throughout most of the world’s history. Seems absolutely fundamental reading in the entire canon of: Feminism, Women’s Studies/Gender Studies, History, Cultural Studies. This seems foundational to almost everything in terms of history, culture, politics, economics, sociology, family science. I would go as far to say that this should be required reading in any academic general education for any discipline and therefore required reading in college general education for all students.

Why isn’t this being taught in all high schools?

Everyone should read this. EVERYONE. The Creation of Patriarchy allows us all to finally look at the water we’re swimming in; to see it, to analyze it, to begin to understand it. It can be hard to hear the systems we’ve lived in broken down and viewed through new lenses. But the epiphanies that emerge are worth the work.

Amazing in all aspects

A must read for every human being
We all to understand our evolutionary history and our civilization history to be able to create a better future

The creation of patriarchy

The narrator voice very pleasant, the book content a must for everyone interested in learning about women's history.

This book is killing it!

I didn’t think I would like it but it definitely makes you think about what patriarchy is and why this model has been followed for so long.

A Must For All

If you are just starting your journey into understanding what patriarchy is, or if you have been self taught for years, this book should be on your shelf. It is a quintessential historical overview of the roots of the beast we deal with today. It can be dry in some parts, but it is filled with gems and the knowledge contained will get you through those dry parts.