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[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Winged-goddess.jpg|right|frame]]
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1885]
==Definitions==
*1 : a [[family]], [[group]], or [[state]] governed by a ''matriarch''
*2 : a [[system]] of [[social]] [[organization]] in which descent and inheritance are traced through the [[female]] line
==Terminology==
The [[word]] ''matriarchy'' is coined as the [[opposite]] of [[patriarchy]], from Greek matēr "mother" and archein "to rule". According to the [[OED]], the term "matriarchy" is first attested in 1885, building on an earlier matriarch, formed in [[analogy]] to patriarch already in the early 17th century. By [[contrast]], gynæcocracy "rule of women" has been in use since the 17th century, building on an actual [[Greek]] γυναικοκρατία found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch Plutarch].
The near-synonyms matrifocal and matricentric "having a mother as head of the [[family]] or household" are of more recent coinage, first used in the mid 20th century. Matriarchy can be [[understood]] as the public formation, in which [[woman]] occupies ruling position in a [[family]] (a primary [[cell]] of [[society]]). Some [[authors]] depart from the premise of a mother-child dyad as the core of [[human]] [[group]] where the grandmother was the central ancestress with her [[children]] and grandchildren clustered around her in an extended family.
Other 20th century formations are gynocentric, gynocentrism (simplified by using the reduced prefix gyno- for gynæco-) is the "dominant or exclusive focus on women", as opposed to androcentrism.
A recent school of "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchal_Studies Matriarchal Studies]" led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heide_G%C3%B6ttner-Abendroth Heide Göttner-Abendroth] is calling for a more inclusive redefinition of the term: Göttner-Abendroth defines "Modern Matriarchal Studies" as the "[[investigation]] and presentation of non-patriarchal societies", effectively defining "matriarchy" as "non-patriarchy". Similarly, Peggy Reeves Sanday (2004) favors redefining and reintroducing the word matriarchy, especially in [[reference]] to contemporary matrilineal societies such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minangkabau Minangkabau].
According to her, the Island of Sumatra (Indonesia) and in Mosuo, the province of Sichuan (China), live within a matriarchal society. The prefix ama is used for [[Greek]] [[female]] [[warriors]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons amazons], in Africa and among the mosuo society, having the same [[meaning]]: In the [[language]] of the Moso the word Ama has the meaning Mother. This is a striking [[analogy]] to the name of the warlike [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons Amazons]. Well-fitting to this the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berbers Berbers] in North Africa, which had been matriarchal in the past, call themselves Amazigh in their own [[language]]. Because of this we [[reason]] that the very ancient word Ama has the meaning »Mother« in its narrow sense. In the figurative sense it stands for »Matriarchal Culture.
The prefix is also linked to the Babylonian [[mythology]] and its supreme goddess [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiamat Tiamat]: some sources identify her with images of a sea serpent or [[dragon]]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En%C3%BBma_Elish Enûma Elish], the Babylonian epic of [[creation]], she gives [[birth]] to the first [[generation]]. The [[heavens]] and the [[earth]] are formed from her divided [[body]]. Thorkild Jacobsen and Walter Burkert both [[argue]] for a [[connection]] with the Akkadian word for sea, tâmtu, following an early form, ti'amtum. Tiamat could also have been derived from the Sumerian ti, life, and ama, [[mother]].; the many synonymous and [[translations]] of the word mother also point to ama: Maa, Amma, Mata is used in India and sometimes in neighboring countries, originating from the [[Sanskrit]] matrika and mata; Ma, Mam or Mammy is used in Ireland and Northern areas of the UK; it is also used in some areas of the US.
According to Britannicca Encyclopedia, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiamat Tiamat] (the [[personification]] of the salt waters), is a major mythological figure described in the Babylonian mythological text Enuma elish, the [[sacred]] [[scriptures]] of this [[civilization]], and she is one of the most popular [[influences]] of the [[pagan]] [[culture]] on the [[Bible]]. Some have suggested that she [[inspired]] the biblical serpent and its symbolism from Pre History to all ancient civilizations.
Within Babylonian mythology, scholars, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Graves Robert Graves], considered Tiamat´s [[death]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk Marduk] an outstanding example of how occurred the shift in [[power]] from matriarchy to [[patriarchy]]. The [[Greek]] [[mythology]] also presents Apollo's killing of the female monster Python as a [[necessary]] [[action]] to take over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_Oracle Delphic Oracle]. In both mythologies, Tiamat and Python, have their body divided into two halves.
==Description==
'''Matriarchy''' (from the [[Greek]] μητριαρχία) or gynecocracy (from the Greek γυναικοκρατία) refers to a gynecocentric [[form]] of [[society]], in which the leading role is taken by the [[women]] and especially by the [[mothers]] of a [[community]].
There are no known [[societies]] that are unambiguously matriarchal, although there are a [[number]] of attested [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrilinear matrilinear] , matrilocal and avunculocal societies, especially among [[indigenous]] peoples of Asia and Africa, such as those of the Minangkabau, Mosuo, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berber_people Berbers] or Tuareg, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basques Basques] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardinian_people Sardinian] people in Europe. Strongly matrilocal societies sometimes are referred to as matrifocal, and there is some [[debate]] concerning the terminological delineation between matrifocality and matriarchy. Note that even in [[patriarchical]] systems of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male-preference_primogeniture male-preference primogeniture] there may occasionally be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regnant queens regnant], as in the case of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England Elizabeth I of England] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom Victoria of the United Kingdom].
According to ''The Cambridge Ancient History'': "the predominance of a supreme [[goddess]] is probably a reflexion from the [[practice]] of matriarchy which at all times charactherized [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam Elamite] civilization to a greater or lesser [[degree]]". Elam is the first high-[[culture]] of Iran and, along with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerians Sumerians], is considered one of the most [[developed]] [[societies]] of the ancient history.
In 19th century western [[scholarship]], the [[hypothesis]] of matriarchy [[representing]] an early [[stage]] of [[human]] [[development]] — now mostly lost in prehistory, with the exception of some "[[primitive]]" societies — enjoyed popularity. The hypothesis [[survived]] into the 20th century and was notably advanced in the [[context]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism feminism] and especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_wave_feminism second wave feminism], but this hypothesis of matriarchy as "merely" an early stage of [[human]] [[development]] is mostly discredited today. However, [[scholars]] and [[archeologists]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marija_Gimbutas Marija Gimbutas] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riane_Eisler Riane Eisler] describe their notion of a "woman-centered" [[society]] [[surrounding]] goddess [[worship]] throughout Pre History ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic Paleolithic] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Europe Neolithic] Europe) and [[ancient]] civilizations, by using the term matristic "[[exhibiting]] [[influence]] or [[domination]] by the [[mother]] figure". The notion of such a "woman-centered" society is also [[confirmed]] by major archeologists [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Bachofen J. J. Bachofen], whose three-volume ''Myth, Religion and Mother Right'' (1861), impacted the way classicists such as Jane Harrison, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Arthur_Evans Sir Arthur Evans], looked at the [[evidence]] of pre-Hellenic societies, Walter Burkert and James Mellaart: "The goddesses of [[Greek]] [[polytheism]], so different and complementary," Walter Burkert has observed, in Homo Necans (1972) 1983:79f, "are nonetheless, consistently similar at an earlier [[stage]], with one or the other simply becoming [[dominant]] in a [[sanctuary]] or [[city]]. Each is the Great Goddess presiding over a [[male]] [[society]]; each is depicted in her attire as Mistress of the Beasts, and Mistress of the [[Sacrifice]], even [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera Hera] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter Demeter]".[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy Source}
[[Category: Sociology]]
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1885]
==Definitions==
*1 : a [[family]], [[group]], or [[state]] governed by a ''matriarch''
*2 : a [[system]] of [[social]] [[organization]] in which descent and inheritance are traced through the [[female]] line
==Terminology==
The [[word]] ''matriarchy'' is coined as the [[opposite]] of [[patriarchy]], from Greek matēr "mother" and archein "to rule". According to the [[OED]], the term "matriarchy" is first attested in 1885, building on an earlier matriarch, formed in [[analogy]] to patriarch already in the early 17th century. By [[contrast]], gynæcocracy "rule of women" has been in use since the 17th century, building on an actual [[Greek]] γυναικοκρατία found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch Plutarch].
The near-synonyms matrifocal and matricentric "having a mother as head of the [[family]] or household" are of more recent coinage, first used in the mid 20th century. Matriarchy can be [[understood]] as the public formation, in which [[woman]] occupies ruling position in a [[family]] (a primary [[cell]] of [[society]]). Some [[authors]] depart from the premise of a mother-child dyad as the core of [[human]] [[group]] where the grandmother was the central ancestress with her [[children]] and grandchildren clustered around her in an extended family.
Other 20th century formations are gynocentric, gynocentrism (simplified by using the reduced prefix gyno- for gynæco-) is the "dominant or exclusive focus on women", as opposed to androcentrism.
A recent school of "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchal_Studies Matriarchal Studies]" led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heide_G%C3%B6ttner-Abendroth Heide Göttner-Abendroth] is calling for a more inclusive redefinition of the term: Göttner-Abendroth defines "Modern Matriarchal Studies" as the "[[investigation]] and presentation of non-patriarchal societies", effectively defining "matriarchy" as "non-patriarchy". Similarly, Peggy Reeves Sanday (2004) favors redefining and reintroducing the word matriarchy, especially in [[reference]] to contemporary matrilineal societies such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minangkabau Minangkabau].
According to her, the Island of Sumatra (Indonesia) and in Mosuo, the province of Sichuan (China), live within a matriarchal society. The prefix ama is used for [[Greek]] [[female]] [[warriors]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons amazons], in Africa and among the mosuo society, having the same [[meaning]]: In the [[language]] of the Moso the word Ama has the meaning Mother. This is a striking [[analogy]] to the name of the warlike [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons Amazons]. Well-fitting to this the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berbers Berbers] in North Africa, which had been matriarchal in the past, call themselves Amazigh in their own [[language]]. Because of this we [[reason]] that the very ancient word Ama has the meaning »Mother« in its narrow sense. In the figurative sense it stands for »Matriarchal Culture.
The prefix is also linked to the Babylonian [[mythology]] and its supreme goddess [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiamat Tiamat]: some sources identify her with images of a sea serpent or [[dragon]]. In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En%C3%BBma_Elish Enûma Elish], the Babylonian epic of [[creation]], she gives [[birth]] to the first [[generation]]. The [[heavens]] and the [[earth]] are formed from her divided [[body]]. Thorkild Jacobsen and Walter Burkert both [[argue]] for a [[connection]] with the Akkadian word for sea, tâmtu, following an early form, ti'amtum. Tiamat could also have been derived from the Sumerian ti, life, and ama, [[mother]].; the many synonymous and [[translations]] of the word mother also point to ama: Maa, Amma, Mata is used in India and sometimes in neighboring countries, originating from the [[Sanskrit]] matrika and mata; Ma, Mam or Mammy is used in Ireland and Northern areas of the UK; it is also used in some areas of the US.
According to Britannicca Encyclopedia, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiamat Tiamat] (the [[personification]] of the salt waters), is a major mythological figure described in the Babylonian mythological text Enuma elish, the [[sacred]] [[scriptures]] of this [[civilization]], and she is one of the most popular [[influences]] of the [[pagan]] [[culture]] on the [[Bible]]. Some have suggested that she [[inspired]] the biblical serpent and its symbolism from Pre History to all ancient civilizations.
Within Babylonian mythology, scholars, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Graves Robert Graves], considered Tiamat´s [[death]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk Marduk] an outstanding example of how occurred the shift in [[power]] from matriarchy to [[patriarchy]]. The [[Greek]] [[mythology]] also presents Apollo's killing of the female monster Python as a [[necessary]] [[action]] to take over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_Oracle Delphic Oracle]. In both mythologies, Tiamat and Python, have their body divided into two halves.
==Description==
'''Matriarchy''' (from the [[Greek]] μητριαρχία) or gynecocracy (from the Greek γυναικοκρατία) refers to a gynecocentric [[form]] of [[society]], in which the leading role is taken by the [[women]] and especially by the [[mothers]] of a [[community]].
There are no known [[societies]] that are unambiguously matriarchal, although there are a [[number]] of attested [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrilinear matrilinear] , matrilocal and avunculocal societies, especially among [[indigenous]] peoples of Asia and Africa, such as those of the Minangkabau, Mosuo, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berber_people Berbers] or Tuareg, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basques Basques] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardinian_people Sardinian] people in Europe. Strongly matrilocal societies sometimes are referred to as matrifocal, and there is some [[debate]] concerning the terminological delineation between matrifocality and matriarchy. Note that even in [[patriarchical]] systems of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male-preference_primogeniture male-preference primogeniture] there may occasionally be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_regnant queens regnant], as in the case of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England Elizabeth I of England] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_of_the_United_Kingdom Victoria of the United Kingdom].
According to ''The Cambridge Ancient History'': "the predominance of a supreme [[goddess]] is probably a reflexion from the [[practice]] of matriarchy which at all times charactherized [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam Elamite] civilization to a greater or lesser [[degree]]". Elam is the first high-[[culture]] of Iran and, along with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerians Sumerians], is considered one of the most [[developed]] [[societies]] of the ancient history.
In 19th century western [[scholarship]], the [[hypothesis]] of matriarchy [[representing]] an early [[stage]] of [[human]] [[development]] — now mostly lost in prehistory, with the exception of some "[[primitive]]" societies — enjoyed popularity. The hypothesis [[survived]] into the 20th century and was notably advanced in the [[context]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism feminism] and especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_wave_feminism second wave feminism], but this hypothesis of matriarchy as "merely" an early stage of [[human]] [[development]] is mostly discredited today. However, [[scholars]] and [[archeologists]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marija_Gimbutas Marija Gimbutas] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riane_Eisler Riane Eisler] describe their notion of a "woman-centered" [[society]] [[surrounding]] goddess [[worship]] throughout Pre History ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic Paleolithic] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_Europe Neolithic] Europe) and [[ancient]] civilizations, by using the term matristic "[[exhibiting]] [[influence]] or [[domination]] by the [[mother]] figure". The notion of such a "woman-centered" society is also [[confirmed]] by major archeologists [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Bachofen J. J. Bachofen], whose three-volume ''Myth, Religion and Mother Right'' (1861), impacted the way classicists such as Jane Harrison, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Arthur_Evans Sir Arthur Evans], looked at the [[evidence]] of pre-Hellenic societies, Walter Burkert and James Mellaart: "The goddesses of [[Greek]] [[polytheism]], so different and complementary," Walter Burkert has observed, in Homo Necans (1972) 1983:79f, "are nonetheless, consistently similar at an earlier [[stage]], with one or the other simply becoming [[dominant]] in a [[sanctuary]] or [[city]]. Each is the Great Goddess presiding over a [[male]] [[society]]; each is depicted in her attire as Mistress of the Beasts, and Mistress of the [[Sacrifice]], even [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera Hera] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter Demeter]".[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy Source}
[[Category: Sociology]]
