Patriarchy

The Last Universal

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2348725
AutoresJ N Edwards (0000-0002-4903-2826, Virginia Tech), Patricia Kluck (American University)
Año1980
Volumen1
Número3
Páginas317-337
Fecha de publicación1980-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Family Issues (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0192-513X • E-ISSN: 1552-5481
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0192513x8000100302
OpenAlexW2143577900
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas22

UNIVERSAL patriarchy, asserting that males are always dominant, is firmly established as part of our conventional and scientific wisdom. Close examination of this contention shows it, however, to be wanting on both conceptual and methodological grounds. Further suspicion as to its truth claim derives from an inspection of a dubious case, that the Dahomey of Africa, in whose society women equally occupied positions of authority with men in all major institutional sectors of society. Coupled with these conceptual, methodological, and empirical difficulties, the evolutionary scenario-man as hunter-commonly used to support the notion of universal patriarchy is found to be more of a political convenience than an adequate explanation of dominance patterns. Taken together, these considerations strongly indicate the implausibility of sustaining universal male dominance as a scientific generalization. Some of the implications for family studies of its continued acceptance are noted

Biology · Conceptual framework · Economics · Epistemology · Generalization · Patriarchy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Social science · Sociology · Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology · Economic Theory and Institutions · Gender Studies · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Law · Philosophy