Is patriarchy defensible?

[Lark]

Or even matriarchy? What do you think are the relationship of each to each other and human history? Do you think that one predates or postdates the other or ought to? Or that they have everywhere and always been in existence as an actuality or potentiality?

Is each just the shadow or "other" with which contrast or comparison, usually negative, is made?

 

[Coriolis]

Ideally, a society would be neither patriarchy nor matriarchy, but value the wisdom and contributions of male and female equally. In practice, the behavior and consequences of the two gender-biased systems have been observably different, with patriarchy generally promulgating more violence and intolerance, and making more us/them distinctions, even dividing the human being (body-vs-spirit-type distinctions).

 

[Mole]

Is slavery defensible?
Is child sexual abuse defensible?
Is patriarchy defensible?

 

[UniqueMixture]

Mmm patrairchy imo exists because it confers some advantage just like everything else (this is not to say it may or may not have corresponding weaknesses as well). Perhaps its time is over, perhaps not.