Matriarchal Societies
Douban
Studies on Indigenous Cultures across the Globe
Heide Goettner-Abendroth
Sinossi
This book presents the results of Heide Goettner-Abendroth’s pioneering research in the field of modern matriarchal studies, based on a new definition of „matriarchy“ as true gender-egalitarian societies. Accordingly, matriarchal societies should not be regarded as mirror images of patriarchal ones, as they have never needed patriarchy’s hierarchical structures of domination. On the contrary, matriarchal patterns are socially egalitarian, economically balanced, and politically based on consensus decisions. They have been created by women and are founded on maternal values. This new perspective on matriarchal societies is developed step by step by the analysis of extant indigenous cultures in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
contents
Topics include:
Introduction: Philosophy and Methodology of Modern Matriarchal Studies
Part I
Chapter 1: A Critical History of Perspectives on Matriarchy
Chapter 2: Matriarchy in North-Eastern India
Chapter 3: Matriarchal Cults in Nepal
Chapter 4: Ancient Queens Realms, and Group Marriage in Tibet
Chapter 5: Matriarchal Mountain Peoples of China
Chapter 6: Women Shamans in Korea
Chapter 7: The Islands of Japan: Women’s Cultures of the South and North
Chapter 8: “Alam Minangkabau” – the world of the Minangkabau in Indonesia
Chapter 9: Matriarchal Patterns in Melanesia
Chapter 10 Pacific Ocean Cultures
Part II
Chapter 11: Matriarchal Cultures in South America
Chapter 12: The Spread of Matriarchy to Central America
Chapter 13: North America: Matriarchal Immigrants from the South
Chapter 14: North America: At the Cultural Crossroads of South and North
Chapter 15: Matriarchy in South India
Chapter 16: Ancient Matriarchy in Central Africa
Chapter 17: Matriarchal Queen-Kingship in West Africa
Chapter 18: Matriarchal Pastoral Peoples in North Africa