General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: There is nothing that causes outrage among men like female sexual autonomy. [View all]CrispyQ
(36,757 posts)Spot on!
I believe the roots of patriarchy go back to when humans first realized men's role in procreation. There was a long period in our history when we didn't connect having sex with a birth nine months later. During this time, women were more valued in society, more equal. Bloodlines were traced through the mother, which actually makes more sense. When the sex/birth connection was made, controlling women's sexuality was a way for men to control their bloodline. I think this knowledge changed everything between the sexes. Could we have reacted differently? I don't know, but most modern societies are patriarchal.
I agree with the poster above, that religion is largely for the sake of controlling women. It's good to control the undesirable elements of society, too, but it is used to control all women. So here we are in the throes of the patriarchy, which does so much damage to both men & women -- to our relationships in general.
And to the poster above who stated that things for women are better than they have been in 50 years, I say bullshit. I think the world is much more hostile to women now, than 30 years ago, when I was young & single. I thought we were starting to make some good progress but we have gone backwards considerably in just the past 10 years!