The Enigma of Gender Hierarchy and Patriarchy

Key Insight

Patriarchy, the hierarchy of gender valuing men more highly, has been universally important in all known human societies since at least the Agricultural Revolution, with men consistently receiving better treatment. Historical texts, such as ancient Chinese oracle bones, reveal a preference for male children, and in many societies, women were considered property. Legal systems often classified rape as property violation, with remedies like transferring ownership to the rapist, and in 2006, 53 countries still did not prosecute husbands for marital rape.

While some disparities between men and women reflect biological differences like childbearing, most associated attributes of masculinity and femininity are cultural, lacking firm biological bases. The distinction between 'sex' (biological, e.g., XX/XY chromosomes) and 'gender' (cultural, e.g., 'man'/'woman' roles) clarifies this; gender roles, rights, and duties are defined by myths and vary immensely across societies, making 'manhood' and 'womanhood' complicated, demanding cultural undertakings, often with constant pressure on males to prove their masculinity.

Despite the universality and stability of patriarchy across political upheavals and economic transformations, the biological reasons for men's social dominance remain an enigma. Common theories — men's greater muscle power, aggression, or evolved reproductive strategies — are largely unconvincing. For instance, social power does not directly correlate with physical strength, and women were often excluded from low-effort jobs while performing hard manual labor. Likewise, though men may have aggressive tendencies, leadership often requires appeasement and cooperation, skills often stereotyped as feminine. The rapid gender revolution of the past century further highlights that patriarchy, seemingly based on unfounded myths, presents a perplexing historical puzzle.