Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe

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Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe

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Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433125126
Publisher:	Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
Publication date:	09/30/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	533
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Heide Goettner-Abendroth is a German philosopher and researcher of culture and society who is focused on matriarchal studies. She taught at the University of Munich and was visiting professor at the University of Montreal, Canada and the University of Innsbruck, Austria. She organized and guided two World Congresses on Matriarchal Studies in 2003 and 2005. She was nominated as one of the «1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize» in 2005.

Acknowledgments xiii

A Word on Matriarchy xv

General Introduction: Philosophy and Methodology of Modern Matriarchal Studies xvii

Chapter 1 A Critical History of Perspectives on Matriarchy 1

1.1 The pioneers

1.2 The Marxist discussion

1.3 The anthropological-ethnological branch

1.4 The prehistory branch

1.5 The religious studies branch

1.6 The branch of study of oral traditions

1.7 The archaeological branch

1.8 Feminist and indigenous Matriarchal Studies

Part I Indigenous Matriarchal Societies in Eastern Asia, Indonesia, and Oceania

Chapter 2 Matriarchy in Northeast India 45

2.1 Khasi: the land and the people

2.2 Social structure

2.3 Political patterns

2.4 Belief and sacred ceremony

2.5 The current situation

2.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies

Chapter 3 Matriarchal Cults in Nepal 68

3.1 The Newar of the Katmandu Valley

3.2 The cult of the goddess Kali

3.3 Pashupatinath: the cult of death and life

3.4 Kumari, the living goddess

3.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 4 Ancient Queens Realms and Group Marriage in Tibet 87

4.1 Planting and herding cultures

4.2 The Bon Religion

4.3 Ancient Tibetans queens' realms

4.4 Polyandry as well-organised group marriage

4.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 5 Matriarchal Mountain Peoples of China 105

5.1 Indigenous peoples in China

5.2 The Mosuo in Southwest China

5.3 The Chiang People in Northwest China

5.4 Yao, Miao and other indigenous peoples

5.5 The peoples of the Yueh Culture in Southeast China

5.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 6 Women Shamans in Korea 131

6.1 Megalith cultures in East Asia and the Pacific Rim

6.2 Women in the history of Korea

6.3 Contemporary women shamans

6.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 7 The Islands of Japan: Women's Cultures of the South and North 143

7.1 Japan's Shinto Religion

7.2 Sister and brother in the Ryukyu Islands

7.3 Matriarchal mythology

7.4 The Ainu in Northern Japan

7.5 Paleolithic worldview

7.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 8 "Alam Minangkabau": The world of the Minangkabau in Indonesia 163

8.1 Matriarchal cultural patterns in Indonesia

8.2 Minangkabau social order and culture

8.3 "Darek" and "Rantau": two ways to keep patriarchy out

8.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 9 Matriarchal Patterns in Melanesia 177

9.1 The Trobriand Islanders

9.2 Ancestor children in Trobriand Islands society

9.3 The Kula ring and chieftainship in the Trobriand Islands

9.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 10 Pacific Ocean Cultures 189

10.1 Of ships, stars, and stones

10.2 Women in Polynesian society

10.3 Pele's clan

10.4 Warrior chiefs in Oceania

10.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Part II Indigenous Matriarchal Societies in the Americas, India, and Africa

Chapter 11 Matriarchal Cultures in South America 211

11.1 The Arawak

11.2 The Amazons of the Amazon

11.3 The seaway to South America

11.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 12 The Spread of Matriarchy to Central America 241

12.1 The Kuna, the "Golden People"

12.2 Kuna beliefs and religious ceremony

12.3 The strong, beautiful women of Juchitàn

12.4 The life cycle of Juchitecan women

12.5 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 13 North America: Matriarchal Immigrants from the South 269

13.1 The Hopi, the "Peaceful People"

13.2 Life-cycle feasts and agricultural ceremonies

13.3 Pueblo deities and mythology

13.4 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 14 North America: At the Cultural Crossroads of South and North 296

14.1 History of the Iroquois

14.2 Creation of the Iroquois Confederation

14.3 The Constitution and political structures

14.4 Iroquois society

14.5 Iroquois economy

14.6 Iroquois medicine societies and mythology

14.7 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 15 Matriarchy in South India 329

15.1 Matriarchy within the caste system: South India

15.2 Nayar women and men

15.3 Nayar, Pulayan and Parayan

15.4 Nayar social organization

15.5 Nayar festivals and religion

15.6 Patriarchal Brahmins and matriarchal Nayar: a problematic relationship

15.7 The downfall of the Nayar matriarchal structures

15.8 The outcasts: Adivasi and Sinti-Roma

15.9 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 16 Ancient Matriarchy in Central Africa 365

16.1 The Bantu

16.2 The unmanageable Bemba women

16.3 Bemba religion

16.4 The dual social organization of the Luapula

16.5 Patriarchal and matriarchal animal-breeding peoples

16.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 17 Matriarchal Queen-Kingship in West Africa 393

17.1 The history of the Akan

17.2 The Queen Mother and the earliest form of the Akan realms

17.3 Matriarchal Akan kings

17.4 Akan religion and the sacred function of the queen mother and king

17.5 Development of patriarchal tendencies in Akan realms

17.6 The Ashanti

17.7 Extension of matriarchal queen-kingship in Sub-Saharan Africa

17.8 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Chapter 18 Matriarchal Pastoral Peoples in North Africa 429

18.1 The Targi woman: mistress of the tent

18.2 Tuareg social and economic power

18.3 Tuareg political organization

18.4 The history: exodus into the desert

18.5 The ancient Berber religion

18.6 Understanding the structure of matriarchal societies (continuation)

Glossary 461

List of Permissions for Illustrations 475

Bibliography 477

Index 505

Preface

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Editorial Reviews

«For decades, Heide Goettner-Abendroth has been a serious scholar of the deep history and ongoing traditions of matriarchy in Europe. Her extensive research has taken her through strong historical matriarchies on several continents, drawing together the research of the most modern international scholars on matriarchy. Her book now brings to undeniable light the matriarchal alternatives available to humanity. Goettner-Abendroth should be on the reading list of every women’s studies program.» (Barbara Alice Mann, Ohio Bear Clan Seneca, Assistant Professor in the Honors College of the University of Toledo, and Co-Director of the Native American Alliance of Ohio)
«If in the millennium of women, future generations look back to find the origin of their peaceful societies, they will find that the work of Heide Goettner-Abendroth opened the way. Modern matriarchal studies break through patriarchal capitalist ideology and provide the new/old models for viable ways of life of which our present globalizing market is only a destructive aberration.» (Genevieve Vaughan, Author of For-Giving: A Feminist Criticism of Exchange and Women and the Gift Economy: A Radically Different Worldview Is Possible, and Founder of International Feminists for a Gift Economy)
«With the publication of this important book, Heide Goettner-Abendroth’s brilliant critical conceptualization of the deep structures shared by matriarchal societies around the world becomes fully available in English. Her theory has developed, not abstractly but inductively, from the analytical investigation of numerous societies by non-indigenous and indigenous researchers. It provides the basis for a full-fledged interdisciplinary and cross-cultural field of matriarchal studies where previously only isolated studies were possible.
Matriarchal studies is a deeply political and liberatory field grounded in an understanding that the destructive patriarchal power structures pervasive today are a historically recent development. Scholars of matriarchy, some of whom are members of matriarchal societies, are uncovering and reclaiming cultures created mainly by women. Their research offers support for indigenous peoples’ struggles on every continent for land and cultural rights and brings hope to us all that we can build a better world.» (Angela Miles, Professor of Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, Canada)
«Heide Goettner-Abendroth has devoted her life to the study of matriarchal societies and the development of modern matriarchal studies. Her monumental work is presented in this book. As a Western feminist and peace activist this knowledge has transformed almost every facet of my thinking, theorizing, and activism as well as my daily life. My work on, motherhood, sexuality, racism, and above all peace and peace building has been significantly altered by Goettner-Abendroth’s scholarship. I believe her work offers Western feminists and other progressive scholars as well as social change activists a new, innovative vision of an alternative society – a society of peace and balance, insightful ways to heal the many harms Western civilization brought about, and groundbreaking passages of doing politics, peace building, and conflict resolution.» (Erella Shadmi, Isha L’Isha feminist center, Israel, and former Head of Women’s Studies Program, Beit Berl College, Israel)
«In an ideal world this ground-breaking study would already be required reading in most disciplines from women’s and native studies to anthropology and, most importantly, economics, political science, and religious studies. I predict, however, that in this era of urgent survival studies following the moral, financial, ecological, and climate crises, Heide

«For decades, Heide Goettner-Abendroth has been a serious scholar of the deep history and ongoing traditions of matriarchy in Europe. Her extensive research has taken her through strong historical matriarchies on several continents, drawing together the research of the most modern international scholars on matriarchy. Her book now brings to undeniable light the matriarchal alternatives available to humanity. Goettner-Abendroth should be on the reading list of every women’s studies program.» (Barbara Alice Mann, Ohio Bear Clan Seneca, Assistant Professor in the Honors College of the University of Toledo, and Co-Director of the Native American Alliance of Ohio)
«If in the millenium of women, future generations look back to find the origin of their peaceful societies, they will find that the work of Heide Goettner-Abendroth opened the way. Modern matriarchal studies break through patriarchal capitalist ideology and provide the new/old models for viable ways of life of which our present globalizing market is only a destructive abberation.» (Genevieve Vaughan, Author of ‘For-Giving: A Feminist Criticism of Exchange’ and ‘Women and the Gift Economy: A Radically Different Worldview Is Possible’, and ‘Founder of International Feminists for a Gift Economy’)
«With the publication of this important book, Heide Goettner-Abendroth’s brilliant critical conceptualization of the deep structures shared by matriarchal societies around the world becomes fully available in English. Her theory has developed, not abstractly but inductively, from the analytical investigation of numerous societies by non-indigenous and indigenous researchers. It provides the basis for a full-fledged interdisciplinary and cross-cultural field of matriarchal studies where previously only isolated studies were possible. Matriarchal studies is a deeply political and liberatory field grounded in an understanding that the destructive patriarchal power structures pervasive today are a historically recent development. Scholars of matriarchy, some of whom are members of matriarchal societies, are uncovering and reclaiming cultures created mainly by women. Their research offers support for indigenous peoples’ struggles on every continent for land and cultural rights and brings hope to us all that we can build a better world.» (Angela Miles, Professor of Adult Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, Canada)
«Heide Goettner-Abendroth has devoted her life to the study of matriarchal societies and the development of modern matriarchal studies. Her monumental work is presented in this book. As a Western feminist and peace activist this knowledge has transformed almost every facet of my thinking, theorizing, and activism as well as my daily life. My work on, motherhood, sexuality, racism, and above all peace and peace building has been significantly altered by Goettner-Abendroth’s scholarship. I believe her work offers Western feminists and other progressive scholars as well as social change activists a new, innovative vision of an alternative society – a society of peace and balance, insightful ways to heal the many harms Western civilization brought about, and groundbreaking passages of doing politics, peace building, and conflict resolution.» (Erella Shadmi, Isha L’Isha feminist center, Israel, and former Head of Women’s Studies Program, Beit Berl College, Israel)
«In an ideal world this ground-breaking study would already be required reading in most disciplines from women’s and native studies to anthropology and, most importantly, economics, political science, and religious studies. I predict, however, that in this era of urgent survival studies following the moral, financial, ecological, and climate crises, Heide

From the Publisher

Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe

Matriarchal Societies: Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe

Paperback(Reprint)

Paperback(Reprint)

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

Preface

Customer Reviews

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

Preface

Related Subjects

Customer Reviews