Angela Saini | The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule

In this interview with award-winning science journalist Angela Saini, based on her bold and radical book The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule, we explore the roots and complex history of how patriarchy first became embedded in societies and spread across the globe from prehistory into the present. Angela discusses how gendered roles, pronatalism, and militarism – key features of patriarchies – are very recent phenomena, which emerged with the rise of the early states and empires, with pressure on women to have many children for the state and on men to defend the state. By detailing the diversity of human arrangements, including the prevalence of egalitarian and matrilineal societies around the world – past and present – Angela reveals that male-supremacy is neither natural nor immutable. However, she notes that as long as nation states remain committed to valuing productivity and growth – primarily by maintaining control over women’s reproduction and over nature – achieving gender equality and ecological justice will remain illusory goals, even in the most progressive nations.


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[Prole]

This was a great podcast! I learned a lot.

[AlanDavidDoane]

Excellent discussion and analysis. Subscribed!

[vapeking]

Perhaps a name change is in order. At least if you want to grow. Population is a sore subject for many with The World Economic Forum and other NGO'S complaints of too many people. Population reduction is full speed ahead right now so any overgrowth will be plummeting and already has been in nearly every country. I cant aggree with the depopulation agenda personally I believe we should have children unless of course you dont value family. 🙏

[coolshah]

I like your work, but this woman ruined everything by naming this genocide a conflict and throwing in the tacit admiration for a genocidal IOF army. There was no need to drag Putin into this, as well, as he's no different from many Western oligarchs. Not to mention lifting up Ukraine, a country run by a throng of Nazi military factions. This was pretty sickening to hear.

Not sure how you can call communism a state system, and the fact that she's dunking on China, as well, blows my mind as no one in China is promoting that. Very disappointed.