Feminism in prehistoric times / primitive culture

[downbeatplumb]

No, feminism is a movement. Being in charge is not. Nor does women being in charge have anything to do with feminism.

Feminism seeks to empower women. A matriarchy is women empowered. A successful feminist movement if you will.

[larson]

A matriarchy is women in charge. Feminism seeks equality. Not the same thing. And a movement is not the same as an outcome. Could there have been a feminist movement in a primitive society?

[Cyberman]

Maybe. Sure. Why not?

[Aegon]

The question doesn't make sense to me. Feminism is a response to the social order that developed as civil society evolved. Prehistoric society didn't have the luxury to have any sort of social movements; I think they were busy trying to stay alive.

[larson]

Aegon,

So you're saying that feminism could only occur in a developed society? What is it about a developed society that would make a feminist movement start?

[Jesster]

You might try asking someone who specializes in anthropology. This is an unprofessional internet forum focusing on atheism.

What's your interest in this anyway? It's an odd first thread.

[larson]

Jesster,

I'm interested because I would like to know what prerequisite conditions in a society would have to be in place for a feminist movement to be considered necessary.

[Jesster]

Why do you think we would have the answers to this? Are you sure you found the right website?

[brewer]

brewer, are you seriously suggesting that feminism is the advocacy of women being in charge of society? I don't think even 99.9% of feminists would agree with that. And the dictionary definition of feminism doesn't agree with you either. By the way I'm a woman, so your insults about me not being able to get laid are pretty useless.

Jeanne, why don't you elaborate a bit more on why a primitive society would not be fertile ground for any kind of feminist movement.

You said it's not about them being in charge, not me. I'm asking you what you think feminism is about then, other than a movement. Your thread, why don't you elaborate a bit more? 

What dictionary are you using? 

Man or woman, could still be about you not getting laid.

[Jeanne]

brewer, are you seriously suggesting that feminism is the advocacy of women being in charge of society? I don't think even 99.9% of feminists would agree with that. And the dictionary definition of feminism doesn't agree with you either. By the way I'm a woman, so your insults about me not being able to get laid are pretty useless.

Jeanne, why don't you elaborate a bit more on why a primitive society would not be fertile ground for any kind of feminist movement.

Larson, don't you have a sex life?  Do you believe that women should not have a sex life?  Or do you mean to imply that because you are a woman you get laid all the time with little effort?

Perhaps we don't agree on what constitutes a primitive society or "any kind of feminist movement."  To me, primitive living doesn't leave time for demanding equality, as usually both sexes are working hard to survive.  Actually...they are equally struggling, equally starving, equally dead tired and equally at risk for dying young in their brutish lives.

If you have breasts with milk, then you tie yourself to the child whether you are at hearth or gathering.  If you do not have breasts with milk, then you don't have to worry about the child and you can do a lot more.  That fact tends to divide the chores in primitive living.  

What do you think primitive women should have done to start a feminist movement so that they would have equality?

-Jeanne