The Creation of Patriarchy

Gerda Lerner's The Creation of Patriarchy (1986) explores the ancient roots of women's subjugation, primarily examining Mesopotamian society. The concept of patriarchy, a social system where men hold absolute authority, was once part of a discredited theory of unilinear cultural evolution that posited societies progressed from promiscuity to matriarchy, then to patriarchy.123

Modern anthropologists and sociologists agree that while power is often gendered, patriarchy is not a universal constant. Lerner's work contributes to women's history, a field that emerged in the 19th century to focus on the experiences and contributions of women, who were largely excluded from traditional historical narratives centered on war and politics.21