In the final chapter Eller briefly reiterates that matriarchal myth is highly unlikely, at least on the scale ascribed to by many matriarchal feminists, but that it is possible there was at some point a matriarchal group but that logic and existing evidence point to a history of patriarchy from then until now. She notes that the matriarchal myth persists in the face of staggering counter evidence because it is supported by passion and religious faith. She further conjectures that proving the myth may not be as useful as embracing the myth.
She then throws a wrench into things by pointing out the inherent equality and gender issues resulting from a wholehearted embrace of the matriarchal myth. On page 189 she says, "If we are not going to discover history at the end of the day, but simply create myth, then the only grounds upon which feminist origins thinking can be justified is that it serves feminist political purposes. I have already dwelled at length on the problems inherent in pinning sexism on universalizing notions of the differences between women and men"(para 2) -emphasis hers. She goes on to argue that women and men do not need to claim a matriarchal past in order to repair the patriarchy we all labor under.
She concludes, powerfully, with: "[W]e do not need matriarchal myth to tell us that sexism is bad or that change is possible. With the help of all feminists, matriarchalists and otherwise, we need to decide what we want and set about getting it. Next this, the 'knowledge' that we once had it will pale into insignificance" (pg 188 para 3).
Matriarchal myth is unnecessary, divisive, false, and unhelpful if we want to move forward into a society that is truly equal.
Eller, Cynthia. The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why an Invented past Won't Give Women a Future. Boston: Beacon, 2000. Chapter 9 On the Usefulness of Origin Myth. Print.
She then throws a wrench into things by pointing out the inherent equality and gender issues resulting from a wholehearted embrace of the matriarchal myth. On page 189 she says, "If we are not going to discover history at the end of the day, but simply create myth, then the only grounds upon which feminist origins thinking can be justified is that it serves feminist political purposes. I have already dwelled at length on the problems inherent in pinning sexism on universalizing notions of the differences between women and men"(para 2) -emphasis hers. She goes on to argue that women and men do not need to claim a matriarchal past in order to repair the patriarchy we all labor under.
She concludes, powerfully, with: "[W]e do not need matriarchal myth to tell us that sexism is bad or that change is possible. With the help of all feminists, matriarchalists and otherwise, we need to decide what we want and set about getting it. Next this, the 'knowledge' that we once had it will pale into insignificance" (pg 188 para 3).
Matriarchal myth is unnecessary, divisive, false, and unhelpful if we want to move forward into a society that is truly equal.
Eller, Cynthia. The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why an Invented past Won't Give Women a Future. Boston: Beacon, 2000. Chapter 9 On the Usefulness of Origin Myth. Print.
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