Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Transition to Patriarchy. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page research paper/essay that discusses the transition from matriarchy to patriarchy which began in human history's ancient past and then discusses the relevancy of patriarchy to today's issues. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khmptran.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
standard patriarchal pattern of a man and "his" wife and children. Rather than being the "natural" pattern, history shows that the original human family was ordered on very different lines.
In prehistoric times, the only obvious relationship between people was the primal mammalian relationship between a mother and her child (Bachofen 71). The animal family is the "product of
the maternal instincts and of those alone; the mother is the sole center and bond of it" (Briffault 191). Additionally the role of the male in reproduction was far from
clear as sexual intercourse and the event of birth are separated by time and often sex does not lead to birth. Therefore, during the Neolithic age, the matrilineal clan system
developed and "family" was defined by the concept of a woman and her children. Inheritance was completely matrilineal, that is, a man bequeathed nothing to his children, as they were
not considered part of "his" family, but rather belonged to their mothers clan. A mans inheritance went to his sisters and their children (Briffault, vol. 1415). This was the rule
across Europe until the coming of Christianity and patriarchy. Male scholars have shown considerable gender bias in their reluctance to describe ancient systems of matrilineal inheritance. For example, after
translating some early Babylonian text, one male scholar notes that women in this society were "allowed" to hold and manage their own estates, which suggests that male privilege magnanimously made
this possible (Stone 43). The ancient perspective was far different. There are abundant historical sources to indicate that the ancients looked on religion in distinctly female terms. The earth gave
life; women gave life. To the ancients, the earth was clearly female and therefore naturally belonged to women. Study of primitive hunter/gather tribes suggests, additionally, that it was women who
...