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Julie Gillis's avatar

I enjoyed this piece because I too would like to see a far more peaceful, collaborative, and just world (and day to day life). I will argue with you that a matriarchy might not be any better. I've seen (first hand) women with power do terrible things (and while you might suggest that that's because they were raised within a patriarchy and that's what they know, I'm not so sure). I've also seen men with power do beautiful things. I think the issue is power itself and how too much of it just mangles the brain like an addictive drug, and that we are both human and primate (and if we look to our cousins, we see how patriarchy and matriarchy play out in terms of power dynamics-they are there). For me the solution is more balance and more checks and balances towards accountability (the 20th century is by far from a perfect example, but certainly there are some movement forward in terms of shifting culture and shifting out injustices through the will of people).

I don't know that we know what a matriarchy would look like, and it might be ideal and utopian, or it might play out power in ways that harm. That's my fear, from 54 years of age and watching systems of power warp people's ability to use power well.

However, Patriarchy as it stands, sucks hard and it does need to end. But I just don't want to see a pendulum swing in some other oppressive direction. We have to learn how to step outside power itself, I think. Much harder.

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Ruth Gyllenhammer's avatar

I appreciated this essay. Related to women and the church, I felt this article was important: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/october/wilkin-women-ministry-leaders-church-staff-wages-lifeway.html

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