Nature is often filled with contradictions yet somehow it proves to work out the best in the end. One is that either men rule or women rule -- you cannot have the in betweens. That is why I am fascinated with an idea which I came up with called Patriarchy amd Matrilinial Cycles. In brief, the Patriarchy is and has always been in power -- there has never in history been a recorded Matriarchy. The reason for this is simply biological -- man has the biological capacity to build, create and lead --given by nature -- whereas women mostly do not. However, Patriarchy goes through the three phases of rise, stability and decline --which completes a cycle. In the decline phase, the patriarchy becomes all to powerful and man's rule over women becomes so absolute that women become exploited and man's character goes low. This is bc in the rise and stability period of the patriarchy, there is enormous wealth and productivity -- then the younger generation of men who are raised in luxury do not have the same discipline and high ethics of men in the previous periods. This younger generation of men get too powerful but lack the high character and they begin to exploit women. This gives rise to the women's movement. Eventually women organize themselves into a powerful political and social force and only destabilize the patriarchy. They never end up toppling the patriarchy bc majority of women do not want to work 90 hours a week to lead a society. This destabilization of the patriarchy is necessary as it gets rid of low character men -- in this period men as a whole suffer. However, matrilinity also goes through the rise, stable and decline phase. In the rise, you get geniune leadership from women, but then in the decline, you get also low character women --who are also raised in privillige -- and they begin to exploit men --- and society decays. This is when a men's movement starts and genuine male leadership is formed to rebuild society again -- and the patriarchy goes back into the rise phase. It seems a patriarchy cycle generally lasts a long time -- may a few hundred years -- whereas a matrilinity cycle is quite short -- less than a hundredyears or so. So the women's movement is not long simply bc women do not want to lead society by sacrificing family and working 90 hours a week -- although they say to the contrary. So today we find ourselves especially in the western countries, matrilinity in the decline and patricarchy starting to organize itself. In other more poor countires, especially middle east -- we find patriarchy declining and matrilinity on the rise. These cycles have been appearing regulary throughout history.
I think these ideas are fascinating. When we approach the gender issus from this angle, we are more balanced in our thinking. SO in the bigger picture -- genuine male and female leadership -- has always worked in harmony -- and need each other to survive. But we rarely get this ideal situation -- it is often quite an ugly transition --when matrilinity decays and patriarchy takes over -- and vice versa when patriarchy decays and matrilinity creates destabilization.
A Study of Patriarchy and Matrilineal Cycles
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Historical Cycles or Historical Linearity
An important foundation that must be first discussed before we can properly analyse the present gender turmoil is how does society evolve. After reading this post, we will discover that the present day gender turmoil is not new at all. It has occurred many times throughout history dating back to when man and woman first interacted. There is a cyclical pattern which I hope to prove and discuss.
So how do societies evolve? There are two groups of social historians that have opposing views. One group beleive that society evolves in cycles and that regular patterns may be identified to support the claim. History therefore repeats itself on an on going basis. The other group however beleive that society evolves in a linear movement caused by random events. There are no cyclical patterns.
So who is correct? It is my opinion that they are both correct to some degree. There are certainly cyclical patterns in history but there are also random events that profoudly create massive changes. Presently we may argue that the internet is a random linear event that is creating significant changes that have never occured before in how society interacts.When analysing gender relations however, I am convinced that there is a cyclical pattern that has been occuring for tens of thosands of years.
A cyclical theory of history that I have come accross and consider to be the most accurate so far is called The Law of Social Cycles by P.R. Sarkar (1929 - 1990). This theory discusses the overall big cycle of how societies evolve. In brief, a human society has four types of individuals that may be characterized by their dominant mental character. They are the warrior, intellectual, business or the general labour type. The majority maybe up to 70- 80% are the general labours who are the foundation of a society and operate its functions. The three other groups compete with each and rise to the top and rule society. In order, first the warriors (Dicatatorship, Military) come to power after a period of revolt from the general labours who have been oppressed. At this stage only the warriors are able to bring back law and order by using physical force. However after being in power for a long period, the warriors also exploit the masses. The only group who can over throw the warriors are the intellectuals ( usually in the form of religion) who use their intellectual force to come into power. After a period in power, the intellectuals also oppress society and the next group to rise to power are the business class who use money to buy out the intellectuals and warriors. The business class too eventually exploit society and the rich concentrate the wealth while the poor become more poor. There is again a revolt by the masses and the warriors come back to power. So the wheel of the Law of Social Cycles continues to turn throughout history. This is the big picture. Each era of the group in power may last hundreds of years. Each era also goes through three disticnt phases: the rise, stability and decline. In the rise period ther is genuine leadership and real progress is made in society. In the period of stabilty the group in power is firmly entrenched. In the decline period power is transfered to the new generations who are raised in luxury and do not have the same work ethics of those leaders in the rise period. As a result, society begins falter and decay.
Now that we may have a basic understanding of the cylclical nature of how socities evolve, we can argue that there are also many small cycles that occur in the big Law of Social Cycles. In each era regardless of which group is in power there are many smaller cycles. However, these smaller cycles are more chaotic and less predicatable than the big Law of Social Cycle. These smaller and even mini cycles that occur may in fact seem linear with no recognizable pattern. The greater the demand by people, the stronger is the smaller cyle. Examples of smaller cyles are relevant and ongoing issues such as women rights, men's rights, gay and lesbian rights, racial minority rights, animal rights, relgious rights,etc and a host of other ongoing and less talked about issues such as farmers, water protection, marijuana, military,rights of prostitues etc.
This blog will only be discussing the regular and ongoing cycles that have occured between the genders for thousands and thousands of years. The issue of gender is significant in comparison to other topics, so the gender cycle is more stronger and reliable than other smaller and mini cycles.
Now that we have basis or foundation set, or at least an approach to the complcated issues of gender, we can go more into depth which will continue in the following blogs.
So how do societies evolve? There are two groups of social historians that have opposing views. One group beleive that society evolves in cycles and that regular patterns may be identified to support the claim. History therefore repeats itself on an on going basis. The other group however beleive that society evolves in a linear movement caused by random events. There are no cyclical patterns.
So who is correct? It is my opinion that they are both correct to some degree. There are certainly cyclical patterns in history but there are also random events that profoudly create massive changes. Presently we may argue that the internet is a random linear event that is creating significant changes that have never occured before in how society interacts.When analysing gender relations however, I am convinced that there is a cyclical pattern that has been occuring for tens of thosands of years.
A cyclical theory of history that I have come accross and consider to be the most accurate so far is called The Law of Social Cycles by P.R. Sarkar (1929 - 1990). This theory discusses the overall big cycle of how societies evolve. In brief, a human society has four types of individuals that may be characterized by their dominant mental character. They are the warrior, intellectual, business or the general labour type. The majority maybe up to 70- 80% are the general labours who are the foundation of a society and operate its functions. The three other groups compete with each and rise to the top and rule society. In order, first the warriors (Dicatatorship, Military) come to power after a period of revolt from the general labours who have been oppressed. At this stage only the warriors are able to bring back law and order by using physical force. However after being in power for a long period, the warriors also exploit the masses. The only group who can over throw the warriors are the intellectuals ( usually in the form of religion) who use their intellectual force to come into power. After a period in power, the intellectuals also oppress society and the next group to rise to power are the business class who use money to buy out the intellectuals and warriors. The business class too eventually exploit society and the rich concentrate the wealth while the poor become more poor. There is again a revolt by the masses and the warriors come back to power. So the wheel of the Law of Social Cycles continues to turn throughout history. This is the big picture. Each era of the group in power may last hundreds of years. Each era also goes through three disticnt phases: the rise, stability and decline. In the rise period ther is genuine leadership and real progress is made in society. In the period of stabilty the group in power is firmly entrenched. In the decline period power is transfered to the new generations who are raised in luxury and do not have the same work ethics of those leaders in the rise period. As a result, society begins falter and decay.
Now that we may have a basic understanding of the cylclical nature of how socities evolve, we can argue that there are also many small cycles that occur in the big Law of Social Cycles. In each era regardless of which group is in power there are many smaller cycles. However, these smaller cycles are more chaotic and less predicatable than the big Law of Social Cycle. These smaller and even mini cycles that occur may in fact seem linear with no recognizable pattern. The greater the demand by people, the stronger is the smaller cyle. Examples of smaller cyles are relevant and ongoing issues such as women rights, men's rights, gay and lesbian rights, racial minority rights, animal rights, relgious rights,etc and a host of other ongoing and less talked about issues such as farmers, water protection, marijuana, military,rights of prostitues etc.
This blog will only be discussing the regular and ongoing cycles that have occured between the genders for thousands and thousands of years. The issue of gender is significant in comparison to other topics, so the gender cycle is more stronger and reliable than other smaller and mini cycles.
Now that we have basis or foundation set, or at least an approach to the complcated issues of gender, we can go more into depth which will continue in the following blogs.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Bringing Solutions to Gender issues
Good day, this is my first post on this newly created blog. I have a theory on Gender relations I would like to explain and explore. Your contributions are welcome. I beleive for those who understand this theory of which I am calling for now Patriarchy and Matrilineal Cycles, one would certainly have a greater degree of awareness of what is happening and why in our present day societies are male and female genders are at great odds with each other. One will certainly be in a better position to deal with the surrounding issues and find better solution to the problem at hand. It will take some time to write this theory as a whole thesis or book could written on this topic. So please stay in tune with this blog. We all have busy schedules so I will do what I can to contribute here. It is my hope that with this awareness, the genders will come back together in greater harmony in tune with nature. Of course some ideas here will be controversial ---but lets start the jouney anyway.
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