Societies of Peace: Matriarchies Past, Present, and Future, edited by Heide Goettner-Abendroth, celebrates women’s largely ignored and/or invisible contribution to culture by exploring matriarchal societies that have existed in the past and that continue to exist today in certain parts of the world. Matriarchal societies, primarily shaped by women, have a non-violent social order in which all living creatures are respected without the exploitation of humans, animals, or nature. They are well-balanced and peaceful societies in which domination is unknown and all beings are treated equally. This book presents these largely misunderstood societies, both past and present, to the wider public, as alternative social and cultural models that promote trust, mutuality, and abundance for all.

Contrary to common belief, which misunderstands matriarchy as “women’s rule,” these societies are based on a tradition of gender equality, negotiate their political decisions through consensus, have intelligent rules to ensure a peaceful life, and are balanced both in regard to gender and with respect to the generations, and which demonstrates an ecologically appropriate way of dealing with all living beings. The example of matriarchal societies can inspire us to find better social and cultural models for the solution of many contemporary problems.

Contributors include, among others: Riane Eisler; Barbara Alice Mann; Peggy Reeves Sanday; Claudia von Werlhoff; Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum; Michael Dames; Vicki Noble; Susan Gail Carter; Annette Kuhn; Lamu Gatusa; Bernadette Muthien; Fatimata Oualet Halatine; Wilhelmina J. Donkoh. Contributions come from around the world, with several based in the U.S.

This anthology is of interest not only to students and scholars but anyone interested in archaeology or anthropology, cultural and women’s studies, sociology, ethnography, comparative religious studies, mythology, folklore, northern and arctic studies, Native studies, ecocriticism/ecofeminism and feminist theory/body politics.

Publisher: Inanna Publications
Published: October 2009
Format: Book
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9780978223359