What Patriarchy Meant in Ancient Greece and Early America

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What is Patriarchy?

Patriarchy is a form of society in which males, usually the husband or father, are the heads of families. It is typified by male control of economics, government and culture. The word “patriarch” refers to the male leader of a family and comes from the Greek word “patriarches.” In periods of hunter-gatherer societies such as during the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, women were relatively equal to men in terms of social status and work. In some regards, women had an elevated status because of their ability to bear the future generation.

How Was Patriarchy Established in Ancient Greece 500 B.C.E.?

The advent of agricultural societies marked a downturn in the status of women and possibilities available to them. Agricultural societies were typically patriarchal in that they were governed by males who also dominated cultural aspects. In the homes of members of agricultural societies, the husband or father was tasked with making key decisions and handling the financial affairs. In most patriarchal societies, property was owned by men. Some societies allowed women to own property, but this mostly applied to single or widowed women. When a woman was married, any property that she owned was transferred to her husband as a form of dowry. Marriage was based on a dowry and was the typical path for women. Once married, a woman left her family and became a part of her husband’s family, sometimes sharing a household with her in-laws.

Patriarchy in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece was formed based in the context of agricultural societies. The actual system of patriarchy in Greece was developed in the Classical period from 5th to 4th centuries B.C.E. This period marked a decline in the rights of women. Greek women were not allowed to participate in politics. According to legend, the goddess Athena won by just one female vote the right to name the city Athens. Because of this initiative by a woman, as a punishment, all future generations of women would not be allowed to participate in politics. Athenian women had less freedom than their Spartan counterparts and were confined to the home. They often married young to much older men selected by their fathers, were expected to have many children and to manage the home. Women were not allowed to inherit property and divorce was nearly impossible. Education for women was often basic and ended in early childhood.

The Philosophy Behind Patriarchy in Ancient Greece

The philosophy behind patriarchy in ancient Greece was described by Aristotle in the 3rd century B.C.E. He taught his students that the origin of the city-state was in the patriarchal family structure. But he did admit that there was a difference in scale and design between the two. To Aristotle, the highest level of service to humanity was for one to participate in politics. Political systems, he held, were comprised of hierarchies. In his writing, “The Politics,” Aristotle used this as justification for male leadership. He wrote that just as subjects differ from rulers, men and women differ as well. The household, according to Aristotle, is subordinate to the polis because the goal of a home is to meet the daily needs of life while the goal of the polis to meet the common good of the society. He also stated that households are inferior to the polis because in households, males rule based on their age and place in the family. In the polis, a leader is chosen based on his merit.

Aristotle, as well as Plato, appears to have derived his ideas for a patriarchal society from Socrates. Socrates argued that ordinary citizens did not have the virtues needed to successfully govern a society. Virtue to Socrates was equated with knowledge that was not obtainable by common people. When democratic Athens battled with undemocratic Sparta, Socrates sided with Sparta. Aristotle’s philosophical views of the polis were not shared by all his contemporaries, both inside and outside of Greece. When the Greek historian Herodotus travelled to Egypt, he wrote about the contrast between Egyptian and Athenian and women. Egyptian women went to the marketplaces and worked in trades. They could engage in local politics, buy, inherit or bequeath real estate, obtain loans and be used as a witness for legal purposes.

How Did Patriarchy Become a Way of Life in Early America?

Patriarchy was widespread in early America and was evident in religious, legal and social practices. The British and their colonies wanted to maintain order in early American society. It was believed that harmonious families led to a peaceful society. The home was seen as the fundamental basis of government.

Patriarchy and Religion

The different branches of Christianity that existed in the colonies held the belief that God had established a system of patriarchy within the home in that the woman submitted to the authority of her husband. This doctrine was supported by referencing various Biblical passages. The husband was obligated to provide for and protect the family. Although it was mostly 17th century Puritans who discussed the divinity of the patriarchal household, patriarchy was the norm in colonists’ homes.

Patriarchy and the British Legal System

The British legal system influenced the colonies as well. The legal doctrine of coverture, which stated that a married woman was under the authority and protection of her husband, extended to America. When a woman married, she was no longer a separate individual. She was now part of her husband’s household. Coverture was also intended to protect married women in that a wife could not inadvertently hurt her husband’s interests. For example, by not being able to enter into a contract, a wife could not be held liable for damages or other claims that might have an impact on her spouse. The effects of coverture on colonial women were that it made owning property nearly impossible. They could not sue, enter into a contract, or even write a will.

Socially, the lives of women in early America were greatly influenced by the patriarchal teachings of the church and state. Single women rarely lived on their own. If unable to marry, a woman would typically live with a male relative and perform household tasks in exchange for room and board. Spinsters and widows were the only women that lived alone and were often on the fringes of society. Women also had limited access to education. What education they did receive was usually home-based and related to home-making. When women did go to outside schools, the education usually related to musical or craft skills, not academia.

The status of women did vary according to which region and community they belonged to. For instance, in the Dutch settlement of New York, women had more rights than did women in the British colonies. In Spanish territory, women had perhaps the most rights in the New World. This was because Spanish law had adopted parts of Moorish law. Women had full legal rights to inherit from their fathers. The right of women to have custody of their children was recognized.

Even among the Puritan community there were different opinions on the status of women. Some ministers taught that all people were spiritually equal. There were also Quaker ministers that agreed with this theology. However, these are a few noted exceptions. For the most part, patriarchy was the general way of life in early America.

Resources about Patriarchy

The basic definition of patriarchy

Discussion about the term and its use in current society

Article about Patriarchy and development in the Arab world.

Article The name assigned to the document by the author. This field may also contain sub-titles, series names, and report numbers. Rethinking Family Patriarchy and Women’s Positions in Presocialist China

Resource by T.Price

I am a mom of 2 boys who loves to spend time with them doing fun things outdoors. In my spare time I have my own things I enjoy doing such as gardening, reading old books, and being a closet history buff.

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