Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Beringia

(4,314 posts)
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 10:42 PM Jan 2019

Reading a novel about the ice age, more patriarchy

I got a novel by a paleontologist Bjorn Kurten, Dance of the Tiger. He wrote a book on Pleistocene mammals of North America and so I thought I could learn a few things about that time period. First error I see he talks about mammoths, with the bull in the rear of the herd. In elephant families, it is females and their female relatives, with very young males and the adult males go off on their own, so I assume mammoths are the same way.

Then I come to a part, "The man's role was to hunt, fight, beget sons, and seek the mystery of communion with the powers of the unknown; the woman's to bear and rear children, gather the harvest of forest and meadow, and obey the man who chose her to be the mother of his sons."

So the man only cares about sons and she has to obey him and he chooses her. What a bunch of patriarchy. Jeez, the author is freed from the current constraints of societal norms in discussing our earliest ancestors, so why choose to make the man again in charge, as if "father knows best". I don't think I can continue reading it.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Reading a novel about the ice age, more patriarchy (Original Post) Beringia Jan 2019 OP
Toss it! MLAA Jan 2019 #1
I probably will toss it Beringia Jan 2019 #3
I just can't justify reading fiction. Maybe in rare instances. Crutchez_CuiBono Jan 2019 #2
I generally read memoirs Beringia Jan 2019 #4
well it is FICTION after all, right? nt msongs Jan 2019 #5
Yes, but he follows such a stereotype Beringia Jan 2019 #6

Beringia

(4,314 posts)
6. Yes, but he follows such a stereotype
Mon Jan 21, 2019, 11:33 PM
Jan 2019

He had the wings of imagination and he came up with a patriarchal stereotype. I am sure there have periods of equality or matriarchy. I think patriarchy has only been in the last few thousand years.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Women's Rights & Issues»Reading a novel about the...