Patriarchy Might Just Disappear

A group of women scholars and archaeologists has been studying patriarchy and pondering the question: Have men always been the more powerful and dominant sex in human societies?

Their findings to date conclude that even among warrior cultures, there were some in which women did the fighting, hence the Amazon women myth. Overwhelmingly, though, when physical strength mattered, men were in charge.

However, scholar Sherry Ortner says the tide may be turning in our culture: If revolutions in technology once made dominance by men inevitable, it follows that when machines replace bodies altogether, as they have arguably begun to do today, patriarchy may well disappear. “Technology … obviates physical strength and equalizes the sexes.” (From: December/January Linguafranca)

New York essayist Fran Lebowitz on childhood: “I do not remember my childhood as being one of questions directed at me. The only thing I can ever remember being asked - and even this only occasionally - was “Which would you rather have, sting beans or spinach?”

Clearly a 7-year-old wants neither. So I began to have a view of the world where these were your choices. Here are your choices in life: sting beans or spinach. Here are not your choices in life: string beans or candy.

I think that’s a good way to grow up, because the truth is: Here are your choices in life: string beans or spinach.” (From: January Vanity Fair)

Believe it, already: There will be those who refuse to accept it, even in the face of fact, but here it is: Average number of times married people have sex a year: 71. Average number of times single people have sex a year: 46.

So what does that do to the myth (yes the myth) of swinging singlehood?

But, wait. That’s not all an article in the February American Demographics magazine tells us about our intimate affairs. According to a National Opinion Research Center General Social Survey, jazz fans have more sex as do those who work longer hours. Other lifestyle characteristics of those who spend more time between the sheets not sleeping: some college (but not grad school), TV viewing is heavily weighted toward PBS, have two or more kids (no surprise how that happened), extremely liberal, not a regular church/templegoer, watch or approve of pornography. (From: Jan. 26 Newsweek)

We get a box? That’s it? If your family has consumed every bit of space in your house, author Chris Casson Madden offers this advice in her book “A Room of Her Own” for solitude: Find a small wooden box or pretty hatbox and fill it with objects that are important to you. … Pick a time when you’re least likely to be disturbed, collapse into a comfortable chair and quietly reflect on the contents of your box. (From: January New Woman)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Susan English is the Weekend Editor at The Spokesman-Review, contact her by mail at 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201; by e-mail at susane@spokesman.com or by phone at 459-5488.