Re: Patriarchy: Re: What Matriarchy?

Bryant (mycol1@unm.edu)
26 Jul 1996 05:54:15 -0600

Stephen Barnard <steve@megafauna.com> wrote:

>>Historically, men probably have had more of "certain kinds of power"
>>because they're bigger and stronger. It doesn't take a sophisticated
>>analysis to see that.

Barbara Smuts points out that most human societies are/were patrilocal,
meaning that there was little opportunity for a female to build alliances
with other women who were not dependent upon or kin of her husband.

Also, hasn't the Homo lineage seen reduced sexual size dimorphism? This
would suggest some relaxation of whatever inter- or intrasexual selection
favored large males.

Bryant