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Cynthia Eller

The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why an Invented Past Won't Give Women a Future Paperback – Illustrated, April 13, 2001

by Cynthia Eller (Author)

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According to the myth of matriarchal prehistory, men and women lived together peacefully before recorded history. Society was centered around women, with their mysterious life-giving powers, and they were honored as incarnations and priestesses of the Great Goddess. Then a transformation occurred, and men thereafter dominated society.

Given the universality of patriarchy in recorded history, this vision is understandably appealing for many women. But does it have any basis in fact? And as a myth, does it work for the good of women? Cynthia Eller traces the emergence of the feminist matriarchal myth, explicates its functions, and examines the evidence for and against a matriarchal prehistory. Finally, she explains why this vision of peaceful, woman-centered prehistory is something feminists should be wary of.

Print length

276 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 13, 2001
Dimensions

6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

9780807067932
ISBN-13

978-0807067932
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Fascinating. . . . Eller carefully clips every thread from which this matriarchal myth is woven. -Natalie Angier, The New York Times Book Revie"Passionately argued, engagingly written, this vital book is certain to inspire wide-and much-needed-debate." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[An] engaging critique of a popular but perhaps self-defeating belief." -Mark Odegard, Utne Reader

"In unraveling the pretensions of matriarchalists, Eller seeks to show that wider matters are at stake. . . . Matriarchal myth, [she] argues, is actively harmful at worst and at best unnecessary." -Lawrence Osborne, Salon.com

About the Author

Cynthia Eller is the author of Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist Spirituality Movement in America, a Choice Outstanding Academic Book of 1994, and of Conscientious Objectors and the Second World War. She is assistant professor of women and religion at Montclair State University.

Product details

ASIN : 0807067938
Publisher : Beacon Press; American First edition (April 13, 2001)
Language : English
Paperback : 276 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780807067932
ISBN-13 : 978-0807067932
Item Weight : 14 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #379,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #112 in History of New Age & Mythology
- #112 in Prehistory
- #529 in Sociology of Marriage & Family (Books)

Customer Reviews:
44 ratings

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5 star		36%
4 star		32%
3 star		8%
2 star		11%
1 star		14%

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Rashomoan

Like so much of constructed feminist 'herstory'

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2015

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Knowing in advance the feminist leanings of the author made it possible to read this volume and see the value she brings in her analysis of the myth of matriarchal prehistory while ignoring the cognitive dissonance of her bringing in other elements of feminist dogma. Like so much of constructed feminist 'herstory', prehistory was up for grabs to help support the cause. Eller astutely questions and refutes the various claims of feminist-oriented anthropologists and archeologists and their jumping-on of any potential evidence that could be used to support sweeping claims of matriarchal prehistory, concluding instead that belief systems have origin myths, and some feminists need one, too. Nothing wrong with that, as long as they don't claim there is irrefutable evidence to support their myth as fact. This was a refreshing read, albeit only with respect to the author's treatment of the subject at hand and ignoring her other biases.

6 people found this helpful

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War-El

Balanced and Decisive

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2008

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For those coming to this book without strong opinions one way or another, it is a reasoned, logical and flatly devastating dissection of recent efforts at historical revisionism by religiously and politically motivated feminists. It is also markedly free from malice.

I sought out this book after becoming aware that congregants at Chicago-area UUA churches were involved in various activities rooted in beliefs about matriarchal prehistory. That struck me as odd, because I regarded contemporary Unitarians as rationalists committed to Enlightenment thinking (I now know differently, although certainly many are).

While I would surely benefit from reading a book written from the opposing perspective, I found Eller's treatment so overwhelmingly convincing (and materials to the contrary so flaky by comparison) that I have little desire to do so.

19 people found this helpful

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ThisDude

The author seemed constantly confused.....

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2015

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I originally bought the book in hopes that it would shed some light on the continual debate over matriarchies in the world today. I soon found out the book covered virtually no aspect of present matriarchies. "Fair enough," I said to myself, "I will read it anyway."

The first section of the book covered all the things feminists say about prehistory that she believes is wrong. This sections biggest mistake is deciding to separate the myths from the debunking section. You feel bored long before she's done with the 50+ pages.

The next 12 pages are spent explaining why we can't prove gender is a social construct using prehistory, but states this doesn't matter because the science in present day is all people need. This is possibly the worst section of the book, because she completely leaves out all discussion of how testosterone plays a role in the brain, the subtle differences in brain structure between the average man and woman, the impact of child bearing and menstrual cycles has on a women's life and how that might further add to the difference in thinking processes between men and women. As a whole she believes gender is entirely a social construct without providing any proof with substance, though she does mention a few studies, all were relatively meaningless to the argument.

The last section was covering the evidence against matriarchy in prehistory. I have to agree with other reviewers who say this section is wildly confusing. Why completely ignore discussion on all current societies? The evidence against matriarchy in prehistory is decent enough, and does give a reader who is lost in this debate some footing, but not much else.

In general the 188 page book was quick enough for me not to argue too much about it, but I do feel that it is very incomplete, and lacked proper evidence for both Feminist and Anti-Feminist perspectives.

30 people found this helpful

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Tammie Salke

Its a good read.

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019

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Actually I'm still reading it. I have to for a class I'm taking. I'll update this review when I have finished it.

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D. P. Birkett

Erudite and entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2000

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Feminists should be grateful. If the neo-conservative MCP backlash lot had found this material they would have taken a hatchet to it. Eller does a gentle demolition job. She has a rapier-like wit. Her most effective weapon is the quotation, which she often uses to deadly and hilarious effect. Prehistory will never be the same.

10 people found this helpful

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serious investigation into a theory that is quite popular

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2003

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Cynthia Eller is probably opening herself up to a lot of criticism when she attacks matriarchy, the theory itself and those who argue it. However she does a good job of looking at the evidence on both sides of the issue. This book is best not because of the evidence but because of its understanding of why the theory of matriarchy is so powerful and pulls at so many women (and men, too, though that isn't really the focus of her work). Usually matriarcy is either ignored, rudely dismissed using sexist statements, or happily accepted but Eller's commentary really tries to get to the heart of the controversy without name calling or belittling sides. As a feminist and a scholar, I appreciate her work.

33 people found this helpful

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