Patriarchy + colonialism (Paxton, Kunovich, and Hughes and Stevenson)

Paxton, Kunovich, and Hughes: What are the three theoretical perspectives that explain why women are underrepresented in democracies?

(just state elaborate in next slides)

Supply side, demand side, cultural explanations

Supply side? (4 subpts)

Women are less liekly to enter politics ebcause:

a. Too many family obligations

b. People surrounding them discourage

c. Aversion to aggresive/confrontaional work

d. Socialized to pursue female occupations

Demand side?

Low demand for female politicians, because: Popular biases against females as leaders + there are certain things that can help overcome barriers (communism, left leaning parties, prop. rep, quotas)

Cultural explanations? (2 pts)

Both region and religion affect female undrepreresentation:

1. Region: Certain regions have more female representatives, others less

2. Religion: Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim regions have fewer female representatives

Patriarchy def?

Sexism def?

Patriarchy: Norms seeing men as rightful rulers

Sexism: Related concept dealing with discrimination

What is the biological view of patriarchy?

3 subpts?

Critique (2pts)?

Claims that patriarchy is in our genes

Points to:

1. Size: men are bigger/stronger - coercion = basis of power

2. Babies: Having and caring for babies makes women more vulnerable to violence

3. Evolutionary psychology: says men are naturally more aggressive and confrontational

Critique:

1. Claim that there are and have been societies with

considerable female empowerment. Biology can't explain variation in patriarchy

2. We have evolved past the 3 subpts

What is the sociological view of patriarchy?

Big weakness + 2 potential solutions?

Suggest patriarchy is a social construct. Social structures empower men, and they can be changed.

Weakness: has more difficulty explaining the universality of patriarchy

1. Combine sociological and biological arguments

Patriarchy is the norm because of

biologies but there is great variation in expression because of social relations and that social relations can restrain if not end patriarchy

2. Deny the universality of patriarchy, note that it only recently became the norm through proliferation

Galton's problem?

Famously critiqued anthropological work claiming that universal social conditions are natural/functional

These conditions are widespread because the spread through the world- not because they are inherent

4 arguments for the proliferation of patriarchy?

1. Intensive Agriculture: Some claim the use of the plow made men economically dominant

Biology = a secondary component. Change drives patriarchy

2. War Argument: Rise of plundering/conquest empires after the rise of settled agriculture increased male power because of strength and female pregnancy/breastfeeding

Biology = a secondary component. Change drives patriarchy

3. Both (1) and (2) possibly promoted patriarchal religions

4. Colonialism Argument: Many provide evidence that colonialism helped spread patriarchy

Motherhood and patriarchy in Europe? (3 ideas)

Reveres mothers but only to the extent that they conform to dominant ideas of motherhood

1. Serve husbands

2. Take care of children

3. Manage the household

Stevenson: What was the ideal for women in precolonial environments?

4 main subcategories of women's status?

Precolonialism: Indigenous women had considerable economic autonomy and power

1. Main agricultural producers

2. Commonly ran their own residences

3, Many were matrilineal

4. Many Indigenous peoples had powerful political positions that were reserved for women

5 impacts that colonialism had?

1. Ended polygamy and strengthened marriage

2. Indian Act: Gave greater legal rights to men

3. Ended matrilineage

4. Ignored/removed institutions empowering women

5. Created negative discourse of Indigenous women

Influence of missionaries?

Played an important role in promoting anti-women discourse

Taught Christianity from a very patriarchal view

Squaw drudge discource?

Notes that Europeans contrasted with the domesticized idea of woman dominant in Europe

Strong Princess: Idealized view, Pocahontas

"Squaw Drudge": Negative view that denigrated them for not conforming to European idea