2 Comments

1. DrinkUrPruneJuice says:

   September 28, 2019 at 4:02 PM

   This comment is not related to this article, but rather one you wrote over a year ago about femininity in ancient Greece. You mention the denigration of women by a ‘patriarchy’ within these ancient societies. But don’t you think there were understandable historical reasons for why societies were guided by men. In such violent and contentious times, it was primarily the responsibility of the man to protect his property and society as a whole. Biologically men have always been the stronger sex, and at the risk of great suffering and death, men have always been burdened with the monumental responsibility of protecting the family and extended community. It would be fitting that such an individual had more of a right to direct policy and rule making within a society. The arguments made in your blog are also fundamentally lacking in a basic understanding of gender-relations. Since time immomorial, women have held great power over men in the form of sexual availability and selection. Women hold the keys to a man’s future, and therefore have always had indirect control over the actions of men. It is not the case that men have never cared about how women feel, indeed it has always been important to men how their wife or partner feels. A properly functioning family cannot continue without some kind of understanding and harmony between parties. Women have always played a fundamental role in the psychological development of young men, and any mother worth her salt would make her case for mutual respect of the sexes quite clear from an early age. These men, these patriarchs you so speak of, were all raised by women, by their mothers, whom, along with their sisters, they derely loved and respected, that love and respect for women inevitably influenced their attitudes towards women in wider society. Women have always been extremely influencial in socieities throughout time, but it has always been a more indirect power, which has not always been easy to ascertain when compared to the great achievements of men throughout history.

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2. nikkidiscovers says:

   October 3, 2019 at 2:26 PM

   My article was about sculptures of women from ancient Greece and Rome. It did not deal with feminity. If you research these societies you will know that only a few privileged were able to attain an education. You will also know that there is almost no surviving text written by women or slaves. You will also know that women were not allowed to vote. Women typically could not choose who they married. Women were seen as indecent if they walked in public often. They were allowed to partake in religious festivals. Women were seen as child-bearers and had virtually no rights. If you read up on biology you will know that although men are physically stronger women outlive men. Plus, men have put the burden of fighting on to themselves as they have traditionally excluded women from fighting alongside them. Patriarchy has created a world where men see themselves as protectors and die as a result. Patriarchy damages the lives of both women and men. However, women warriors such as Boduccia and Joan of Arc fought brutal battles and held their own alongside men. I am not vilifying men or claiming women have never had any agency. But, your argument claiming that patriarchy does not exist because women raised men and because men are protectors does not address the widespread gender imbalances of ancient or modern times. Rapists, serial killers and child molesters tend to be men. Some of these men were raised with good parents. Ted Bundy springs to mind for example. Of course, women have been influential throughout history and men have been too. But, claiming that the achievements of men outshine those of women is your own personal opinion it is not a fact. Both men and women need to coexist in order to build a better society. However, gender inequality does exist. My blog article was not unpacking the many instances of gender inequality. It was meant to address why women’s bodies were sculpted the way they are in ancient Greece and Rome. You will also note if you read my piece till the end that I included a number of credible academic references. Thank you for your opinion but, I respectfully disagree with your arguments.

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