Writing Matriarchy: Values
Gendered Virtues:
Femininity Masculinity
Nurturing Protection
Intuition Logic
Gentleness Roughness
Elegance Toughness
Creativity Traditionalism
Life Cycles Linear Progression
Nature Technology
Fertility Virility
Mystery Knowledge
Cooperation Competition
Passiveness Assertiveness
Emotionality Stoicism
This is a very Westernized view of things (though it’s more or less in line with Chinese philosophy’s concept of ‘yin and yang’) with a very distinct leaning towards the cultural view of white society, but for the purposes of this part of the article, we’ll work with these as the standard. For more about why you shouldn’t take these as standard and unchanging in your writing, skip ahead to Intersections.
Let’s start with the facts: you live in a patriarchy. In a patriarchy, masculinity is valued more than femininity, masculine coded values are a sign of dominance, and to get farther in society, you must act more masculine than feminine.
So here’s the question you, as an author, need to answer, if only for your story: are these values inherently dominant, or inherently masculine?
If you answered inherently dominant, then your matriarchy will involve those in power displaying and valuing the virtues listed above as masculine, even though most of them as women. If you answered inherently masculine, then your matriarchy will involve those in power displaying and valuing the virtues listed above as feminine, even if many of your readers might see such behavior as a sign of weakness. If you answered both, then you need to decide which is which. For example: does the concept of women as mystery stem from some sort of inherent feminine need for privacy, or from the fact that images of women and femininity are lacking in our male-dominated culture? Is the idea of man as protector something that stems from an inherent masculine need to eliminate threats, or does it stem from a society blames them for failure to protect when something attacks their family? Is the violence really inherent in the system? Help, help! I’m being oppressed!
Once you’ve decided which values are dominant, go back to the old hammer and anvil of worldbuilding: follow through and be consistent about it. If your protagonist interrupts someone during a council meeting with a call for action and a jeer aimed towards the speaker and her beliefs, and you’ve already established that your culture values cooperation over competition, then isn’t it more likely that she’ll be dismissed out of hand, rather than listened to? If your matriarchy is a straight gender flip of patriarchy, then why do you have a Mother Goddess full of gentleness and nurturing, rather than a Creator Goddess full of fury and wrath? If mystery is not a dominant trait, then why is there still a feminine mystique?
This is not to say that all your characters should act as society says they should. Actually, if you do have all your characters act as such, I’m likely going to put your book in the donate box. But be aware that going against societal norms has consequences, both good and bad. Maybe interrupting the councilwoman wins her the support of a minority group in the council as well as alienating the majority. Maybe it ultimately works out for her, when that minority group seizes power. But make sure that your character interacts with their society's expectations in one way or another. However much of society is pure construction, as long as it exists, it’s as large a part of the environment your character lives in as the climate and the setting.
Language Reminder Intersections Resources
Femininity Masculinity
Nurturing Protection
Intuition Logic
Gentleness Roughness
Elegance Toughness
Creativity Traditionalism
Life Cycles Linear Progression
Nature Technology
Fertility Virility
Mystery Knowledge
Cooperation Competition
Passiveness Assertiveness
Emotionality Stoicism
This is a very Westernized view of things (though it’s more or less in line with Chinese philosophy’s concept of ‘yin and yang’) with a very distinct leaning towards the cultural view of white society, but for the purposes of this part of the article, we’ll work with these as the standard. For more about why you shouldn’t take these as standard and unchanging in your writing, skip ahead to Intersections.
Let’s start with the facts: you live in a patriarchy. In a patriarchy, masculinity is valued more than femininity, masculine coded values are a sign of dominance, and to get farther in society, you must act more masculine than feminine.
So here’s the question you, as an author, need to answer, if only for your story: are these values inherently dominant, or inherently masculine?
If you answered inherently dominant, then your matriarchy will involve those in power displaying and valuing the virtues listed above as masculine, even though most of them as women. If you answered inherently masculine, then your matriarchy will involve those in power displaying and valuing the virtues listed above as feminine, even if many of your readers might see such behavior as a sign of weakness. If you answered both, then you need to decide which is which. For example: does the concept of women as mystery stem from some sort of inherent feminine need for privacy, or from the fact that images of women and femininity are lacking in our male-dominated culture? Is the idea of man as protector something that stems from an inherent masculine need to eliminate threats, or does it stem from a society blames them for failure to protect when something attacks their family? Is the violence really inherent in the system? Help, help! I’m being oppressed!
Once you’ve decided which values are dominant, go back to the old hammer and anvil of worldbuilding: follow through and be consistent about it. If your protagonist interrupts someone during a council meeting with a call for action and a jeer aimed towards the speaker and her beliefs, and you’ve already established that your culture values cooperation over competition, then isn’t it more likely that she’ll be dismissed out of hand, rather than listened to? If your matriarchy is a straight gender flip of patriarchy, then why do you have a Mother Goddess full of gentleness and nurturing, rather than a Creator Goddess full of fury and wrath? If mystery is not a dominant trait, then why is there still a feminine mystique?
This is not to say that all your characters should act as society says they should. Actually, if you do have all your characters act as such, I’m likely going to put your book in the donate box. But be aware that going against societal norms has consequences, both good and bad. Maybe interrupting the councilwoman wins her the support of a minority group in the council as well as alienating the majority. Maybe it ultimately works out for her, when that minority group seizes power. But make sure that your character interacts with their society's expectations in one way or another. However much of society is pure construction, as long as it exists, it’s as large a part of the environment your character lives in as the climate and the setting.
Language Reminder Intersections Resources