Women in Transport Book Club Review: “The Patriarchs” by Angela Saini

In our February instalment, the Women in Transport Book Club delved into Angela Saini’s “The Patriarch”, a compelling exploration of the historical roots of gender inequality. The book focuses on the subordination of women and the establishment of patriarchal structures over time.

For those hoping for a big sign saying: “Origins of Patriarchy Start Here”, you will be disappointed, but not for long. The answer, reassuringly, is not that clear cut. Patriarchy as a single phenomenon does not exist and never has. It is a system that must constantly be re-asserted and remade. This does not however diminish its power when combined with local power structures and existing systems of inequality. 

The Book Club discussion demonstrated why Saini’s text is such a valuable resource in understanding the complex dynamics of gender and power. What follows are some of the key takeaways from the discussion, as well as a brief look at some of the underlying themes. 

Key takeaways

1. Non-linear exploration of patriarchy ~
   This book adopts a chronological narrative, dispelling the myth of a clear-cut origin of patriarchy. Rather, patriarchy is found to manifest in diverse forms, intertwining with local power structures and perpetuating existing inequalities. 

2. Dynamic status of women
   Saini highlights the ever-changing status of women, with progress followed by setbacks. The book demonstrates how patriarchy is not a given and its continuous reinvention and reassertion is a recurring theme. Saini presents historical examples where women enjoyed more power and equality in societies that embraced diversity from Sparta to Birka in Sweden. The correlation between cultural diversity and improved outcomes, particularly for women, supports the call for increased diversity in the transport sector. 

3. Archaeological roots of male authority
   The emergence of overarching male authority coincided with the formation of the first states (not with the increase in farming and property ownership as often thought). During this time, gender became a key organising principle, shaping laws, and marriage structures and perpetuating gender disparities that still exist today.

4. Cultural relativism and gender identity
   Saini critiques cultural relativism, emphasizing the imposition of contemporary values on historical societies which can lead to incorrect interpretations. The book also challenges traditional gender norms, advocating for a more nuanced understanding beyond binary categories.

In-depth analysis

Reinterpretation of history and gender essentialism
The reinterpretation of history shapes women’s status in different periods, exposing the idealisation of ancient cultures like Greece and Rome. But throughout the text Saini underscores the need to recognise the diversity and evolution within these historical periods, highlighting the risks involved with ‘cherry-picking’ aspects out of context to suit a particular ideology or agenda. For example, Saini explains, efforts to prove the existence of an original “Aryan” race using aspects of Indo-European history were popularised and later underpinned by “a doctrine of racial superiority”** in Nazi Germany.

Another example, is the Birka Warrior, a female Viking who was misgendered following her excavation in 1878 because it goes against the assumption “that one sex alone is truly capable of violence”*. The 2017 study that proved she was a female through DNA analysis is still disputed, with many suggesting she was simply buried in the wrong grave! It is worth noting that many scholars believe gender roles in the Viking era were far more complex, with class and rank possibly being seen as more superior or warfare simply not gendered in the same way as today.

The book questions the construct of gender essentialism, highlighting its limitations and the need to move beyond simplistic gender assumptions.

Discussion highlights

The Book Club discussion was thought-provoking and explored some of the themes of gendered power in greater detail, including the USSR as a social experiment, patriarchy’s influence on state behaviour, power dynamics and gender inequality. 

USSR as a social experiment

The book acknowledges the successes of the USSR in revolutionising women’s roles, but our discussion raised questions about the voluntariness of those women’s choices concluding that it still did not provide citizens with freedom of choice. We also explored the link made between increased equality and communism, and how societal needs can influence the state’s narrative around women’s roles. This was certainly a contributor to the crackdown on women’s rights in Western societies during the Cold War, despite evidence of increased equality just a few years earlier when those same societies made sweeping changes to structures such as facilitation of childcare to ensure women could take the priority jobs of men fighting in the conflict in Europe. 

Patriarchy’s influence on state behaviour

Patriarch defines societal expectations and behaviours, influencing not only economic and physical oppression but also emotional and psychological aspects. Our discussion explored the potential impact, both positive and negative, of naming and shaming patriarchy, exposing its insidious nature. 

Power dynamics and gender inequality

Our discussion led us to conclude that the book is more about power dynamics than gender inequality, emphasising the historical use of divide-and-rule strategies by those with power. Saini suggests that women constrained by limited power may unintentionally reinforce the patriarchal status quo; “cages in cages” was a vivid phrase coined by one of the attendees to describe the women who become oppressors. This could go some way to explain the attitude of some women at work who climb the ladder only to knock it down after them, and even those who perpetuate abuse in arranged marriages, even FGM. 

In Conclusion

Despite the confronting nature of the topic, the book instils hope by highlighting moments of change and opposition to patriarchal reinforcement.

The Women in Transport Book Club found “The Patriarchs” to be a thought-provoking and enlightening exploration of the history of gendered power. The discussion revealed new insights, making it a valuable resource for understanding the complex dynamics of gender and power. 

Saini concludes the book with the idea that the current moment in history is unique, with global shifts in patrilineal cultures. The book prompts us to consider whether we are on the cusp of revolution or evolution or neither, in terms of gender equality. The conversation continues, fueled by the anticipation of change and the lessons learned from history.

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