This subject should be studied not only on a global scale but also as
it has impacted societies through time. Thousands of years ago
patriarchal invaders, unable to coexist with societies where the
inheritance of wealth passed from the woman to her daughter, proceeded
to conquer these societies. This was a three-clawed monster that
supplanted three major aspects of society: the government, the military
and religion. This disenfranchisement created a powerful change through
a large area of the Middle East and the Mediterranean area and its
influence has lasted to this day, worldwide. Even today as women are no
longer treated as chattel, they have not yet reached a place of
equality. Women have only had the right to vote in this country for 50
years. Today they have reached a small percentage of the governmental,
military and religious leadership. Until they have reached parity in
these areas of power, they have not reached equality. The percentage
that they are included in these areas is a gauge of how far this
inequality has been breached. This power shift was accomplished through
military conquest. Those that hold onto power in these indicator areas
will resort to violence in order to keep the inequality in their favor.
spider 2005