Eisler provides compelling evidence that in the pre-historic neolithic era, humans lived in small groups or clans that functioned on a cooperative partnership model in which men and women lived as equals, and shared responsibility and decision making. In fact, the evidence suggests that neolithic human life was closely tied to the cycles of nature. Women had a particularly sacred place in those primitive societies because their menses reflected the rhythms of nature, and because they were capable of giving birth to new life.
That pre-historic partnership paradigm was lost about 10,000 years ago when humans evolved from hunter-gather groups that moved about constantly to fixed communities that depended on agriculture for food. To provide a common defense against maurauders that survived by raiding and pillaging, settled peoples moved away from a partnership based culture to one dominated by males. From that time on, the warrior males of the species have pretty much run the show. Religion, governance, economics: the pillars of human culture are built on a male dominance model in which women are subjugated and belligerence and confrontation overwhelm caring and cooperation. All of human history, since the beginning of agriculture, has been shaped by male dominance.
Eisler's bottom line: Men and women must learn to live together in partnership as co-equals closely aligned to the natural world. It was that way once. It can be that way again. Advanced societies do seem to be headed in that direction. Women should be equal to men in all ways. It's only right, and it may be the only pathway to a future that is truly sustainable.
Riane Eisler founded the non-profit, Center for Partnership Studies.
Here is a link to her webpage....
http://www.partnershipway.org/
Here is a link to her book, The Chalice and the Blade...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chalice-Blade-History-Future/dp/0062502891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331706125&sr=8-1
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