Book Review: The Pillars of Gynarchy by Viola Voltairine (nonfiction)
Author: Viola Voltairine
Publication Date: October 21, 2023 by Artvamp Books
Genres: Non-fiction
If you want to know where gynarchy (and the patriarchy) have come from, what’s at the root of feminist ideals, and how women can move forward, then Ms. Viola Voltairine is required reading. Her first book, 150 Years of Gynarchy, is a wonderful introduction to her philosophy, the story of why gynarchy matters, while The Pillars of Gynarchy takes that philosophy deeper and extends it into practical application, a story of how it can be lived.
The book is divided into 5 sections:
The Reasons explores what gynarchy is, how it’s been depicted in literature, and what’s behind men’s fears.The Foundations opens with the 8 pillars of gynarchy and then goes into arguing against the gender binary before delving into the nature of the feminine.Gynarchy-Aligned Education is the heart of the book, walking the reader through everything from history and biology to psychology, sociology, and religion. The Devi Doctrine extends femdom as religion into spirituality.Shadow and Virus acknowledges the darkness and violence in the world, but ends by praising the value of positive networking.I won’t attempt to review everything in the book, because so much of it is interconnected, and it’s structured in such a way as to lead the reader from topic to topic, building upon the themes as it goes. What I will do is take note of just a few things that really resonated with me.
The 8 Pillars of Gynarchy are just that – pillars upon which everything else depends. We start with the individual and how women can be empowered, then move on to communities and how women can empower others.
The Gender Binary is a chapter that I wish every gender-critical TERF would read, as it’s as simple as it is powerful, talking about the transitional concepts of the thing, its opposite, that which is related but neither, that which is related but both, that which floats between, and the freedom to move between them. It also talks about how arbitrary gender classification is when we could just as easily have classified ourselves based on height or birth month. It then goes on to explore the long history of third genders like Hijra Bissu and the six genders of the Talmud, and how the anti-trans argument is “a well-disguised misogynistic trap.”
While I’ve never considered myself religious, I’ve always been fascinated by non-Judeo-Christian mythologies, so the chapters on World Religions and Femdom As Religion were utterly fascinating. Some of those mythologies were familiar, and some were excitingly new to me, but what actually intrigued me the most was learning how women have been erased and dismissed from so much of Judeo-Christian mythology. Not only does it steal from the mythologies it conquers, but does so with a patriarchal prejudice.
Finally, as someone who values yoga and meditation in dealing with my anxiety, the reapplication of familiar terms and concepts in The Devi Doctrine made its weaving of old and new into a gynarchic religion comfortably relevant. It’s not just valid and valuable, it’s absolutely beautiful. The challenges, the remedies, and the steps set it up; the behaviors of the living goddess bring it all together; and the sacred rights and practices put it all into action.
Finally, it’s worth noting that while The Pillars of Gynarchy is about women and for women, it doesn’t exclude or devalue men. In fact, it goes to great lengths to warn against fictional dystopias and show how simply flipping the gender paradigm (without changing patriarchal behavior) does more harm than good. Men have a place in gynarchy, and it can be a place of purpose and respect, should they choose to honor it.
Rating: 
