Why Men Rule: A Theory of Male Dominance

by Steven Goldberg

The first edition of this book was lavishly praised by many authorities as the most formidable demonstration of an unpopular truth: males rule in all societies known to history or anthropology, for reasons arising from innate physiology, a brute fact that can never be conjured away by tinkering with social institutions. This new edition has been completely rewritten in the light of two decades of scholarship and debate, taking account of all published criticisms of earlier editions.

Genres: Gender, Psychology, Nonfiction, Science, Sexuality, Feminism, Society

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jafar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, we rule. You should be used to it by now.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one during my first year of college. There are some issues here, but overall I thought the book brings up some interesting thoughts on why status, particularly as defined by job titles or social standing, really does seem to be more central to male psychological needs than female.

He makes some interesting points about the different ways men and women tend to see and relate to the world around them and how that shapes what we do and why we do it.

He's a bit insane with his ideas of "male fragility", but I have found it to be true in my personal experience that the male sense of self tends to be much more externally defined than womens. It's that dynamic between accomplishment and relationship.

Do I think he's 100% spot on? No, but I really enjoyed the process of thinking about what he's saying and deciding for myself what I found to be interesting insights.

[Abood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not ready to relegate the P-word to the trash heap of untouchable ideas and four letter words? Yes, that's the one...Patriarchy. In either case, great read thus far as to the real sex differences that exist between men and women and where that leads us and has led us as societies throughout history. Don't be put off by the title. It's meant to wrinkle some feathers and pique interest.

[Chels S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was gonna piss me off but it didn't. The author tells the truth - rare thing nowadays.

[Joe]

Comment:

This book is not in agreement with those who hold that male dominance is an historical development That is, they believe it is not natural. They believe that some sort of equality prevailed at the beginning and that male domination was a later development. Our author disagrees.
Myself, I also don't believe that egalitarianism is natural either; if it occurs (that is, if it is approximated) it will be an achievement. The earliest possible approximation / achievement, imo, was likely Crete.
Some important sources of this view that women were once socially equal to men in the distant past are Johann Jakob Bachofen and Marija Gimbutas. Oh, and do read Jackie Hawkes, "Dawn of the Gods: Minoan and Mycenaean Origins of Greece" for relevant (albeit speculative) material on Crete