Cultural Transformation Theory _______________ is defined as "any society in which women's power is...

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory

_______________ _______________ is defined as is defined as "any society in which women's "any society in which women's power is equal or superior to power is equal or superior to men's and in which the culture men's and in which the culture centers _______________________centers _____________________________________________________________________

-Cynthia Eller-Cynthia Eller


History as conventionally written has History as conventionally written has _______________________________. _______________________________. But if we re-examine our past, taking But if we re-examine our past, taking into account the whole of our history, a into account the whole of our history, a very different picture emerges.very different picture emerges.

-Riane Eisler-Riane Eisler


For example, we have been told that For example, we have been told that European civilization _________________European civilization ________________________________________________- _______________________________- with a way of structuring society in which with a way of structuring society in which women and anything associated with the women and anything associated with the "feminine" is held ____________________"feminine" is held ___________________________________________ to a _______________________ to a subordinate and subservient position.subordinate and subservient position.



The Judaeo-Christian Bible tells of a garden The Judaeo-Christian Bible tells of a garden where woman and man lived in harmony with where woman and man lived in harmony with each other and nature - a time before a male god each other and nature - a time before a male god decreed that woman henceforth be subservient to decreed that woman henceforth be subservient to man. The Chinese man. The Chinese Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching describes a time describes a time when the yin or feminine principle was not yet when the yin or feminine principle was not yet ruled by the male principle or yang, [and] . . . the ruled by the male principle or yang, [and] . . . the wisdom of the mother was still honored.wisdom of the mother was still honored.



Data fromData from . . . . . . Neolithic sites indicate Neolithic sites indicate that in that in these societies, where women were priestesses these societies, where women were priestesses and craftspeople, the female was not subordinate and craftspeople, the female was not subordinate to the male. Although the to the male. Although the ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________, the powers that create and , the powers that create and govern the universe were generally depicted as a govern the universe were generally depicted as a goddess rather than a god.goddess rather than a god.



Based on _____________________- the Based on _____________________- the ranking of one gender over another.ranking of one gender over another.

The original direction in the mainstream of our The original direction in the mainstream of our cultural evolution was toward partnership.cultural evolution was toward partnership.

Following a period of chaos and almost total Following a period of chaos and almost total cultural disruption, _____________________cultural disruption, _____________________

________________________.________________________.


30,000B.C.E

Today10,000B.C.E

7,000B.C.E

Paleolithic Neolithic

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory The The earliestearliest

development of development of ____________________________was was in SW Asia between in SW Asia between _____ BC and _____ _____ BC and _____ BC. BC.

There, the There, the ____________________________________________________________________________in____________inMatriarchic societiesMatriarchic societies


The ____________period The ____________period began when humans first began when humans first ____________________ ____________________ and and settled in settled in ____________________. ____________________.

Important artistic expressions Important artistic expressions reflected the ____________reflected the ____________

___________________________________________________________________in _________________in megalithic stone monuments.megalithic stone monuments.

Neolithic excavations Neolithic excavations have yielded Goddess have yielded Goddess figurines and symbols, figurines and symbols, which span a wide which span a wide geographical area geographical area ranging ranging _________ _________ _________________________________________________._____________.



The vast majority and The vast majority and ________________________

__________________________________________as expressions of as expressions of the centrality of the female in myth the centrality of the female in myth and ritual and ritual [suggests] the [suggests] the __________________________ __________________________ in the in the continuity of cultural life.continuity of cultural life.

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory "Goddess" is often problematic for "Goddess" is often problematic for

Westerners who tend to imagine a female Westerners who tend to imagine a female version of the transcendent Father God.version of the transcendent Father God.

The “___________________" has beenThe “___________________" has beendefined as ”defined as ”________________________________________

________________________________" and "the infinite" and "the infinitepowers and patterns of nature expressedpowers and patterns of nature expressedthrough plant, animal, and human life.”through plant, animal, and human life.”

__________________________ __________________________ of the living earth of the living earth rendered in myriad anthropomorphic and rendered in myriad anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms.zoomorphic forms.

Through Through ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________

__________________, and the changes that occur in that , and the changes that occur in that mythology as the years pass, a pattern emerges mythology as the years pass, a pattern emerges portraying a _________________portraying a _______________________

_______________________________________._______________________________________. This This ______________________________________________________________into a society parallels the slow colonization of into a society parallels the slow colonization of

Egypt by foreigners from the north.Egypt by foreigners from the north.


Therefore, this first Therefore, this first __________________________________can be seen to be arriving in Egypt as a can be seen to be arriving in Egypt as a part of part of ________________________________________________________

an indigenous deity an indigenous deity __________________________________ amidst the population. amidst the population.


Many cultures have myths about a time Many cultures have myths about a time when women were dominant. Through when women were dominant. Through examination of several of these myths examination of several of these myths from various cultures, reveals that, byfrom various cultures, reveals that, by

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________, they , they

often serve to keep women often serve to keep women ________________________________________________________..


Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory The Goddess appears to have been The Goddess appears to have been

originally worshiped in all ancient originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with female principle with ________________________________is is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a of a __________________or a or a __________________________is is common.common.

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory There was a There was a ____________________________________________________ of societies of societies

that worshiped life-that worshiped life-generating and nurturing generating and nurturing powers of the universe – powers of the universe – ““______________________________________” - ” - toto social organizations who social organizations who worshiped “worshiped “__________________________

____________________________________________.”.”


The early Neolithic period in several areas shows The early Neolithic period in several areas shows a gradual transition from a a gradual transition from a ____________________

__________________________ to a to a __________________________________________

culture. culture. A conflict between two philosophies:A conflict between two philosophies:

““The Leavers and the Takers are enacting two The Leavers and the Takers are enacting two separate stories, based on entirely different and separate stories, based on entirely different and contradictory premises.” contradictory premises.”

Qiunn, Daniel. Ishmael.NewYork:Bantam/Turner,1992.Qiunn, Daniel. Ishmael.NewYork:Bantam/Turner,1992.


Archaeologist Archaeologist Maria GimbutasMaria Gimbutas’ ’ ””____________________________________" remains the " remains the most accepted and consistently most accepted and consistently debated explanation of [societal] debated explanation of [societal] changes, which she described as "a changes, which she described as "a collision of cultures" resulting in collision of cultures" resulting in ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________..


In sharp contrast to In sharp contrast to later art, a theme later art, a theme notable for its absence notable for its absence from Neolithic art is from Neolithic art is imagery idealizing imagery idealizing __________________________, , __________________, and , and ____________________________________..

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory The Goddess appears to have been The Goddess appears to have been

originally worshiped in all ancient originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with primal waters is a female principle with primal waters is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a bird or a serpent is common.of a bird or a serpent is common.

Cultural Transformation TheoryCultural Transformation Theory Consider the stories that involve serpentsConsider the stories that involve serpents

GreekGreek Zeus slays the serpent SyphonZeus slays the serpent Syphon Apollo kills the serpent PythonApollo kills the serpent Python Hercules kills the serpent LandonHercules kills the serpent Landon

HebrewHebrew Jehovah kills the serpent LeviathanJehovah kills the serpent Leviathan

Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian Eve tempted to eat forbidden fruit.Eve tempted to eat forbidden fruit.


What implications exist if the theory is true?


Eisler, Riane. The Battle over Human Possibilities: Women, Men and Cultural Transormation.September - Ocrober 2005. http://www.second-congress-matriarchal-studies.com/eisler.html. 1/24/08.

Marler, Joan. “The Myth of Universal Patriarchy: A Critical Response to Cynthia Eller’s Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory”. 2003. http://www.awakenedwoman.com/br_myth_matriarchal.htm. 1/25/08.

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