I've always wondered what if human society was matriarchal from the start?

They say matriarchy wouldn’t survive to the modern age, but somehow… they did.

Let’s say in some alternate timeline, human society evolved with women being the leaders and men being warriors, workers, and supporting caretakers. It’s also initially part of human instinct for women to become leaders and men to be subservient. Even with the role as warriors and hunters, men would instinctively let the women take control of what they hunted or conquered.

Kind of like hyenas and meerkats but even that is a very shallow comparison.

  • Will there be less wars?
  • What will modern society look like?
  • Will men postulate gender equality or will the women introduce it first?
  • How would masculinity and femininity be viewed in this society?
  • Would traditional gender norms still exist or would they be flipped?
  • How would reproduction and child-rearing be handled in a society where women are the leaders and men are caretakers?
  • How would the workplace and job roles differ in this society?
  • How would the power dynamics differ in romantic relationships?
  • How would art, literature, and media portrayals be different in this society?
  • What impact would this society have on the depiction of gender in science fiction and fantasy media?
  • Would you like to live in this alternate timeline where women are most likely to be dominant?

I read a thought piece the other day that resonates with me.

It isn’t really a question of male vs female so much as one of balance. We have way too much male energy and way too little female energy in society.

Men tend to emphasize controlling outcomes, protection, quick and decisive decision-making. There are contexts where that’s needed.

Women tend to emphasize things like nurturing and preserving community, social connection, etc. And we need a lot more of that than we’re getting in the US. It’s said that matriarchal principles drive the resistance in Minneapolis. It’s all about cooperating and united against a foe, protecting the vulnerable, seeing that everyone is taken care of.

Women can also be plenty bad-ass when required. Even in the Bible, (book of Judges) you have the story of Jael, who crept into an enemy commander’s tent and drove a stake through his head while he slept.

I do like fiction that explores the idea. The Wheel of Time for example.