Patriarchal Precedents: Sexuality and Social Relations

Patriarchal Precedents by Rosalind Coward is an excavation of the term patriarchy and its significance in social theories of the nineteenth century. She argues that the debates about patriarchy and matriarchy were crucial to understanding the family, sexual relations, and sexual characteristics, and that the violent debates around patriarchy blocked any radical thinking about sexual relations. She argues that in order to advance our understanding of power in sexual relations, the place of sexual relations within society, and the construction of sexual characteristics, a series of presuppositions about sexual relations must be cleared away.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

First published in 1983, Patriarchal Precedents is a comprehensive exploration of the concept of patriarchy. Rosalind Coward delves into the significance of debates surrounding patriarchy and matriarchy in shaping social theories during the nineteenth century. She highlights how these debates ultimately led to our current understanding of the family, sexual relations, and sexual characteristics. Coward argues that the intense and often violent discussions surrounding patriarchy reveal a valuable lesson about the term's presuppositions and limitations. She demonstrates how it was employed in Marxism and psychoanalysis to hinder radical thinking about sexual relations and how the arguments against patriarchy within anthropology still warrant serious consideration. Coward contends that to advance our comprehension of power dynamics in sexual relations, the societal role of sexual relations, and the construction of sexual characteristics, a series of presuppositions about sexual relations must be challenged and dismantled.

This book holds immense interest for students engaged in the study of gender studies, women's studies, sexuality, men's studies, sociology, and anthropology. It provides a rich and insightful perspective on the historical and contemporary implications of patriarchy and offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of power, gender, and sexuality. Through its comprehensive analysis, Patriarchal Precedents contributes to our understanding of the past and present, paving the way for more progressive and inclusive approaches to these critical topics.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032356297