How Early Human Societies Built the Foundations of Patriarchy.

Early human life was nomadic and jungle-based. There was no formal government or law; humans lived in a state of natural anarchy. Men and women differed in physical, emotional, and reproductive aspects. Because of their greater physical strength, men took on tasks like hunting, fighting, and protecting the tribe. Women, due to pregnancy and childcare responsibilities, stayed near the shelter and primarily engaged in gathering and nurturing activities. At this stage, this was a natural division of labour rather than inequality.

In early societies, women were often kept inside the home for protection—from wild animals, rival groups, and the risk of sexual violence. However, what began as a protective measure slowly turned into control. Men started making decisions on behalf of women “for their own safety,” leading to an early form of patriarchy in which protection gradually transformed into possession.

With the advent of agriculture and settled life during the Neolithic Revolution, the concept of private property emerged. As landowners and primary producers, men began to treat women as part of their property to ensure inheritance and lineage. Women’s reproductive roles were restricted to maintain family property and legitimacy. This marked the more permanent rise of patriarchal structures.

While early gender differences were rooted in biology, societies eventually converted them into social inequalities. Roles became rigid—men dominated public life and decision-making, while women were confined to domestic spaces. Over time, this hierarchy was reinforced through culture, religion, and tradition, leading to systematic gender discrimination.

Modern scholars like Friedrich Engels, Simone de Beauvoir, and Gerda Lerner argue that gender inequality is a social construct. Engels famously stated that “the world-historical defeat of the female sex” began with the rise of private property. Thus, biological differences became an excuse to justify male domination.

Although gender inequality has decreased over time, change does not happen like a sudden explosion. Shifts in gender relations are slow, continuous, and evolutionary—driven by education, awareness, legal reforms, and social movements. People’s mindsets, traditions, and cultural habits take time to truly evolve.