Heide Göttner-Abendroth
Encyclopedia
Heide Göttner-Abendroth is a German feminist advocating a branch of feminist anthropology
known as Matriarchy Studies (also Modern Matriarchal Studies), focusing on the study of matriarchal
or matrilineal societies.
, and at the age of 12 escaped from East Germany to West Germany
. She has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Munich (1973). She became active in second wave feminism from 1976 and came to be considered one of the pioneers of women's studies
in West Germany.
Göttner-Abendroth worked as a Reader
in philosophy
at Munich University in the 1970s, but, due to her activism
and harsh criticism of her academic work, she quit and became an independent scholar, founding the International Academy for Modern Matriarchal Studies and Matriarchal Spirituality
(HAGIA) in 1986. She received a scholarship from the University of Bremen
in 1992. Her own account of the lack of acceptance of her Matriarchal Studies in mainstream academia was published as Die Diskriminierung der Matriarchatsforschung. Eine moderne Hexenjagd "the discrimination of Matriarchal Studies - a modern witch-hunt
" in 2003.
's When God Was a Woman
. Feminist theories of matriarchy remained current throughout the 1970s, and in German scholarship during the 1980s. Göttner-Abendroth has continued to publish on the topic into the 2000s, and has organized two World Congresses on Matriarchal Studies, in 2003 and 2005.
Göttner-Abendroth defines Modern Matriarchal Studies as the "investigation and presentation of non-patriarchal societies", and matriarchies as "non-hierarchical, horizontal societies of matrilineal kinship", effectively defining matriarchy as "non-patriarchic matrilineal societies". She has also defined matriarchy as characterized by the sharing of power equally between the two genders, an egalirarian model. By Göttner-Abendroth's definition, a matriarchal society is equivalent to an "egalitarian and peaceful society". Such societies aren't described as "matriarchal" in mainstream anthropology, but as matrilineal. Mainstream anthropology considers "male dominance in the public or political realm" a human cultural universal and has abandoned the 19th century notion of "primitive" matriarchies in favour of discussion of matrilineality
and matrilocality
, forms of societies that are actually on record. Göttner-Abendroth defends this departure from the usual meaning of the -archy suffix as using it in its etymological meaning of 'beginning', according to which matriarchy would not mean 'rule of mothers' but 'at the beginning the mothers'. However, Greek has the double meaning of 'beginning, origin' and 'rule, dominion', and the -archy suffix originates with , which has the meaning of 'leadership, rule' exclusively, as in ἀν-αρχία
'lack of a leader, lawlessness, anarchy'.
Feminist anthropology
Feminist anthropology is an approach to studying cultural anthropology that aims to correct for a perceived androcentric bias within anthropology...
known as Matriarchy Studies (also Modern Matriarchal Studies), focusing on the study of matriarchal
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
or matrilineal societies.
Life
Göttner-Abendroth was born during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and at the age of 12 escaped from East Germany to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. She has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Munich (1973). She became active in second wave feminism from 1976 and came to be considered one of the pioneers of women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
in West Germany.
Göttner-Abendroth worked as a Reader
Reader
Reader can mean a person who is reading a text, or a basal reader, a book used to teach reading. It may also refer to:-People:* Richard Reader Harris , English barrister and Pentecostalist* Reader Harris , British politician...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Munich University in the 1970s, but, due to her activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and harsh criticism of her academic work, she quit and became an independent scholar, founding the International Academy for Modern Matriarchal Studies and Matriarchal Spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
(HAGIA) in 1986. She received a scholarship from the University of Bremen
University of Bremen
The University of Bremen is a university of approximately 23,500 people from 126 countries that are studying, teaching, researching, and working in Bremen, Germany...
in 1992. Her own account of the lack of acceptance of her Matriarchal Studies in mainstream academia was published as Die Diskriminierung der Matriarchatsforschung. Eine moderne Hexenjagd "the discrimination of Matriarchal Studies - a modern witch-hunt
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
" in 2003.
HAGIA
Göttner-Abendroth's International Academy for Modern Matriarchal Studies and Matriarchal Spirituality (HAGIA) was founded in 1986. It aims to combine the "intellectual, political, artistic, and spiritual" in its events.Matriarchal Studies
Modern Matriarchal Studies stands in the tradition of 1970s second wave feminism, pioneered by Merlin StoneMerlin Stone
Merlin Stone was an author, sculptor, and professor of art and art history. She is best-known for her book, When God Was a Woman.-Biography:...
's When God Was a Woman
When God Was a Woman
When God Was a Woman is the U.S. title of a 1976 book by sculptor and art historian Merlin Stone. It was published earlier in the UK as The Paradise Papers: The Suppression of Women's Rites...
. Feminist theories of matriarchy remained current throughout the 1970s, and in German scholarship during the 1980s. Göttner-Abendroth has continued to publish on the topic into the 2000s, and has organized two World Congresses on Matriarchal Studies, in 2003 and 2005.
Göttner-Abendroth defines Modern Matriarchal Studies as the "investigation and presentation of non-patriarchal societies", and matriarchies as "non-hierarchical, horizontal societies of matrilineal kinship", effectively defining matriarchy as "non-patriarchic matrilineal societies". She has also defined matriarchy as characterized by the sharing of power equally between the two genders, an egalirarian model. By Göttner-Abendroth's definition, a matriarchal society is equivalent to an "egalitarian and peaceful society". Such societies aren't described as "matriarchal" in mainstream anthropology, but as matrilineal. Mainstream anthropology considers "male dominance in the public or political realm" a human cultural universal and has abandoned the 19th century notion of "primitive" matriarchies in favour of discussion of matrilineality
Matrilineality
Matrilineality is a system in which descent is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. Matrilineality is also a societal system in which one belongs to one's matriline or mother's lineage, which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles.A matriline is a line of descent from a...
and matrilocality
Matrilocality
In social anthropology, matrilocal residence or matrilocality is a term referring to the societal system in which a married couple resides with or near the wife's parents, thus the female offspring of a mother remain living in the mother's house, thereby forming large clan-families, typically...
, forms of societies that are actually on record. Göttner-Abendroth defends this departure from the usual meaning of the -archy suffix as using it in its etymological meaning of 'beginning', according to which matriarchy would not mean 'rule of mothers' but 'at the beginning the mothers'. However, Greek has the double meaning of 'beginning, origin' and 'rule, dominion', and the -archy suffix originates with , which has the meaning of 'leadership, rule' exclusively, as in ἀν-αρχία
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
'lack of a leader, lawlessness, anarchy'.
See also
- Second wave feminism
- Patriarchy in feminism
- Matriarchal religionMatriarchal religionThe concept of a Matriarchal religion is a concept forwarded in second-wave feminism since the 1970s, based on the notion of a historical matriarchy first developed in the 19th century by J. J...
- The Myth of Matriarchal PrehistoryThe Myth of Matriarchal PrehistoryThe Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why An Invented Past Will Not Give Women a Future is a book by Cynthia Eller that deconstructs the theory of a prehistoric matriarchy. This hypothesis developed in 19th century scholarship and taken up by 1970s second wave feminism following Marija Gimbutas...
External links
- http://www.goettner-abendroth.de/
- http://www.hagia.de/
- http://www.second-congress-matriarchal-studies.com/