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JEUnlike patriarchy - where men have the power (i.e. lead) and women don't (i.e. follow) - the ancient world, and the cultures of the Bible functioned as a patricentric heterarchy.
**See my previous posts, highlights, & reels on Patricentrism**
Patricentrism is a family organizational system that centers on the oldest male (patriarch). He is not ruling the family as a king. Rather, he is responsible for the care and well being of every member (his brothers & their families, his sons & their families, his wife, his parents, unmarried daughters, servants, etc.).
Because of this they live near him (patrilocal). The property is passed from father to son, with the oldest son getting the largest share so that his household has the resources to care for his parents and unmarried sisters (patrilineal).
Patricentrism looks at the family organization structure from the outside.
Heterarchy describes how tasks, responsibilities, and power worked on the inside.
Carol Meyer's defines heterarchy as, ""A form of rule in which any unit can govern/be governed by others, depending on the circumstances, and hence no one dominates." (Meyers)
Economic relationships in the ancient family unit were too complex for a simple top-down, male-only rule (i.e. patriarchy). Especially in the Old Testament women held many and varied forms of power and responsibility.
Any hierarchical relationships in the household were governed more by age than gender. The oldest member of that gender would lead the rest and give direction to those under them.
The person in charge of one set of tasks could enlist individuals from the other group and command them as needed. Those doing a task had the power/authority over that task and the fruits from it.
Women were responsible for (and therefore held power over) food production, medicine, mutual aid relationships, and much of the religious life of the home.
The household worked together as a unit to provide for the needs of the whole. Each person was needed and valuable. Each part had a role to play to ensure the survival of all.
(See Meyers & Patricentrism in the Master Bibliography for sources and more information)
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