The property flowed through women for thousands of years. Because women were certain the children they birthed, out of their own body were their children. Women could not be certain which male she might sleep with was the father. Was is Ian or was it Jacob or one of a hundred of men that woman was "with"
When the woman died, the property, the jewelry, the money of hers went to her daughters. Who she was sure were her own.
Then came the establishment of the patriarchy, where property and money flowed from the male to other males.
The bible (I'm no expert on that book) I believe is full of Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab.
The whole of Ruth reminds of Offred in the Handmaid's tale.
Women were to remain virgins until marriage. If they got impregnated, the man could be sure the male child was his. The property could move through the male lineage. If a women committed adultery, she could be stoned to death. The husband could not assume any child out of her body was his. I believe women who were raped met a similar fate.
The patriarchy made sure the money, the property, the everything, was made through the male lineage. Brutality ensured it.
English law 1765:
By marriage, the husband and wife are one person in law: that is, the very being or legal existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage.
She (the wife) doesn't exist anymore.
Her marriage is called her coverture. For this reason, a man cannot grant anything to his wife, or enter into covenant with her: for the grant would be to suppose her separate existence.
page 67 of "Men explain things to me" by Rebecca Solnit.
The woman does not exist anymore.
Today, my last name is my father's last name. My mother's maiden name got wiped out.
I have a cookbook of recipes submitted by women back 40-50 years ago. When the book was published all the female names were, for example, "Mrs. Arthur Nicholls" and "Mrs. Kevin Irwin".
Salute to Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo which Solnit describes in her book. Disappear. Erased.
Kudos to Hannah Arendt for not using her husband's last name. Was Arendt her mother's maiden name. Wow that would be sweet if true.
To get it, to better understand the world from a female's perspective, I recommend this book, "Men explain things to me" by Rebecca Solnit. Go purchase the book, and toss some money at a female.
Please note to the men here: I am not trying to be insensitive or bigoted towards men. As writer Mel (Melanie) Hamlett points out, women are groomed from birth to be super sensitive toward the feelings of men. We have to be. We have to tip-toe around men's feelings, lest the men get angry and dole out corporal punishment to women. Or worse.
The stress this causes women can take years off our lives.
Also Haidmaids tale:
Men are afraid women are going to laugh at them
Women are afraid men are going to kill them.
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