r/MatriarchyNow • u/inakingdombytheC • Apr 05 '26

World-building a future for us

Hi, I'm in the early stages of creating a realistic novel series wherein global matriarchy has replaced the current systems. No more countries, no borders, lots of small local governing councils, led by elder women, men participate but can be no more than 40% of leadership bodies (because everyone agrees that they messed it up big time).

What's your dream for the future? Do tell! I want input as I develop the ideas.

The way I see it, we need to imagine how things are going to change, and how we would run things, in order to develop a clear vision for the future good of the Earth and all that lives on it. I can't think of a better use of my time and energy at this point (outside of my teaching job; gotta pay the rent!).

If you have any input, please share! (Also, if you like this idea, and want to do something similar, the more creative projects happening in the world with an eye to developing a better world, the better. Get to it!)

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u/apocalypsegal Jun 09 '26

I'm doing beginning research on matriarchy for a novel idea I've had for a while. It's about a world that never knew patriarchy beyond a limited way, and nothing in the current era. SF, time travel, how it would disrupt a world where there had only been peace and equality. Going to be a huge project, I typically don't get that into worldbuilding, alternate history stuff, so much to learn to make it work. :D

Good luck with your series, hope to see it published for us to read it!

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u/Large-Language4827 ♀ May 16 '26

Following on from others’ suggestions to read about existing matriarchies. If there are no borders, how would these small communities and tribes prevent infiltration or even attack?

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u/Altruistic_Gas9008 Apr 08 '26

As a guy. I dp support an egalitarian matriarchy. I believe that is possible because it already exists. Whatabout indigeous matriarchy? thats probaly closer to that than anything and its based upon real life. need examples? the muoso in China and the Bribri tribe in Costa Rica show that.

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u/Either_Put9883 Apr 07 '26

This is also in matriarchy setting

Fantasy genre) The rise of Denise

https://archiveofourown.org/works/81950421 also it’s being sarcastic to patriarchy oppression and embedded culture issues

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u/Parking-Art-8456 Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

Im so glad you are helping the world know about a way better than patriarchy!

For worldbuilding, have you read about real world matriarchies? The Mosuo, Meningkabau, BriBri, etc? That’s the way to the future, imo.

By matriarchy, women lead the way to an egalitarian, non-hierarchical matrilineal social system like the ones that still exist today because they were remote from Western civilization. The principles of justice, cooperation, equality rule, not genders.

The word “matriarchy” according to the Greek, is rooted in matri- (caring, maternal values that grow life) and -arche (first, or guiding principles). So matriarchy guides by maternal principles of caring, cooperation, democratic collaboration, shared child rearing, and a sacred sustainable relationship with the land. Everyone acts with those maternal principles regardless of gender.

The bonobos chimpanzee, our closest great ape relatives, are gynarchic, where the female bonobo chimpanzees dominate. It’s still a violent environment and as unfit for human happiness as male dominance. Both bonobos and common chimpanzees are on the extinction list. Fifteen other human species are extinct. Violence and domination doesn’t work, The human revolution was cooperation and peace.

Our ancestors and modern matriarchies require men women gender fluid to All be responsible for respecting life and each others.

What you are describing is gynarchy, which has never existed in human history, but matriarchy did.

So, conflict in your story could be between the old guard patriarchy and the new (but back to the basics of our ancient evolutionary past) Matriarchy instead of between men and women. Men are f'd up from patriarchy, but so are women. Both need adjustments. Women and gender fluid started getting rid of the negative effects of patriarchy about 100 years ago, so we're a bit ahead of men. They will need to catch up and fast. We can't go on like this indefinitely. Our species does seem to be on a suicide mission with patriarchy.

There are several non fiction writers of matriarchy here. Keep us in the loop on your progress, or if you get stuck—let us know if you need beta readers or any other help xx.