Making my mother-in-law understand

I was trying to explain to my mother-in-law why matriarchal social structures are far better for raising children than the fragile, traditional familial structure (one man and one woman), which is largely a byproduct of patriarchy and capitalism.

​"It’s normal for people to grow apart and break up, especially in romantic relationships," I told her. "Relying on a single man-woman couple to stay together forever is like relying on a single bridge cable to hold a massive ship - if that one line snaps, everything drifts away. But if, like elephants, children were born into all-female herds, they would never have to experience the loss of a significant part of themselves the way they do when a mom and dad divorce. In a matriarchy, the guardian structure - consisting of moms, aunties, and grandmothers - is fluid and flexible."

​"But children need a mom and a dad..." My mother-in-law was not so convinced.

​"I’m talking about a matriarchal structure, Maa. It was the natural state for many ancient and indigenous cultures in China, India, and Africa. You’re just not familiar with it anymore. In these systems, women come together to raise healthy children; mothers, aunties, and grandmothers are the center of a world where love and care are the priority.

​And look at our world now, Maa - don’t you see old men controlling everything and making our lives a misery? Colonialism, the destruction of indigenous cultures, nonstop wars, religious conflicts, the Opium Wars, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, ideological purgings, deforestation, and pollution... Putin, Trump, Xi Jinping, Modi, Netanyahu, Kim Jong Un... they are all old men, controlling and exploiting us all."

​"Ohhh..." she whispered. "I see now.