Editing Dominator culture (section)

== Concept and terminology ==
[[Riane Eisler]] presents dominator culture as a cultural construction of the roles and relations of women and men, where men "dominate", or are in control within society. Regardless of the location, time period, religious beliefs, or advancements in technology, a society might follow the dominator culture model. Eisler characterizes dominator culture as featuring four core elements:
* an authoritarian social and family structure
* rigid male dominance
* a high level of violence and abuse
* and a system of beliefs that normalizes such a society<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Eisler|first=Riane|year=2015|title=Human Possibilities: The Interaction of Biology and Culture|journal=Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies|volume=1|doi=10.24926/ijps.v1i1.88|doi-access=free}}</ref> 
The dominator model is framed in contrast to the partnership model. In a sort of reversal of the elements of dominator culture, the partnership model is characterized by:
* organization according to the ideals of a democratic structure
* [[Gender equality|equal partnership between men and women]]
* a lack of tolerance for abuse and violence
* and belief systems that validate an empathetic perspective<ref name=":1" /> 
By juxtaposing dominator culture with partnership culture, Eisler creates a continuum between the two. She argues that where a society falls on this spectrum influences its culture, beliefs, and actions. Adherence to dominator culture affects people from a personal to a public level, as seen in its societal impact.<ref name=":0" />

=== Historical context ===

The prevalence of dominator culture has shifted over time. Eisler claims that, in the prehistory of humans, partnership used to be the norm. In both the [[Paleolithic]] and [[Neolithic]] periods, there are examples of [[List of matrilineal or matrilocal societies|matriarchal societies]] preceding [[Patriarchy|patriarchies]]. British archaeologist [[James Mellaart]], for example, reported a Neolithic site with many female images and no signs of destructive warfare for almost 1000 years.<ref name=":0" /> For thousands of years, people lived in these peaceful partnership societies, until warlike nomadic tribes disrupted the balance with their dominator cultures. Since then, fluctuations between dominator and partnership societies have occurred over time, but the primary shift has been towards dominator culture.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=34997|title=Dominator v Partnership Societies and Relationships|last=Hollick|first=Malcolm|date=2007|website=Author's Den|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=June 2017}}