tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8740475.post6539469769923483199..comments2023-07-28T07:44:40.802-04:00Comments on Women as Mothers: Mothers on Trial - A tour-de-force by Phyllis CheslerNYMOMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05762350054432716749noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8740475.post-58351034956002420752013-03-01T10:12:36.793-05:002013-03-01T10:12:36.793-05:00"For more than five thousand years, men—fathe..."For more than five thousand years, men—fathers—were legally *entitled* to sole custody of their children. Women—mothers—were *obliged* to bear, rear, and economically support their children. No mother was ever legally entitled to custody of her own child."<br /><br />This part is complete nonsense. First, we haven't been here for 5 thousand years (Americans have not) and some of the tribes before us were matrilineal where the fathers did not matter. Such as the Iroquois tribe. The women farmed and owned the land and inheritance was passed down through the female line. If a woman tired of her husband she would set his belongings out the door and tell him to leave- the house, land and kids were all hers. Also, many ancient patriarchal civilizations had divorce laws very similar to our traditional divorce laws (minus the selling the guilty spouse into slavery thing). <br /><br />Many societies have been Matrilineal throughout history where paternity was never even acknowledged. Even today there are a few matrilineal societies left (such as the Muoso tribe in China). <br /><br />Fathers have been obliged to financially support their families for thousands of years. Throughout history many widows in patriarchal societies found themselves in desperate situations as they were dependent on their husbands. In fact, almost every human society where paternity is acknowledged first requires the man to prove his capacity to support a wife and children before he can marry.<br /><br />I know for a fact it is a myth that mothers always get custody. In my area most fathers have custody and the mothers are basically stripped of their rights. If it wasn't for the feminist movement mothers with young children would still be protected in custody disputes. Also, granting men the same rights to illegitimate children as to legitimate is completely insane. I know of hardly any civilizations that gave recognition to unwed fathers, much less just let them walk in and claim rights at any point down the road. Even rapists today are getting custody. The Radical Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933489101373415907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8740475.post-90158379996418731042013-03-01T10:10:48.767-05:002013-03-01T10:10:48.767-05:00"For more than five thousand years, men—fathe..."For more than five thousand years, men—fathers—were legally *entitled* to sole custody of their children. Women—mothers—were *obliged* to bear, rear, and economically support their children. No mother was ever legally entitled to custody of her own child."<br /><br />This part is complete nonsense. First, we haven't been here for 5 thousand years (Americans have not) and some of the tribes before us were matrilineal where the fathers did not matter. Such as the Iroquois tribe. The women farmed and owned the land and inheritance was passed down through the female line. If a woman tired of her husband she would set his belongings out the door and tell him to leave- the house, land and kids were all hers. Also, many ancient patriarchal civilizations had divorce laws very similar to our traditional divorce laws (minus the selling the guilty spouse into slavery thing). <br /><br />Many societies have been Matrilineal throughout history where paternity was never even acknowledged. Even today there are a few matrilineal societies left (such as the Muoso tribe in China). <br /><br />Fathers have been obliged to financially support their families for thousands of years. Throughout history many widows in patriarchal societies found themselves in desperate situations as they were dependent on their husbands. In fact, almost every human society where paternity is acknowledged first requires the man to prove his capacity to support a wife and children before he can marry.<br /><br />I know for a fact it is a myth that mothers always get custody. In my area most fathers have custody and the mothers are basically stripped of their rights. If it wasn't for the feminist movement mothers with young children would still be protected in custody disputes. Also, granting men the same rights to illegitimate children as to legitimate is completely insane. I know of hardly any civilizations that gave recognition to unwed fathers, much less just let them walk in and claim rights at any point down the road. Even rapists today are getting custody. The Radical Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933489101373415907noreply@blogger.com