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The Pillars of Gynarchy
What if women were safe and had full agency over their lives and bodies? What if all spaces were women's spaces? What if men's classically masculine traits like strength, risk-taking, and systematizing were useful, prosocial, and not toxic? What if men took a step back from their conquests and surrendered to the natural authority of women?
Gynarchy is a way of life that encompasses personal, political, and social relationships. It is the radical claim that women are natural leaders and rulers, and men can find unmatched fulfillment in supporting, serving, and pleasing them. It's based on eight Consent, Bodily Autonomy, Abundance, Collaboration, Network, the Hive, Conflict Resolution, and the Feminine as Divine. These core principles come together to create a shift in how we wield power. Take a tour of history, biology, religion, families, economics, psychology, and sexuality from a different perspective. Find out what it's like to see the world through the Gynarchist lens.
In a follow-up to 150 Years of Gynarchy, Viola Voltairine takes us on a journey from the earliest known creation myth to a future of interconnected micro-societies called Hives, run by women and venerating the Feminine. The Feminine is active, not passive and submissive. She is playful, cyclical, and creative. As every culture knew at some point in their history, She is the origin of the Universe.
Gynarchy is a way of life that encompasses personal, political, and social relationships. It is the radical claim that women are natural leaders and rulers, and men can find unmatched fulfillment in supporting, serving, and pleasing them. It's based on eight Consent, Bodily Autonomy, Abundance, Collaboration, Network, the Hive, Conflict Resolution, and the Feminine as Divine. These core principles come together to create a shift in how we wield power. Take a tour of history, biology, religion, families, economics, psychology, and sexuality from a different perspective. Find out what it's like to see the world through the Gynarchist lens.
In a follow-up to 150 Years of Gynarchy, Viola Voltairine takes us on a journey from the earliest known creation myth to a future of interconnected micro-societies called Hives, run by women and venerating the Feminine. The Feminine is active, not passive and submissive. She is playful, cyclical, and creative. As every culture knew at some point in their history, She is the origin of the Universe.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 11, 2024
If you want to know where gynarchy (and the patriarchy) have come from, what’s at the root of feminist ideals, and how women can move forward, then Ms. Viola Voltairine is required reading. Her first book, 150 Years of Gynarchy, is a wonderful introduction to her philosophy, the story of why gynarchy matters, while The Pillars of Gynarchy takes that philosophy deeper and extends it into practical application, a story of how it can be lived.
The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. The Reasons explores what gynarchy is, how it’s been depicted in literature, and what’s behind men’s fears.
2. The Foundations opens with the 8 pillars of gynarchy and then goes into arguing against the gender binary before delving into the nature of the feminine.
3. Gynarchy-Aligned Education is the heart of the book, walking the reader through everything from history and biology to psychology, sociology, and religion.
4. The Devi Doctrine extends femdom as religion into spirituality.
5. Shadow and Virus acknowledges the darkness and violence in the world, but ends by praising the value of positive networking.
I won’t attempt to review everything in the book, because so much of it is interconnected, and it’s structured in such a way as to lead the reader from topic to topic, building upon the themes as it goes. What I will do is take note of just a few things that really resonated with me.
The 8 Pillars of Gynarchy are just that – pillars upon which everything else depends. We start with the individual and how women can be empowered, then move on to communities and how women can empower others.
The Gender Binary is a chapter that I wish every gender-critical TERF would read, as it’s as simple as it is powerful, talking about the transitional concepts of the thing, its opposite, that which is related but neither, that which is related but both, that which floats between, and the freedom to move between them. It also talks about how arbitrary gender classification is when we could just as easily have classified ourselves based on height or birth month. It then goes on to explore the long history of third genders like Hijra Bissu and the six genders of the Talmud, and how the anti-trans argument is “a well-disguised misogynistic trap.”
While I’ve never considered myself religious, I’ve always been fascinated by non-Judeo-Christian mythologies, so the chapters on World Religions and Femdom As Religion were utterly fascinating. Some of those mythologies were familiar, and some were excitingly new to me, but what actually intrigued me the most was learning how women have been erased and dismissed from so much of Judeo-Christian mythology. Not only does it steal from the mythologies it conquers, but does so with a patriarchal prejudice.
Finally, as someone who values yoga and meditation in dealing with my anxiety, the reapplication of familiar terms and concepts in The Devi Doctrine made its weaving of old and new into a gynarchic religion comfortably relevant. It’s not just valid and valuable, it’s absolutely beautiful. The challenges, the remedies, and the steps set it up; the behaviors of the living goddess bring it all together; and the sacred rights and practices put it all into action.
Finally, it’s worth noting that while The Pillars of Gynarchy is about women and for women, it doesn’t exclude or devalue men. In fact, it goes to great lengths to warn against fictional dystopias and show how simply flipping the gender paradigm (without changing patriarchal behavior) does more harm than good. Men have a place in gynarchy, and it can be a place of purpose and respect, should they choose to honor it.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/...
The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. The Reasons explores what gynarchy is, how it’s been depicted in literature, and what’s behind men’s fears.
2. The Foundations opens with the 8 pillars of gynarchy and then goes into arguing against the gender binary before delving into the nature of the feminine.
3. Gynarchy-Aligned Education is the heart of the book, walking the reader through everything from history and biology to psychology, sociology, and religion.
4. The Devi Doctrine extends femdom as religion into spirituality.
5. Shadow and Virus acknowledges the darkness and violence in the world, but ends by praising the value of positive networking.
I won’t attempt to review everything in the book, because so much of it is interconnected, and it’s structured in such a way as to lead the reader from topic to topic, building upon the themes as it goes. What I will do is take note of just a few things that really resonated with me.
The 8 Pillars of Gynarchy are just that – pillars upon which everything else depends. We start with the individual and how women can be empowered, then move on to communities and how women can empower others.
The Gender Binary is a chapter that I wish every gender-critical TERF would read, as it’s as simple as it is powerful, talking about the transitional concepts of the thing, its opposite, that which is related but neither, that which is related but both, that which floats between, and the freedom to move between them. It also talks about how arbitrary gender classification is when we could just as easily have classified ourselves based on height or birth month. It then goes on to explore the long history of third genders like Hijra Bissu and the six genders of the Talmud, and how the anti-trans argument is “a well-disguised misogynistic trap.”
While I’ve never considered myself religious, I’ve always been fascinated by non-Judeo-Christian mythologies, so the chapters on World Religions and Femdom As Religion were utterly fascinating. Some of those mythologies were familiar, and some were excitingly new to me, but what actually intrigued me the most was learning how women have been erased and dismissed from so much of Judeo-Christian mythology. Not only does it steal from the mythologies it conquers, but does so with a patriarchal prejudice.
Finally, as someone who values yoga and meditation in dealing with my anxiety, the reapplication of familiar terms and concepts in The Devi Doctrine made its weaving of old and new into a gynarchic religion comfortably relevant. It’s not just valid and valuable, it’s absolutely beautiful. The challenges, the remedies, and the steps set it up; the behaviors of the living goddess bring it all together; and the sacred rights and practices put it all into action.
Finally, it’s worth noting that while The Pillars of Gynarchy is about women and for women, it doesn’t exclude or devalue men. In fact, it goes to great lengths to warn against fictional dystopias and show how simply flipping the gender paradigm (without changing patriarchal behavior) does more harm than good. Men have a place in gynarchy, and it can be a place of purpose and respect, should they choose to honor it.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/...
October 29, 2023
"What if women were safe and had full agency over their lives and bodies? What if all spaces were women’s spaces? What if men took a step back from their conquests and surrendered to the natural authority of women?" So begins Ms. Voltairine's exploration of what a female guided future could look like in her second book on the subject. She is a brilliant leader, a gifted intellectual and a creator in her chosen subject, Female rule. Presenting a beautiful, thorough and well crafted vision for the future of humankind, her second book is nothing short of a masterpiece. PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this book! Become a part of the change the world so desperately needs!
November 16, 2023
I thought the book was very informative. I learned I lot more about Ms Viola and she taught me a lot more. I especially enjoyed the section about roles. It really helped me define my role more as a submissive male. I also learned I have other roles to look forward too. Great book I recommend it for all males.
October 8, 2025
Great Book on Gynarchy!
I really enjoyed this book. it had a lot of new information for me to process. I am a fan of history and various religions so I really liked that part of it!! Am so grateful to have read it..Thank you Biola and can’t wait to read your book, 150 years of gynarchy . It’s fascinating!
I really enjoyed this book. it had a lot of new information for me to process. I am a fan of history and various religions so I really liked that part of it!! Am so grateful to have read it..Thank you Biola and can’t wait to read your book, 150 years of gynarchy . It’s fascinating!
April 27, 2026
I wanted to like this book! Made it 225 pages deep but couldn’t find it in me to finish. The writing style was both dry and opinionated for my personal taste, and I found the lack of connection between and sometimes within chapters made it difficult to stay engaged.
Want to Read
May 23, 2025SM
September 4, 2024
This is a daunting review, as the book was so deep, rich, educational, awe inspiring and mindblowing that anything I write will be insufficient. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who has opened their mind to the power in Women and who are sick of the male-centered mind and world. There may be visions within that are beyond what currently floats your boat, but kinks aside I found relief in Viola's words and so much more understanding of myself as a man and why I get so much pleasure and joy serving and worshipping a woman.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews