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150 Years of Gynarchy: with essays by Natalia Stroika and Pearl O'Leslie
This book is for men who worship women. It's for women who think feminism doesn't go far enough. It's for people of all genders who are fed up with male dominance. The opposite of patriarchy is Gynarchy, but it's not just a simple flip of the script. The Gynarchist must not emulate the same mistakes, or perpetuate the oppressive power dynamics prevalent for thousands of years. This book offers a theoretical background and a simple set of ideas and dynamics for bringing about the downfall of male dominance and ending the brutalization of women. Liberation begins at home. This includes using sex and sexuality to shift the collective psyche. 150 Years of Gynarchy will deprogram misogyny, heal wounds, balance the scales of history, and lead to a real and lasting equality.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 28, 2024
If you are in a female-led or female-dominant relationship, dream of finding your place in one, or are simply interested in dismantling the patriarchy and furthering feminist ideals, I would politely suggest that 150 Years of Gynarchy should be required reading.
This is not some kinky roleplay guide or thinly-veiled erotic fantasy, but a deeply philosophical exploration of gender politics and relationship dynamics through which Viola Voltairine lays out a philosophy for a better future. As she lays out in her introduction, the kind of gynarchy she's talking about is:
The book begins with a chapter exploring the existence and origins of the patriarchy, and then delves deeper to explain how it has stripped us of so much feminine history and spirituality. What's important to note, however, is that Ms. Viola takes a positive approach to everything she writes. This is not a book about man-bashing, but one of female empowerment. She acknowledges the damage done by the patriarchy, but then moves on to disregard it (and the men to support it) to focus on why Gynarchy would be better, healthier, and happier for all.
Before I go on, I have to call out one of the things that immediately caught my attention - and garnered my respect. Ms. Viola quickly and definitively addresses the role of transwomen in Gynarchy:
Such a simple statement, but also an incredibly powerful one.
Most of the book is aimed at submissive men, but she also speaks to the women around them (whether they consider themselves dominant or not). The entire book is peppered with real-life experiences from Ms. Viola's household, things to which women can relate, questions of kink or fetish or fantasy aside, and which exemplify how a Gynarchy can work. There's also a chapter dedicated to dominant women that I found to be enlightening, offering advice not on becoming dominant or bringing men to heel, but on reclaiming feminine power and deprogramming women's automatic conditioning from having grown up under patriarchal rule.
The chapter on the Gynarchic household, particularly the section around communication resonated with me in ways I can't begin to describe. Ms. Viola has a way of leading you through her thought processes so that philosophy and practice converge in an explosion of insight. I came away from that chapter with a better understanding of not just how, but why my own communication has been lacking, and with clear ideas of how to improve it. That same chapter references Key Barrett (author of Surrender, Submit, Serve Her), talking about long-term serious submission and the mindset required to put her happiness and her pleasure first.
There's also a powerful section in that chapter where she talks about the practicalities of families, distancing herself from the abuse implied by so many erotic fantasies of female-dominant utopias, to talk about what Gynarchy really looks like:
Pearl O'Leslie (author of Corporate Conditioning and the woman whose recommendations turned me on to Heather Guerre & Scarlett Gale) gets an entire chapter to herself, and it's one that should be mandatory reading for new submissives especially. She talks about the damage done by the patriarchy in shaming men into hiding their kinks, leaving them without the knowledge or resources to find the dominant women they crave. Instead of offering advice on dating or BDSM clubs, she talks about communicating with other submissives, associating with the queer community, and (I adored this) reading across genders and genres. She argues that one of the reasons women have more empathy is because as girls they were forced to read and identify with male characters, whereas boys were coddled and protected from girl characters for fear they'd stop reading. As she writes, remedial consumption of media targeted at women can be one of the best ways of undoing the damage, and has the added benefit of creating shared interests.
Finally - and this should tell you a lot about what Ms. Viola is trying to say and accomplish here - there is a chapter on sexuality, but it comes near the very end, after we've already talked about family, politics, society, and relationships, and its focus is not on kink or bondage, but simply on putting female orgasms first. With the help of a passage from Ms.Rika (author of Uniquely Rika), there's a discussion of how the value of chastity differs for new versus experienced submissives, and how the wrong application of it can do more harm than good by putting the focus on striving for his next orgasm, as opposed to being a part of hers. I had to reread that section more than a few times to overcome what I'd been taught to think and feel about it.
Ultimately, if 150 Years of Gynarchy sounds even remotely interesting, then I urge you to give it a read. It's deeper, more thoughtful, and likely more compassionate than vanilla readers might expect, and it's all positive and progressive. It's the kind of book that's worth having on hand to revisit as thoughts or feelings occur to you, and one that would make a wonderful gift for anybody else interested in female-led or female-dominant relationships. I am deeply indebted to Ms. Viola for gifting me an electronic copy, and have ordered a paperback for my Goddess and myself to read, highlight, and notate together.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2021/...
This is not some kinky roleplay guide or thinly-veiled erotic fantasy, but a deeply philosophical exploration of gender politics and relationship dynamics through which Viola Voltairine lays out a philosophy for a better future. As she lays out in her introduction, the kind of gynarchy she's talking about is:
...an underground religion with its own titles and moral guidelines - one that combines the kinky sexuality of FemDom with the social and political fire of feminism and the spiritual zeal of Goddess worship and witchcraft.
The book begins with a chapter exploring the existence and origins of the patriarchy, and then delves deeper to explain how it has stripped us of so much feminine history and spirituality. What's important to note, however, is that Ms. Viola takes a positive approach to everything she writes. This is not a book about man-bashing, but one of female empowerment. She acknowledges the damage done by the patriarchy, but then moves on to disregard it (and the men to support it) to focus on why Gynarchy would be better, healthier, and happier for all.
Before I go on, I have to call out one of the things that immediately caught my attention - and garnered my respect. Ms. Viola quickly and definitively addresses the role of transwomen in Gynarchy:
It's very simple. Transwomen are women. They are not cis women, but that doesn't really matter when you are considering their real-life practical experiences of transitioning into women. The systems in place that hurt women often treat them even worse than women.
Such a simple statement, but also an incredibly powerful one.
Most of the book is aimed at submissive men, but she also speaks to the women around them (whether they consider themselves dominant or not). The entire book is peppered with real-life experiences from Ms. Viola's household, things to which women can relate, questions of kink or fetish or fantasy aside, and which exemplify how a Gynarchy can work. There's also a chapter dedicated to dominant women that I found to be enlightening, offering advice not on becoming dominant or bringing men to heel, but on reclaiming feminine power and deprogramming women's automatic conditioning from having grown up under patriarchal rule.
The chapter on the Gynarchic household, particularly the section around communication resonated with me in ways I can't begin to describe. Ms. Viola has a way of leading you through her thought processes so that philosophy and practice converge in an explosion of insight. I came away from that chapter with a better understanding of not just how, but why my own communication has been lacking, and with clear ideas of how to improve it. That same chapter references Key Barrett (author of Surrender, Submit, Serve Her), talking about long-term serious submission and the mindset required to put her happiness and her pleasure first.
There's also a powerful section in that chapter where she talks about the practicalities of families, distancing herself from the abuse implied by so many erotic fantasies of female-dominant utopias, to talk about what Gynarchy really looks like:
It looks like empowering a young girl to be commanding without fetishizing her. It looks like teaching a young boy to revere women without abusing him. It looks like a new world where a woman promotes cooperation and harmony by being both benevolent and deliciously cruel, while men fall willfully at her feet.
Pearl O'Leslie (author of Corporate Conditioning and the woman whose recommendations turned me on to Heather Guerre & Scarlett Gale) gets an entire chapter to herself, and it's one that should be mandatory reading for new submissives especially. She talks about the damage done by the patriarchy in shaming men into hiding their kinks, leaving them without the knowledge or resources to find the dominant women they crave. Instead of offering advice on dating or BDSM clubs, she talks about communicating with other submissives, associating with the queer community, and (I adored this) reading across genders and genres. She argues that one of the reasons women have more empathy is because as girls they were forced to read and identify with male characters, whereas boys were coddled and protected from girl characters for fear they'd stop reading. As she writes, remedial consumption of media targeted at women can be one of the best ways of undoing the damage, and has the added benefit of creating shared interests.
Finally - and this should tell you a lot about what Ms. Viola is trying to say and accomplish here - there is a chapter on sexuality, but it comes near the very end, after we've already talked about family, politics, society, and relationships, and its focus is not on kink or bondage, but simply on putting female orgasms first. With the help of a passage from Ms.Rika (author of Uniquely Rika), there's a discussion of how the value of chastity differs for new versus experienced submissives, and how the wrong application of it can do more harm than good by putting the focus on striving for his next orgasm, as opposed to being a part of hers. I had to reread that section more than a few times to overcome what I'd been taught to think and feel about it.
Ultimately, if 150 Years of Gynarchy sounds even remotely interesting, then I urge you to give it a read. It's deeper, more thoughtful, and likely more compassionate than vanilla readers might expect, and it's all positive and progressive. It's the kind of book that's worth having on hand to revisit as thoughts or feelings occur to you, and one that would make a wonderful gift for anybody else interested in female-led or female-dominant relationships. I am deeply indebted to Ms. Viola for gifting me an electronic copy, and have ordered a paperback for my Goddess and myself to read, highlight, and notate together.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2021/...
March 11, 2021
A true tour de force! A brilliant feminist take down of the patriarchy brick by brick and a solid, realistic roadmap for a matriarchal future for all humankind! Insightful, and artfully crafted with her arguments, Ms. Voltairine is a modern feminist genius! An absolute must read!
April 21, 2021
Author Viola Strepsata Voltairine is a visionary and thought leader.
In 150 Years of Gynarchy, she takes on the patriarchy, our long established social system where men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.
However, this book does not suggest that we simply flip the script and put women in charge.
It instead advocates a personal, social, and cultural "rewrite" that not only tears down the structures and systems that keep women "in their place," but offers a totally new concept where no one is oppressed.
Ms. Voltairine's seven-generation blueprint revolves around the powerfully kinky sexuality of femdom combined with the social and political fire of feminism and spiritual zeal of Goddess worship and witchcraft to change our collective psychology and reinvent the way power is expressed.
A former professional dominatrix, she actually "walks the walk" herself, living in a Gynarchic Queendom in Colorado where she rules over a stable of submissive, or evolved, men.
The book delves into exactly what a gynarchy is, painting a vivid picture of gynarchic households, community, sexuality, religion, economy and much more.
This is a very deep and serious work filled with original ideas. It's impeccably sourced and the writing is both scholarly and engaging.
So who is this book for?
It's mandatory reading for anyone interested in female-led relationships or femdom. It will also appeal to feminists who want more than mere equality, and anyone interested in the coming matriarchy.
If you're part of the "old boy network," you'll hate this book.
If you're open to new ideas and a world where women lead, every page of this book will be a breath of fresh air.
In 150 Years of Gynarchy, she takes on the patriarchy, our long established social system where men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.
However, this book does not suggest that we simply flip the script and put women in charge.
It instead advocates a personal, social, and cultural "rewrite" that not only tears down the structures and systems that keep women "in their place," but offers a totally new concept where no one is oppressed.
Ms. Voltairine's seven-generation blueprint revolves around the powerfully kinky sexuality of femdom combined with the social and political fire of feminism and spiritual zeal of Goddess worship and witchcraft to change our collective psychology and reinvent the way power is expressed.
A former professional dominatrix, she actually "walks the walk" herself, living in a Gynarchic Queendom in Colorado where she rules over a stable of submissive, or evolved, men.
The book delves into exactly what a gynarchy is, painting a vivid picture of gynarchic households, community, sexuality, religion, economy and much more.
This is a very deep and serious work filled with original ideas. It's impeccably sourced and the writing is both scholarly and engaging.
So who is this book for?
It's mandatory reading for anyone interested in female-led relationships or femdom. It will also appeal to feminists who want more than mere equality, and anyone interested in the coming matriarchy.
If you're part of the "old boy network," you'll hate this book.
If you're open to new ideas and a world where women lead, every page of this book will be a breath of fresh air.
April 14, 2022
Excellent read for those looking to find a book on the belief behind Femdom. It focuses more on the values and purpose of female domination rather than describing bdsm scenes with Dommes eloborating on their clientele experiences and the money making bdsm sect.
This book is for those that want an Female led relationship and come to fruition with the purpose of Female worship.
This book is for those that want an Female led relationship and come to fruition with the purpose of Female worship.
March 2, 2024
I chose to read this more for rhetorical purposes than any belief that I would wind up agreeing with its premise. Conservatives and right-wingers tend to think in terms of narratives, so I think that it is important to have alternative narratives on hand in order to challenge theirs, even if you don't necessarily agree with those counter-narratives yourself. Matriarchy doesn't make any more sense than patriarchy (I won't rehash why here too much, my review of Cynthia Eller's "The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory" covered most of it), but it also doesn't make any less sense and at this point could be argued to make more so, and it doesn't hurt to point this out to people unironically advocating for patriarchy.
That said, I do think the author provides arguments that are at least interesting and something to chew on. Her points about symbiosis and its three types (mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism) are a good way of framing the issues that often come up in discussions of individualism vs. collectivism, in that it is important to distinguish between the quality of social bonds rather than just bonding for the sake of bonding. I like how she pointed out that capitalism takes advantage of humanity's innate tendencies towards cooperation and generosity as much as it does our tendency towards greed, and that those who take advantage of cooperation can easily be found in other systems too, so while capitalism definitely is "the problem" of today, the wider issue we should always be on the look out for is ultimately any form of parasitism — relationships which harm and degrade, rather than benefit or at least refrain from harming.
The focus on BDSM was a bit boring for anyone who's not particularly interested in that aspect of her worldview, though luckily it didn't get to the point of being gross or gratuitous. At the very least, it does a good job at explaining why some people choose to enter D/s relationships, what it is they get out of it, and how to navigate them safely and healthily. I obviously disagree with her assertion that these relationships would in any way be helpful for societal change on a wider scale, but it at least shows an interesting glimpse into how they could fit into one's personal philosophical practices in regards to gender relations. I'm hoping her more recent book "The Pillars of Gynarchy" will focus less on BDSM though.
Post-book thoughts:
It's about 20% actual vision for the world, 80% the details of how female-led Dom-sub relationships work. Which I'm not against, and is interesting in its own right, just not quite what I came into it looking for. Repeats a lot of common feminist myths about ancient religion and anthropology, but said myths are so common that I don't hold it against most people for repeating them, especially in this book where the focus is more on creating something new than describing the past. Again, hoping her "Pillars" book will focus more actual "praxis" instead of just a bunch of instructions on how to be a good sub for a presumed male reader to salivate over.
That said, I do think the author provides arguments that are at least interesting and something to chew on. Her points about symbiosis and its three types (mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism) are a good way of framing the issues that often come up in discussions of individualism vs. collectivism, in that it is important to distinguish between the quality of social bonds rather than just bonding for the sake of bonding. I like how she pointed out that capitalism takes advantage of humanity's innate tendencies towards cooperation and generosity as much as it does our tendency towards greed, and that those who take advantage of cooperation can easily be found in other systems too, so while capitalism definitely is "the problem" of today, the wider issue we should always be on the look out for is ultimately any form of parasitism — relationships which harm and degrade, rather than benefit or at least refrain from harming.
The focus on BDSM was a bit boring for anyone who's not particularly interested in that aspect of her worldview, though luckily it didn't get to the point of being gross or gratuitous. At the very least, it does a good job at explaining why some people choose to enter D/s relationships, what it is they get out of it, and how to navigate them safely and healthily. I obviously disagree with her assertion that these relationships would in any way be helpful for societal change on a wider scale, but it at least shows an interesting glimpse into how they could fit into one's personal philosophical practices in regards to gender relations. I'm hoping her more recent book "The Pillars of Gynarchy" will focus less on BDSM though.
Post-book thoughts:
It's about 20% actual vision for the world, 80% the details of how female-led Dom-sub relationships work. Which I'm not against, and is interesting in its own right, just not quite what I came into it looking for. Repeats a lot of common feminist myths about ancient religion and anthropology, but said myths are so common that I don't hold it against most people for repeating them, especially in this book where the focus is more on creating something new than describing the past. Again, hoping her "Pillars" book will focus more actual "praxis" instead of just a bunch of instructions on how to be a good sub for a presumed male reader to salivate over.
July 27, 2021
This book could have been sub-titled, "How women are using the erotic power of the bedroom to advance the feminist cause in the boardroom."
Yes, BDSM, particularly the FemDom aspect of this practice are now more popular (and controversial) than ever. A 1990 Kinsey study showed that 5% of Americans practiced some form of BDSM in their sex lives. A 2005 study showed that this number increased to over 36%, and this was before the book and movie, "Fifty Shades of Gray" catalyzed a new generation of practitioners following their release in 2015. But Ms. Voltairine's book - part manifesto, part social commentary - reflects the evolving social acceptance of alternate lifestyles.
Voltairine is a compassionate, yet fierce Gynarch and her call to empowerment is one that is not just sympathetic to women, but one that is also now being actively embraced by a growing number of men.
And, the book is not just another nod to male fantasy. It is the author's somewhat prophetic vision of a world to come where the patriarchy fades and is supplanted by a new evolutionary phase of gynarchy. Not a surprising response, given the patriarchal perversions and abuses recently amplified by the Trump presidency.
After reading this book, I am not rushing out to buy thousands of dollars of bondage gear, but rather looking to expand my library of foundational feminist literature.
Yes, BDSM, particularly the FemDom aspect of this practice are now more popular (and controversial) than ever. A 1990 Kinsey study showed that 5% of Americans practiced some form of BDSM in their sex lives. A 2005 study showed that this number increased to over 36%, and this was before the book and movie, "Fifty Shades of Gray" catalyzed a new generation of practitioners following their release in 2015. But Ms. Voltairine's book - part manifesto, part social commentary - reflects the evolving social acceptance of alternate lifestyles.
Voltairine is a compassionate, yet fierce Gynarch and her call to empowerment is one that is not just sympathetic to women, but one that is also now being actively embraced by a growing number of men.
And, the book is not just another nod to male fantasy. It is the author's somewhat prophetic vision of a world to come where the patriarchy fades and is supplanted by a new evolutionary phase of gynarchy. Not a surprising response, given the patriarchal perversions and abuses recently amplified by the Trump presidency.
After reading this book, I am not rushing out to buy thousands of dollars of bondage gear, but rather looking to expand my library of foundational feminist literature.
May 1, 2021
Ms. Voltairine's book, 150 Years of Gynarchy, is part manifesto, part autobiography, part history lesson, and part guidebook for the future. Not bad for a book that clocks in at a skosh over 200 pages. A book for men with an overwhelming desire to serve powerful women, it is a peek into the future where the violence of the patriarchy becomes a thing of the past. A must-read for all who desperately search for a glimmer of hope in a world with an uncertain future.
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