26

III DIFFICULTIES AND OBJECTIONS: AN ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE
MOTHER-RIGHT WITH THE PATRIARCHAL THEORY 45

IV DEVELOPMENT IN THE PATRIARCHAL FAMILY AND THE RISE
OF MOTHER-POWER 67

PART II

THE MOTHER AGE CIVILISATION

V THE MATRIARCHAL FAMILY AMONG THE AMERICAN INDIANS 95

VI THE MATERNAL FAMILY AMONG THE KHASIS 132

VII FURTHER EXAMPLES OF THE MATERNAL FAMILY 147

VIII MOTHER-RIGHT CUSTOMS AND THE TRANSITION TO FATHER-RIGHT 166

IX WOMEN AND PRIMITIVE INDUSTRY 192

X TRACES OF MOTHER-RIGHT CUSTOMS IN ANCIENT AND MODERN
CIVILISATION 209

XI THE SURVIVALS OF MOTHER-RIGHT IN FOLK-LORE, IN HEROIC
LEGENDS, AND IN FAIRY STORIES 235

XII CONCLUDING REMARKS 253

PART I

THE PRIMITIVE FAMILY

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

The twentieth century is the age of Woman; some day, it may be that it
will be looked back upon as the golden age, the dawn, some say, of
feminine civilisation. We cannot estimate as yet; and no man can tell
what forces these new conditions may not release in the soul of woman.
The modern change is that the will of woman is asserting itself. Women
are looking for a satisfactory life, which is to be determined from
within themselves, not from without by others. The result is a
discontent that may well prove to be the seed or spring of further
changes in a society which has yet to find its normal organisation.
Yes, women are finding themselves, and men are discovering what women
mean.

In the present time we are passing through a difficult period of
transition. There are conditions of change that have to be met, the
outcome of which it is very difficult to appreciate. A transformation
in the thought and conduct of women, for which the term "revolution"
is not too strong, is taking place around us; doubtless many
experimental phases will be tried before we reach a new position of
equilibrium.

This must be. There can be no life without movement.

The expression, "a transition period," is, of course, only relative.
We often say: This or that is a sign of the present era; and, nine
times out of ten, the thing we believe to be new is in reality as old
a