How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society?

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Sharad9
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How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society?

Post by Sharad9 »

Some background information on the setting:

Religion: god is thought of to have duel sides that symbolize male and female virtues. The female portion represents logic, stability, intelligence, and control. The ability to access magic was given to her as symbolic of her divine authority. She is called to lead the community and guide along the right path according to gods will. The male side represents passion, courage, honor, and emotion. Men are called to protect and defend gods creation, and to be its moulders and shapers. Only by working together can balance social harmony in society be achieved.

Magic: science and technology revolve around magic, and used to create a form of magitech. This magic is present in all walks of society. Runes for growing crops, unlimited energy sources that power machinery, teleportals for transportation, and alchemy are just some ways magitech is used in daily life. Although everyone has access to msgitech, only women can access it directly and create it. Although powerful, magic is limited in significant ways. It is slow, complex, and intensive, requiring much concentration and skill. Attack magic is rare, and a specialized field.

One simple way magic is used extends to a woman's biology. All females have the natural inborn ability to control their reproductive functions. They can choose when to get pregnant, and can speed up, slow down, or pause rate of gestation. Pregnancy is easy on a woman's body, and giving birth can be described as a euphoric experience. children usually survive to adulthood. Most choose to conceive later in life, spending their younger days learning magic and the ways of their clan. Women who have given birth have access to the strongest magics. Birth fundamentally changes women into a higher being, giving them a higher understanding of magic by being one with the force of creation.

Government: matrilineal clans are controlled by a women's council, with a clan matriarch serving as head. They are primarily in charge of running businesses, banking, education, hostpitals, and passing laws. The clan matriarch selects a male cheif, who is chosen to lead an all male council. They are responsible for security, enforcement, war, defense, exploring territory, and manual labor. The cheif is more of a servant leader, and can be removed by the matriarch if neccessary. All clans make up a larger confederacy, with an everqueen who is chosen by the matriarchs of each clan. Ritualized gladiator games and competitions are used to replace warfare as a means of keeping the peace between the clans.

Culture: the faith plays a fundamental role in a person's life. Society is conservative and traditional, with the sexes expected to adhere to their gender. Equality is understood in the complementary sense. As the bearers of life, women are viewed as the "stronger" sex, as they were made in God's image. They are more emotionally stable, rational, and able to cooperate to achieve long term goals. Men are valued for their physical strength, bravery, and desire to protect others. These qualities make them suited to warfare, which is one of the most respected occupations a man can aspire to. However, men overall can be arrogant, undependable, and egotistical, sometimes allowing their emotions to get the best of them. This belief keeps them out of political power.

Children are raised communally, with the clan taking part in raising the next generation. The idea of the nuclear family is nonexistent. Much of childrearing is left to younger women and older men, although children normally retains close relationships with their birth mother. Brothers and uncles are the main father figures in a child's life. While sex is not particularly regulated, procreation is. The creation of life is viewed as a sacred form of magic. Cooperative breeding between clans is the norm, as a way of securing alliances and trade deals. These arrangements are managed by a clan breeding councils made specifically for this purpose, and are responsible for keeping records and family trees. Successful and valued men are chosen to represent their clans in this way. For women, it serves as a rite of passage, and motherhood is celebrated as a high honor. For men, it serves as a symbol of their value and worth to their clan.

Would this setup in which procreation is regulated, motherhood is emphasized, and magical birth control is the norm lead to a smaller population? Would this be sustainable in the long term? How else do you think it would it change society and culture?

Axiem
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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by Axiem »

Sharad9 wrote:unlimited energy sources
Better hope no one goes to war. Or decides to commit terrorism. There probably will be nothing left.

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mèþru
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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by mèþru »

Having unlimited energy would make society literally (not in its hyperbolic sense) unimaginably different. The struggle for energy, food, etc. has largely defined all evolution, whether political, cultural or biological.

I wonder, is there more than one culture/polity in your work?
ìtsanso, God In The Mountain, may our names inspire the deepest feelings of fear in urkos and all his ilk, for we have saved another man from his lies! I welcome back to the feast hall kal, who will never gamble again! May the eleven gods bless him!
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Sharad9
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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by Sharad9 »

Humanity is united under one confederacy. imagined society to be highly organized, with birth control policies easily enforceable. Having children would be more of a priveldge, and dependent on loyalty to the clan mother and needs of the clan. A larger clan is more powerful, but harder to govern. Therefore, a matriarch will decide whether to grow, maintain, or reduce the size of the clan. Most matriarchs would try to maintain a controlled and steady growth, taking into account capacities of education, agriculture, and population rate. Obviously, human nature and preference will make this more complex.

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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by mèþru »

Sharad9 wrote:Humanity is united under one confederacy
Not possible if humanity is larger than 200,000 people.
ìtsanso, God In The Mountain, may our names inspire the deepest feelings of fear in urkos and all his ilk, for we have saved another man from his lies! I welcome back to the feast hall kal, who will never gamble again! May the eleven gods bless him!
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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by Ars Lande »

mèþru wrote:
Sharad9 wrote:Humanity is united under one confederacy
Not possible if humanity is larger than 200,000 people.
Citation needed :)

(Though I'd worry about what I'd call narrative issues; no conflict, no stories, in other words)

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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by mèþru »

Sharad9 wrote:Most of humanity is united against supernatural forces, such as demons, monsters, and other things that exist outside of reality
ìtsanso, God In The Mountain, may our names inspire the deepest feelings of fear in urkos and all his ilk, for we have saved another man from his lies! I welcome back to the feast hall kal, who will never gamble again! May the eleven gods bless him!
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Re: How can magical birth control affect matriarchal society

Post by Axiem »

mèþru wrote:
Sharad9 wrote:Most of humanity is united against supernatural forces, such as demons, monsters, and other things that exist outside of reality
Do these forces also have access to unlimited energy?
Sharad9 wrote:Humanity is united under one confederacy.
How prevalent is terrorism, especially by those that don't like a single, united society?
imagined society to be highly organized, with birth control policies easily enforceable.
Enforceable by whom, how?

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