female forms of power and the myth of male dominance: a model of female/male interaction in peasant society1

The assumption of universal male dominance, which stems from epistemological biases in anthropology, is belied by evidence that women wield considerable power within the context of the peasant household and community. The apparent contradictions between public stances of male dominance and the realities of female power can be resolved and explained by a model which is potentially extensible to other types of pre‐industrial societies. In conclusion, the transformation of male dominance from myth to reality during the process of industrialization is briefly explored.