Gynaekokracey

[NH Civil War Gal]

I bet this is a new term for most of the readers in this forum! I just came across it today in reading a biography of Clara Barton.

A journalist used this term in a newspaper to severely criticize women who nursed men in the Civil War or gave speeches/talks about their experiences. He called it, "A disease which manifests itself in absurd endeavors of women to usurp the places and execute the functions of the male sex." There were over 20K Union nurses, at least 10K Confederate nurses, vast amounts of women who ran farms on either side and managed households quite well. Interesting that he saw all that as a threat.

 

[huskerblitz]

This happened in the Revolutionary Era as well.

 

[James Brenner]

That is a great Scrabble word.

 

[Stryker65]

Gynaekokracey itself appears to translate directly to "gynecology." Ironic that a reporter chose to use an established medical field as the name of a disease.

 

[huskerblitz]

Gynaekokracey itself appears to translate directly to "gynecology." Ironic that a reporter chose to use an established medical field as the name of a disease.

Not really. Gynae is of greek origin. So used like a prefix.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Gynaekokracey itself appears to translate directly to "gynecology." Ironic that a reporter chose to use an established medical field as the name of a disease.

Was the article possibly satirical, and this was a tip of the cap?

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Was the article possibly satirical, and this was a tip of the cap?

No, it wasn't satirical. It was just post-Civil War and it was a journalist taking a jab at Clara Barton (and other women). They hadn't kept their place, you see.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

There were over 20K Union nurses, at least 10K Confederate nurses, vast amounts of women who ran farms on either side and managed households quite well. Interesting that he saw all that as a threat.

Some folks see any kind of social change as bad.

 

[Library Lady]

Merriam Webster now spells it gynecocracy and defines it as meaning "government by women" or "political supremacy of women." The OED says the word has been around since 1612, but usage really took off starting around 1870 and peaked about 1910, but usage is still much higher than it was before 1870.

 

[1SGDan]

endeavors of women to usurp the places and execute the functions of the male sex."

Haven't they been doing this for generations?

 

[TnFed]

The thing about Clara Barton was...even though she was a strong advocate for women's rights....she wasn't a man hater...she always wanted to take care of "Her boys" on the battlefield.

 

[BillO]

No, it wasn't satirical. It was just post-Civil War and it was a journalist taking a jab at Clara Barton (and other women). They hadn't kept their place, you see.

Interesting. I would have thought that a woman's place was to care for and support men. At least back then.

 

[Story]

Merriam Webster now spells it gynecocracy and defines it as meaning "government by women" or "political supremacy of women." The OED says the word has been around since 1612, but usage really took off starting around 1870 and peaked about 1910, but usage is still much higher than it was before 1870.

Established as a perfectly cromulent word, imagine the vexations if we started to work this into everyday 21st century diatribes.

The proponents of NewSpeak would be exasperated, no?​

 

[lupaglupa]

Yet again, I wish for the rolling eyes emoji.

I sincerely doubt there were scores of men trying to get these jobs who were pushed aside by women.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I bet this is a new term for most of the readers in this forum! I just came across it today in reading a biography of Clara Barton.

A journalist used this term in a newspaper to severely criticize women who nursed men in the Civil War or gave speeches/talks about their experiences. He called it, "A disease which manifests itself in absurd endeavors of women to usurp the places and execute the functions of the male sex." There were over 20K Union nurses, at least 10K Confederate nurses, vast amounts of women who ran farms on either side and managed households quite well. Interesting that he saw all that as a threat.

Right - never heard the word.