A form of government or society in which women hold the primary power and authority.
From Greek 'gyne' (woman) + 'kratos' (power, strength, rule). The term was coined in the 16th century, mixing classical Greek roots in a pattern matching democracy, aristocracy, and theocracy.
Ancient Greek philosophers discussed gynecocracy with horror, yet evidence suggests that Minoan Crete (3000-1100 BCE) may have been a genuine gynecocratic society with female religious leaders and property ownership—showing that what terrified Aristotle actually worked pretty well in practice.
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