--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday…" description: "\"“The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday looked at data from over a hundred cultures as to the prevalence of rape, and divided them into high- or low-ra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/derrick-jensen-2824_creation-myths_the-anthropologist-peggy-reeves-sanday-l_2580588.png" --- # The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday looked at data from… ![“The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday looked at data from over a hundred cultures as to the prevalence of rape, and divided them into high- or low-rape cultures. She found that high-rape cultures are highly militarized and sex-segregated. There is a lot of difference in status between men and…” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/derrick-jensen-2824_creation-myths_the-anthropologist-peggy-reeves-sanday-l_2580588.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/derrick-jensen-2824_creation-myths_the-anthropologist-peggy-reeves-sanday-l_2580588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/derrick-jensen-2824_creation-myths_the-anthropologist-peggy-reeves-sanday-l_2580588.png) > ““The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday looked at data from over a hundred cultures as to the prevalence of rape, and divided them into high- or low-rape cultures. She found that high-rape cultures are highly militarized and sex-segregated. There is a lot of difference in status between men and women. The care of children is devalued and delegated to subordinate females. She also found that the creation myths of high-rape cultures recognize only a male deity rather than a female deity or a couple. When you think about it, that is rather bizarre. It would be an understandable mistake to think women make babies all by themselves, but it’s preposterous to think men do that alone. So you’ve got to have a fairly elaborate and counterintuitive mythmaking machine in order to fabricate a creation myth that recognizes only a male deity. There was another interesting finding, which is that high-rape cultures had recent experiences—meaning in the last few hundred years—of famine or migration. That is to say, they had not reached a stable adaptation to their ecological niche. Sadly enough, when you tally these risk factors, you realize you’ve pretty much described our culture.”” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High-rape cultures share militarization, gender inequality, male-only deities, and recent ecological stress, mirroring aspects of modern Western society. **In simple terms:** Societies with gender oppression and instability often have high sexual violence. Key Takeaway Recognize and address structural gender inequities and ecological stress. Themes gender inequality violence mythology ecology culture power Mood concerned critical hopeful Type analytical persuasive When to use this quote - policy reform - education - community support - gender equity initiatives - environmental resilience Key Concepts patriarchy social instability mythmaking resource scarcity Questions to Reflect On - How do we dismantle patriarchal myths in modern societies? - What policies can reduce gender-based violence? A Different Perspective Such patterns may not fully explain individual behavior and can overlook cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation myths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-myths/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) ## Related quotes > [That is the Mongolian creation myth: out of two different natures love is born. In contradiction, love grows in strength. In confrontation and transformation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/that-is-the-mongolian-creation-myth-out-of-two-different-natures-love/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Maps of Time attempts to assemble a coherent and accessible account of origins, a modern creation myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-christian/maps-of-time-attempts-to-assemble-a-coherent-and-accessible-account/) [David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-christian/) > [“There are two kinds of creation myths: those where life arises out of the mud, and those where life falls from the sky. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dyson/there-are-two-kinds-of-creation-myths-those-where-life-arises-out-of/) [George Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dyson/) > [If the Bible is a creation myth, it is an amorphous confusing one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gitlin/if-the-bible-is-a-creation-myth-it-is-an-amorphous-confusing-one/) [Todd Gitlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gitlin/) > [By asseting the creation myth, in which God is a man over ealier creation myths in which God was viewed as a woman, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/by-asseting-the-creation-myth-in-which-god-is-a-man-over-ealier/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The Big Bang is our modern scientific creation myth. It comes from the same human need to solve the cosmological riddle \[Where did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-big-bang-is-our-modern-scientific-creation-myth-it-comes-from-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Evolution is the creation-myth of our age. By telling us our origin it shapes our views of what we are. It influences not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-midgley/evolution-is-the-creation-myth-of-our-age-by-telling-us-our-origin-it/) [Mary Midgley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-midgley/) > [Darwinism has become our culture's official creation myth, protected by a priesthood as dogmatic as any religious curia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/darwinism-has-become-our-culture-s-official-creation-myth-protected/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“Comparing the vast knowledge base that has been accumulated, tested and proven for evolution, the continuing flow of new information that further adds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/comparing-the-vast-knowledge-base-that-has-been-accumulated-tested/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [I think every person either inherits or eventually makes up their own idea of what they are and who they are and what caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/i-think-every-person-either-inherits-or-eventually-makes-up-their-own/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [“Religious discourse was not intended to be understood literally because it was only possible to speak about a reality that transcended language in symbolic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religious-discourse-was-not-intended-to-be-understood-literally/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I wanted to think about our creation myth; you know, what is the fundamental story that defines America. And it certainly is the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/i-wanted-to-think-about-our-creation-myth-you-know-what-is-the/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When we think of the myth of the settling of the West, this is our creation myth. But because we think of it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/when-we-think-of-the-myth-of-the-settling-of-the-west-this-is-our/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [“The creation myth is a Darwinian device for survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-creation-myth-is-a-darwinian-device-for-survival/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learned-was-how-to-kill-time-i/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so-stress-the-positive-with-my/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. We don't live here. We live in television programs and movies and books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/it-s-no-wonder-we-don-t-defend-the-land-where-we-live-we-don-t-live/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“ISOLATION DOES STRANGE THINGS to a person’s mind. This is true for any social creature, human or otherwise. Monkeys taken from their mothers at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/isolation-does-strange-things-to-a-person-s-mind-this-is-true-for-any/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [My great-grandmother grew up in a sod house in Nebraska. When she was a tiny girl - in other words, only four human generations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/my-great-grandmother-grew-up-in-a-sod-house-in-nebraska-when-she-was/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Where will you drive your own picket stake? Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/where-will-you-drive-your-own-picket-stake-where-will-you-choose-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“So often, environmentalists and others working to slow the destruction are capable of plainly describing the problems (Who wouldn’t be? The problems are neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-often-environmentalists-and-others-working-to-slow-the-destruction/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Forests precede us and deserts dog our heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/forests-precede-us-and-deserts-dog-our-heels/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man. Society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-condition-of-alienation-of-being-asleep-of-being-unconscious-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [So many indigenous people have said to me that the fundamental difference between Western and indigenous ways of being is that even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-many-indigenous-people-have-said-to-me-that-the-fundamental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [When dams were erected on the Columbia, salmon battered themselves against the concrete, trying to return home. I expect no less from us. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/when-dams-were-erected-on-the-columbia-salmon-battered-themselves/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [People say 'what do you mean' when you talk about 'bringing down civilization.' What I really mean is depriving the rich of the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/people-say-what-do-you-mean-when-you-talk-about-bringing-down/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) [Explore all 149 Derrick Jensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## More Creation myths quotes > [“Just as Prometheus delivered stolen fire to man, so Eve, and the serpent, delivered man into self-consciousness, setting him up, were it not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/just-as-prometheus-delivered-stolen-fire-to-man-so-eve-and-the/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [I agree with people like Richard Dawkins that mankind felt the need for creation myths. Before we really began to understand disease and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-agree-with-people-like-richard-dawkins-that-mankind-felt-the-need/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Creationists have also changed their name ... to intelligent design theorists who study 'irreducible complexity' and the 'abrupt appearance' of life—yet more jargon for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/creationists-have-also-changed-their-name-to-intelligent-design/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Today our duty is to destroy the myth of evolution, considered as a simple, understood, and explained phenomenon which keeps rapidly unfolding before us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-agassiz/today-our-duty-is-to-destroy-the-myth-of-evolution-considered-as-a/) [Louis Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-agassiz/) > [“There are two kinds of creation myths: those where life arises out of the mud, and those where life falls from the sky. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dyson/there-are-two-kinds-of-creation-myths-those-where-life-arises-out-of/) [George Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dyson/) > [If the Bible is a creation myth, it is an amorphous confusing one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gitlin/if-the-bible-is-a-creation-myth-it-is-an-amorphous-confusing-one/) [Todd Gitlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gitlin/) > [“In the world’s oldest creation myths, the female god creates the world out of her own body. The Great Mother everywhere was the active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-sj/in-the-world-s-oldest-creation-myths-the-female-god-creates-the-world/) [Monica Sjöö](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-sj/) > [According to Eliade, the shamanic ladder is the earliest version of the idea of an axis of the world, which connects the different levels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-narby/according-to-eliade-the-shamanic-ladder-is-the-earliest-version-of/) [Jeremy Narby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-narby/) > [“Spirit projects the desire to create an individualized expression of Itself. The soul becomes manifest and projects the idea of the body in causal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/spirit-projects-the-desire-to-create-an-individualized-expression-of/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Big Bang is our modern scientific creation myth. It comes from the same human need to solve the cosmological riddle \[Where did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-big-bang-is-our-modern-scientific-creation-myth-it-comes-from-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > […the Genesis story is just one that happened to have been adopted by one particular tribe of Middle Eastern herders. It has no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-genesis-story-is-just-one-that-happened-to-have-been-adopted-by/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We are not perfect. What god is Examine yours. According to your mythos he was so disappointed with his initial efforts creating your race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/we-are-not-perfect-what-god-is-examine-yours-according-to-your-mythos/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [The unfolding through time of all things from one is the simple message, finally, of every one of the creation myths reproduced in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-unfolding-through-time-of-all-things-from-one-is-the-simple/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Darwinism has become our culture's official creation myth, protected by a priesthood as dogmatic as any religious curia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/darwinism-has-become-our-culture-s-official-creation-myth-protected/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Evolution is the creation-myth of our age. By telling us our origin it shapes our views of what we are. It influences not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-midgley/evolution-is-the-creation-myth-of-our-age-by-telling-us-our-origin-it/) [Mary Midgley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-midgley/) [Browse all 29 Creation myths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-myths/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday looked at data from over a hundred cultures as to the prevalence of rape, and divided them into high- or low-rape cultures. She found that high-rape cultures are highly militarized and sex-segregated. There is a lot of difference in status between men and women. The care of children is devalued and delegated to subordinate females. She also found that the creation myths of high-rape cultures recognize only a male deity rather than a female deity or a couple. When you think about it, that is rather bizarre. It would be an understandable mistake to think women make babies all by themselves, but it’s preposterous to think men do that alone. So you’ve got to have a fairly elaborate and counterintuitive mythmaking machine in order to fabricate a creation myth that recognizes only a male deity. There was another interesting finding, which is that high-rape cultures had recent experiences—meaning in the last few hundred years—of famine or migration. That is to say, they had not reached a stable adaptation to their ecological niche. 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