As an organization dedicated to dismantling patriarchal systems and advancing matriarchal values, we at Matriarchy Times, are passionate about fostering a community rooted in gender equality, inclusivity, and the well-being of all. We believe that creating spaces for dialogue around female leadership is crucial for meaningful societal change. In support of gynarchy and the transformative potential of a female-led society, we are thrilled to feature an interview with Dr. Kirti Patel, a distinguished gynecologist and advocate for women's rights. With extensive experience in women's healthcare and a profound understanding of feminist issues, Dr. Patel uses The Gynarchy Podcast to explore critical topics, challenge patriarchal norms, and inspire listeners worldwide. Her podcast amplifies women's voices and facilitates essential discussions on gender equality, healthcare, and social dynamics. Her insights offer valuable guidance for those interested in gynarchy, which she sees as an essential extension of feminist principles, promoting a society led by women.
What inspired you to start The Gynarchy Podcast, and how has the project evolved since your first episode?
I’ve been active on social media for many years, and also have written articles and been interviewed, sharing my thoughts and opinions as an ob/gyn on healthcare, women’s health, and current events, particularly feminist topics. Over the years, these experiences just made me realize that not only do I love to continually learn from the smart people I encountered but also that I had a lot to say and a lot that I wanted to share with people, especially women. I had also enjoyed the experience of being on someone else’s podcast and that got me thinking if that was something I could do as well, and ultimately I decided to try because it seems like a great platform to learn, share, and engage with others. We are currently only a few episodes into the release and I've been really pleasantly surprised by how many have watched and listened. I'm especially excited to see it being seen globally. The last time I checked it has been listened to in 40 countries and 397 cities around the world.
What are your goals for the future of The Gynarchy Podcast, and are there any specific topics you’re excited to explore?
Well, I’ve never done this before, so when I started this, I was very aware that this could fail spectacularly, so I set my goals pretty low. I decided that it would be a success if I enjoyed doing it and if even one person would benefit from listening to these episodes. In that sense, I feel I’ve already succeeded. It has been great fun and an amazing learning experience for me. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to and learn from incredibly smart people, share my own thoughts as well, and created content that I’m really really proud of. I’ve also gotten feedback back from others about how they’ve enjoyed my episodes, and that has really meant the world to me. I like to joke that I am trying to build a massive feminist media empire, and that would certainly be wonderful, but even if I just keep churning out content that just helps a few people on an ongoing basis, I will be thrilled about that. As long as I can afford to do this, in terms of my time and the cost to run this thing, I’d like to keep doing it.
I'm mainly focused on topics in women's health and feminism, and at the intersection of both. I have a long running list of topics I'd like to get to. I like to see what people are talking about online to get ideas. For example, it would be great to do an episode on periods, after the whole "tampon Tim" thing was trending recently because our VP nominee Tim Walz helped to get tampons into school bathrooms, or to talk about human sex development because of the controversy with Imane Khelif at the Olympics.
How do you define gynarchy, and why do you believe it’s a vital concept for advancing feminist discourse today?
I regard “gynarchy” as a synonym of “matriarchy” - meaning simply “a society ruled by women”.
I’d like to share that I chose “The Gynarchy” as the name of my podcast because it just struck me as very funny and clever, given that I am a gynecologist, and also I do tend to be and have woman-centered views on things. I am also a bit of a female chauvinist. The motto for my show is “down with the patriarchy, up with the gynarchy” because I really do believe that moving to a society governed more by women would create a better world. Patriarchal structures create hierarchies with winners and losers and matriarchal structures are more flat and egalitarian, where everyone has a place, a purpose, and is cared for.
What distinguishes gynarchy from traditional feminist movements, and how do you see it shaping the future and the society?
I don’t really see gynarchy as a separate or distinct movement apart from other traditional feminist movements, but more as a part of them. I do notice online that some people view a “gynarchy” as women being in control and positions of power and having authority over others, almost like a patriarchy with role reversal, but that is not how I think of a gynarchy or matriarchy. I think more women being in power would be a more egalitarian society, because it seems to be more in women's nature to look out for others. Perhaps that is just how women are conditioned to be, but regardless, I feel is it a better way to operate.
What do you believe are the key principles of a gynarchy, and how do you see this concept gaining traction in today’s society?
I think women are our natural and first leaders in the home and I would like to see that be the case in society in general. I think women in powerful positions, as a general principle, are more collaborative, community oriented, and caring about the well being of others. I think more women being in charge would help us move away from the ugly things the patriarchy has created - capitalism without a conscience, large income and wealth disparity, with so many people living in poverty and struggling for basic needs, a global climate crisis, and endless and senseless wars.
I am excited about the prospect of more women presidents and prime ministers in the world - I hope we have our first female president in the US soon - and I hope that their leadership will inspire people to realize that women’s leadership makes the world a better place.
In your view, how can gynarchy address the power imbalances that exist in current societal structures?
When you pull back the curtain on every industry, men really do control everything in the world. And as much as I’d love to see the reverse and see women be in charge of everything, that is really not realistic. I love to see women making progress but we are still so far away from being anywhere near 50-50 that there is still a great deal of work to do. I’d love to see what the world looks when we really do achieve that. Will 50-50 even be enough to create a more just society? Will we need to push for even more governance by women? These are fun thought experiments to think about as we work towards change.
How do you see gynarchy impacting both men and women, and How do you envision the roles of both men and women in this framework?
I know some people think I’m a misandrist but that is really not true. I have wonderful, feminist men in my life and I think that’s why I am so hard on men in general because most men really do not compare and I know that men can be better. One of the reasons modern men can be so terrible is because of toxic masculinity. Women and men both have feminine and masculine traits. It seems that many modern men just embrace this old-fashioned view of the macho man and it honestly leads to all kinds of problems interpersonally but also on a large scale in the world. If only men could have less misogyny and embrace their feminine sides, we could have a world where men and women can work collaboratively together for the good of everyone in society. Until we can teach boys and men that and it actually happens, we must just simply push for more women in charge because it is we women who know better how to balance our masculine and feminine traits in a healthy way.
What challenges do you foresee in implementing a gynarchy-based system in modern society?
The main challenge is taking power away from men. We have a society now that has literally been built to benefit men over women in so many ways. Laws, religion, culture - all has been designed to take advantage of women and benefit men. We are starting to chip away at some of this, but it comes with so much pushback, sometimes even horrific violence, as we see in some parts in the world. It’s my hope that men can see over time that a society governed by more women is actually also beneficial to them. The patriarchy, at the end of the day, only benefits the most powerful men, not all men in general. Men identify with the patriarchy, it gives them power over women at the very least, but at the end of the day, they are also victims of it. They are mere tools to more powerful men and also taken advantage of as women are, though to a lesser degree.
How do you respond to critics who argue that gynarchy might mirror the pitfalls of patriarchy?
As I mentioned previously, I do not regard a gynarchy or matriarchy as simply the opposite of the patriarchy, with women being authoritarian rulers. That is not generally how women lead. A gynarchy or matriarchy is more of a collective leadership with other women.
What advice would you give to individuals interested in learning more about gynarchy and incorporating its principles into their lives?
Listen to my podcast of course! My podcast is specifically focused on the intersection of women’s health and feminism, my particular interests as a gynecologist, but I’d say the best thing a woman can do to learn about what a woman-led society like a gynarchy would mean is to simply focus on women’s studies and feminist movements. It is so important to learn about women’s history, the oppression women have faced, what advances we have made, and use that as a starting point to think about where we’d like to go in the future.
Dr. Kirti Patel's work with The Gynarchy Podcast exemplifies the power of knowledge and advocacy in reshaping our societal norms. By challenging patriarchal conventions and advocating for a matriarchal model rooted in fairness, empathy, and collaborative leadership, she provides a roadmap for a future where every voice is heard, and every individual thrives. Her insights encourage us all to imagine a society not just defined by gender equality, but by a profound commitment to justice, shared prosperity, and the collective well-being of all people. We hope this conversation inspires continued efforts to build a world where power is redefined by care, inclusivity, and transformative leadership.
