Citation: S/HE: An International Journal of Goddess Studies, V5 N1 (2026)
Abstract Research reveals that, statistically, the most dangerous place for contemporary US women and children is in their own homes, due to violence perpetrated by male intimate partners. Consequently, it is clear the hegemonic (also known as “nuclear”) family fails dramatically in providing women and children a healthy, nurturing, and secure environment. This paper[1] explores a safer and healthier alternative type of family, distinguished by consistent similarities with the households of contemporary egalitarian matriarchal societies outside the US, as documented by feminist anthropologists. Examples include a far more egalitarian and consensus-based style of self-organization, widespread diversity and flexibility in family arrangement, and a return to reverence of the Cosmic Mother. Also of interest is the single and dramatic difference between contemporary matrifocal US households, and the households of egalitarian matriarchal societies. All the participant US households have been scarred by socially sanctioned male violence (primarily occurring before the affected persons join the matrifocal family)—but none of the families in egalitarian matriarchal societies have been similarly traumatized. In this manner, matrifocality is revealed as a safe, healthy, and sustainable family style within contemporary US society.
Perhaps the most striking finding of this study is the empowering importance of returning to the Divine Feminine, as well as the emotional, spiritual, and physical healing benefits that participation in such families offers both injured individuals and all the family’s members. Spiritual, egalitarian matrifocality presents women, genderfluid persons, and courageous men with a shared opportunity to eschew the toxic nature of both patriarchy and hegemonic religion—by offering what appears to be a kinder, safer, healthier, more generous, and more communitarian way to live.
Keywords Cosmic Mother, Divine Feminine, egalitarian, matriarchal, matrifocal, families
[1] This article is based on a presentation made for the S/HE Divine Studies Conference, Motherhood, Matriarchy, Matriverse: Re-deemed in the Cosmic Mother, occurred on June 12-15, 2025 as an online symposium.