The First Sex is a 1971 book by the American librarian
Elizabeth Gould Davis, considered part of the
second wave of feminism. In the book, Gould Davis aimed to show that early human society consisted of
matriarchal "queendoms" based around worship of the "
Great Goddess", and characterised by pacifism and democracy. Gould Davis argued that the early matriarchal societies attained a high level of
civilization, which was largely wiped out as a result of the "patriarchal revolution". She asserted that
patriarchy introduced a new system of society, based on
property rights rather than human rights, and worshipping a stern and vengeful male
deity instead of the caring and nurturing
Mother Goddess.