What makes patriarchy so resilient and resistant to change? In this original and compelling book, Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snyder argue that patriarchy persists because it serves a psychological purpose. By requiring us to sacrifice love for the sake of a hierarchical structure, patriarchy protects us from the vulnerability of love and becomes a defense against loss. By exposing the nature of the highly effective psychological mechanisms that underlie the patriarchal order, the authors show that the politics that seem inexplicable to us are driven by forces we do not recognize. Co-authored by a leading feminist thinker, this book will be of extraordinary interest to anyone concerned about our chaotic psycho-political times.