Women
August 12, 2007
In Aideena society, the female gender is revered.
Procreation is viewed as the divine gift of The Goddess and as a mirror of Creation–the stars, galaxy and natural world as sparked into being from the Big Band and forward. Women are entrusted with the perpetuation of the species. Therefore, women deserve a higher position in the grand order of the Universe.
Because of this ethic, Aideena society evolved into a matriarchy. Only women can own real estate. Wealth, title and position are passed from mother to daughter. Over time, economic and political pressures have forced more equitable adaptations between the sexes. Still,basic cultural norms favor the feminine.
Religion
July 12, 2007
All the peoples of Aideena share a common religion, called Faith and its members are The Faithful.
Faith is the only institution that truly crosses all lines of gender and lineage. It operates as a political entity completely independent of the Twelve Great Houses and Guild Brotherhood. Faith’s authority derives from divine edict of The Goddess, who empowered Her prophets to gather unto them the few to ensure the way to Salvation–deliverance from destruction, earthly difficulty and the penalty of sin–and lead all Aideena’s peoples to that great reward. Faith centralizes its authority through military force coupled with judicial and legislative powers over the Twelve Great Houses and the Guild Brotherhood.
Faith is its own House, in many ways. Several families and clans whose associations stretch back thousands of years comprise various orders of priesthood. In contrast to the Houses and Brotherhood, Faith’s internal governance is not authoritarian. The Faithful govern themselves democratically with representative oversight.
The importance of religious service, at least historically, is as significant in Aideenan culture as procreation. Not only are marriages arranged within Faith’s membership, but also members are recruited from the general populace. It is not uncommon for secular families to offer their children into religious service, either as a political maneuver or for economic gain.
Its numerous temples for religious studies coexist as educational institutions with secular academies. These temples set the standard for education on Aideena.
Sexuality
July 12, 2007
In Aideenan society, social ethics encourages bisexuality. Men and women are at least culturally bisexual in their attitudes and precepts, if not in practice.
With procreation so highly valued, as well as marriage, sexual relations are well-defined.
Within a household, men in an Equerry are expected to father children by one women, preferably as many girls as possible. Husbands are encouraged to have sexual relations with one another as an alternative to sex outside the marriage with other women. In fact, the camaraderie that results from sexual relations among husbands in a stable is viewed as essential for the cohesion and stability of the household.
Women likewise are encouraged to build sexual relations with other women to save themselves for their husbands and avoid extramarital affairs with other men.
Race
July 12, 2007
Race factors into issues of gender. In Aideenan genetics, the same chromosome configuration which determines a person’s sex, male or female, also predetermines skin color.
Females are dark in complexion. The skin colour of women varies, in poetic terms, from a deep Mediterranean olive to dark Ethiopian mahogany.
“Caucasian-type” features are universally male. The complexion of men range from a light Mediterranean olive to pale Nordic.
The lighter one’s skin generally the more masculine one is perceived. Masculinity is equated with being lower in stature and status. Prejudicial attitudes that influence social and professional advancement, worthiness, physical beauty, wealth, education, dominance and subservience, family favor, and questions of what is more properly male or female are all tied to how light or dark is one’s complexion, hair and eyes.
Politics
June 12, 2007
Aideena’s political landscape is a delicate synergy.
The Twelve Great Houses control finance, land and property. The Guild Brotherhood maintains industry. Faith provides for legislative regulation and military and judicial enforcement. The tenants of religious belief and custom as it relates to gender and lineage strictly define the operation of government.
