pater/paterfamilias
acceptable sex-specific terms, although the Latin is more often replaced with "father/patriarch." The original paterfamilias, head of the clan, tribe, or family, had unlimited power over his wives, concubines, children, slaves, servants, animals, and property. At times, his power extended even to deciding who would live and who would die (girl children, for example, or disobedient wives and slaves). Be sensitive to the history and legacy of this concept when using these terms. See also mater/materfamilias.
