A goddess is a female deity, in contrast with a male deity known as a "god". Many cultures have goddesses. Most often these goddesses are part of a polytheistic system that includes multiple deities. Pantheons in various cultures can include both goddesses and gods, and in some cases also intersex deities.
In both ancient and modern cultures, the symbolism of gendered deities is open to a wide variety of interpretations. The gender of a prominent deity or deities may indicate cultural tendencies towards patriarchy or matriarchy,citation needed] as well as whether the culture in question leans more towards monotheism or polytheism.citation needed] The primacy of a monotheistic or near-monotheistic goddess is advocated by some modern matriarchists and pantheistsattribution needed] as a female version of, or analogue to, the Abrahamic god). In some feminist circles the Abrahamic god is perceived as being rooted in the patriarchal concept of dominance — to the exclusion of feminine concepts .
Among duotheists, the primary deities are one goddess and one god, who are seen as together making up a larger whole that is both the transcendent divine as well as the substance of all creation.citation needed]