Yes, we can do it!
Woman at work
Why men should consider the risk of feminine resurgence as an opportunity to achieve full potential in their lives
“The Economist” published “We Did It!”, an interesting article about Women at Work. Within a few months women will constitute the majority of American workforce. Women are already toping men in terms of academic achievement in OECD countries. However they are still under represented at the top of companies and remain underpaid. This is because women in their 20s and 30s face the problem of raising their children and remain competitive in terms of career. Both business and governments have tried to address this issue as they need the talent and grey cells of women by bringing more flexibility in the workplace and introducing laws. There are still problems, though, as society is adjusting to this balance of power.
Men feel threatened by women at school and in the workplace because women are highly competitive and motivated. Men fail to understand that the resurgence of feminine power is an opportunity to redefine themselves as protective pillars, instead of just money care-takers. This explains why successful and ambitious men attract women. They don’t focus on the money-sex-family balance, but on a dynamic and competitive evaluation of real manly values, like entrepreneurship, risk and audacity.
Traditional gender roles are misinterpreted, too. Men and women continue to believe that there is an established balance of responsibilities according to characteristics of strength, endurance and even brain adaptability to perform certain tasks. As I stated to fellow soldiers in the Army, a woman of same weight and body corpulence has 70% of a man strength, meaning that 30% edge is manageable with combat technique. Traditional gender roles are the result of societal evolution, not genetics.
In Ancient Greece competition for power between men and women had tragic consequences. The Queen was the Voice of the City-Goddess and mated with males by force. Honeymoon was brief and ended with the death of the male. The rites of Demeter, Goddess of Earth, fertility and Harvest, were sexually violent and bloody. The tribes which invaded Greece changed that balance of power and established Kings as consorts of Queen-Priestess-Witch. The story of Oedipus illustrates that struggle for power. Oedipus married his mother, but it was the Mother of the City, the High Priestess. The Sphinx had a woman’s head because it challenged the King with dark knowledge of sorcery.
History of sex provides interesting clues regarding the balance of power in society. We know the name of Roman emperors, but we forget to mention the role of women, as mothers, counsellors, and even challengers. Caligula murdered his mother because her influence was too great. Sexually speaking, women had the power to choose and decide. The story of Servilia, mistress of Julius Caesar, and mother of Brutus, is telling us that in spite of all Roman virtues of manhood, women enjoyed great power since the days of the Sabines. Sabines women were abducted by Romans, and yet saved them from the fury of their brothers and fathers.
Christianity affected the balance of power, as women were subjected to obedience within the context of familial harmony. Romans failed to find virgins to become Vestals, but Christian religion made thousands of women choose virginity willingly. Religion emphasised so-called gender rules, which eventually became traditional.
If we consider the 18th century sexual liberation, both in terms of literature and Arts, it is a reaction to the religious wars of the 16th century and first attempts to separate Church from State. Balance of power shifted in favour of women, as they gained access to education and business. Napoleon would never had become Emperor without the influence of Josephine. She was the one who introduced him to the circles of power and influence in the City.
The industrial revolution of the 19th century led to major economic growth and transformation of society. With “Eugenie Grandet” Balzac has painted the portrait of a society where women were pursued for capital. The Bourgeoisie fought a determined battle against any shift of power in favour of women, who were isolated and married by force, hence the need for romantic writing and heroes. Emile Zola’s women are fighting for economic recognition and social status.
The traditional gender roles of today are the result of 19th century romantic ideals and responsibilities, as Man is the Lord Protector and Woman the Caretaker of Home and Children. Two World Wars have made these roles obsolete. Women were needed in armament industries and every department of economic life, as men were fighting and dying on battlefronts. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “The Marriage of Maria Braun” is the story of a German woman whose husband is missing in action, and who has sex with a Black American soldier to learn English and have food. When the husband unexpectedly returns, she kills the American, and the husband accepts to plead guilty. She will eventually become a free woman, highly successful, until the final return of the husband, and their suicide.
Men fear the resurgence of power of women, because women tend to adopt men’s strategies and tactics to their advantage. Men are afraid to be dominated in the same way they used to dominate at work and at home. They fail to understand that the role of Lord Protector is restrictive and ill-adapted to the nature of men, which is to fight and conquer, explore and secure new frontiers. Divorces and violence are a result of deep male frustration in that fake role of Protectors. The economic resurgence of women will free men and make workplace and home more secure and balanced. Men will be able to spend more time with their children. Daughters and sons will have a real father who cares. Women will enjoy a more satisfying life, both at work and home, where they will be able to pursue career and life as a loving wife, without feeling prisoner of their gender.
There are questions, though. Will women dominate as men used to? Will they lose their feminine sensitiveness and turn into “males”, as they top the pyramid of business? Will men seize that opportunity for achieving full potential in their lives without losing control and trust in themselves? We may not need the violence of Atia and Servilia of Ancient Rome, but a Julius Caesar would be nice. His evenings were torrid and bloody, and would keep us away from our laptops and televisions!
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