Consider for a moment that women and men have never been equal at any time in history – not ever. This is a staggering thought, and it makes it clear that we are sailing in uncharted waters. It’s why there is no ‘best practice’ in place and no magic wand. What we are involved in is a process of experimentation and socialization that should be moving humanity forwards, to the benefit of all.
Equality is sometimes confused with ‘sameness’, which misses the point – unless we’re talking of equal rights and opportunities. There are two genders for a reason. Both have enormous strengths and both are needed to create a balanced and functioning society. Now women are becoming GUTSY and daring while men are responding by becoming more caring. This is a much better equation.
Would women make the situation any better?
According to current research, they would. All studies show that women are ‘greener’ than men, and would generally not place profitability higher than damaging the environment. Also, it has been found in almost every country world-wide that a woman’s income relieves poverty and women will spend their last cent on educating their children and giving them the best start possible.
When women thrive economically, the entire country does better. Interestingly, those companies that have even one woman on their board of directors versus all-male boards are consistently more profitable too. Just because women conduct business differently, doesn’t mean it’s less lucrative.
How do we achieve a better balance between male and female?
This is not an easy process, as we need to look at every aspect of society to examine whether it has been set-up with a male bias. The business world is an excellent example. Here the military style of ‘command and control’ leadership was adopted and masculine behavior became the norm. Until recently, women who were successful in business did so largely because they assumed this performance standard and became ‘one of the boys’.
This is changing fast in the 21st Century. In a multi-national, multi-cultural working world, it’s becoming clear that command and control is outdated and that the more feminine qualities of consultation, inclusion and relationship-building are needed. This is the beauty of equality – taking the best of men and the best of women and merging these into a new pattern that benefits all.
Whenever there is a social change underway there will always be resistance. When women first started the suffragette movement in the late 19th Century the opposition from men was overwhelming. Even in the late 20th Century the Equal Rights Amendment that sought to give both male and female US citizens equal rights was opposed and defeated in 1982. Not that long ago!
Why we should keep striving for equality
Equality has never been about gender supremacy – it has been about creating a complementary balance between both genders to benefit everyone. The achievement of equality is essential to human progress and the transformation of society. Inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself. It’s for this reason that women and men need to work together shoulder to shoulder to build a new social order based on justice and prosperity.
My equation is Daring (women) + Caring (men) = Sharing (all of us) and the world will benefit from this new balance of power.
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