That Little Voice

Recently I was in the middle of a discussion about whether women have ruled societies is a myth or has it been a reality in our long-ago history?

I’ve found there are lots of books, essays, opinion pieces, and thought-provoking ideas about whether the world was once governed by women, and if so what impact it had on those cultures.

You may be asking ‘who cares?’ And that in itself is another subject open to debate and exploration.

I think the issue does offer some food for thought. As we look at the world today, run primarily by men, we do see chaos, wars, and economic imbalance prevalent throughout the universe. And I ask myself, would societies be different if women played a dominant role in governing, in decision making, in running things?

If mothers were in charge would we be motivated by the need to conquer? Would women promote the idea that power comes from dominance and wealth? Would we have a more balanced work force? Would society’s needs be more evenly shared? Would we value different aspects of life and careers under the guidance of women?

What would the world look like? We are in the early, or perhaps middle, stage of a shift away from male dominance, and that is a

We are in the early, or perhaps middle, stage of a shift away from male dominance, and that is a challenging and scary scenario that many people oppose, both men and women.

If women begin to have more and more power, influence, and control, the world will experience and is experiencing major shifts in our belief systems, in the way we see ourselves, in the way we react and interact.

Wow, this could be major and world changing. No one gives up position and power easily. We like to be in control, to be the decision makers, to direct rather than be directed. So a battle rages against those changes.

I believe we are struggling in the midst of this shift. Will men continue to dominate? Will women’s resistance to such dominance become more forceful, perhaps not with wars, but with fewer marriages, fewer births, less dependence on men, more collaboration and teamwork?

We have an opportunity as a society to share the possibilities, to envision a different way of living, to allowing more freedom in roles, to welcome a cooperative existence, and not rebel against the changes coming.

We will learn to alter what we expect from certain groups, what we consider the ‘right way.’ Stay-at-home dads will become more and more prevalent, accepting careers our children select will become necessary. Embracing the sharing that comes with compromises rather than dominance. Accepting gender role blending, and letting go of beliefs about what genders should do.

The rules, they are a-changing, and we will be forced, sometimes kicking and screaming, to loosen and relinquish, our hold on what was and look at what is and what can be.

We need men and women, but their roles do not need to be those of dominant and dominated.

Since the world is in a state of chaos, perhaps it is time to try a new approach, an approach led by women, minorities, ‘others’, who will do things differently even if it means change and discomfort.

Under different rules, new ideas, less conflict, more listening and less talking, could the world get crazier? I think not.

It might become quieter, and wouldn’t that be a relief?