Rule by Women

Recently I found myself in a discussion about whether women have ever truly ruled societies. Was matriarchy a myth, or did it actually exist somewhere back in the dust of history?

Turns out, there’s no shortage of books, essays, and passionate arguments on the subject. You may be asking, “Who cares?”—and that, of course, is another whole debate.

Still, the question lingers: if women were in charge, would the world look different? After all, we’ve seen what millennia of male leadership has produced— wars, chaos, economic roller coasters, and the occasional tax audit.

Would mothers send their children off to conquer foreign lands, or would they say, “You’re not leaving this house until you’ve cleaned your room”? Would the race for power still revolve around dominance and wealth, or would it focus more on equal pay, affordable childcare, and who left the cap off the toothpaste?

It’s an intriguing thought. As women gain more influence, resistance is fierce—no one gives up power easily. But maybe, just maybe, the shift won’t come with bombs and bayonets, but with fewer marriages, fewer babies, and more women saying, “Do it yourself.”

And perhaps the most radical change of all—stay-at-home dads who can not only change a diaper but also fold a fitted sheet.

We’re already learning to let go of old roles, to share responsibilities, to embrace compromises rather than control. Yes, it’s messy, and yes, it makes people uncomfortable. But chaos is what we have now—how much worse could it get if women, minorities, and “others” were allowed to steer the ship?

Under new rules, with more listening and less yelling, the world might not get crazier. It might just get quieter.

And wouldn’t that be a relief? I, for one, am tired of the roaring.