Who's In Charge?

I have long thought that if there were a more representative balance of the sexes in governments around the world, we might avoid much of the catastrophic power, testosterone, territorial & personal aggrandisment, decision making we have to tolerate. Worse, the repercussions of poor decision making, that seem to lead more and more to aggression & war. 

Women’s voices are simply not heard in the same way as men's. Women are told that they are too too assertive or organised. The word "too" is actually putting them down. We all have an "Inner Critic" voice, but I think it is louder in women. We tell ourselves that we are "too" something. We try try to adjust / adapt to other peoples expectations because we have “overstepped” them. Our other voice, the "Compassionate Friend" is silenced, because we want to be accepted as equal. Women can be too ready to accept other peoples opinion of them. Including other women, who aren't necessarily supportive. 

Women are, to a great extent, silenced by Capitalism & the Patriarchy. Many feminist & socialist analyses argue that capitalism exploits womens labour & devalues their care work. It creates a system that reinforces patriarchal norms & inequality. Capitalism relies on social constructs like gender to divide workers and generate profits, often pushing women into low-wage jobs while assigning them the unpaid burden of domestic and care work. Furthermore, the system's focus on profit can undermine social safety nets and access to essential services, leaving vulnerable women even more exposed and with fewer avenues to speak out against exploitation. Patriarchal societies often limit women's opportunities and decision-making power, resulting in gender-based discrimination and inequality. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem, and anxiety.

This can make women “less than” in the pecking order. Assertiveness is not tolerated, it's called aggression or an emotional reaction. The result is under representation of women in decision making. The hierarchy determines that men are in charge & set the rules. 

 

Women are more consensual, they actually listen & are prepared to change & give way. The question is, do we give way too much? I'm beginning to wonder whether it is possible to set group rules, which are determined by members, with no one as titular leader. 

 

The big difficulty is that once a leader is in control & has power, they are very unwilling to loose that. I do believe that organisations need limited terms of office. They need fresh blood, with different experience & new ideas, in order to change, as our world changes. Without that they become bogged down in a morass & are impossible to move or change for the better. 

 

Women have different experience & skills. We silence their voice to the detriment of everyone.