Growing up in a patriarchal society used to make women upset at the unequal treatment in the workplace filled with glass ceilings, groping hands, insults, and lurid comments. Women could be great at their jobs, even running the company signed off by their bosses. What happens when not just women, but all humanity suffers at the macho roar of the lyin’ lion?
Notice the excuses used by religions and politics for only having lions, not lionesses at the top of their leadership. Lionesses are designated to their approval by men roles. While there might be a few token women in the upper echelon of the politics, wealth, and working world, people of all genders suffer from the unbounded prejudice of a patriarchal society. Most all religions do not allow women to be their leaders, based on archaic and inaccurate “biblical’ information.
The rape culture is excused while pointing fingers at the victims as being the real criminals trying to soil their perfect image. Victims of rape are put on stands and tried in public view.
Equal pay for equal work is only beginning to balance the scales, with the undercurrent of how all humanity other than non-traditional males make it to the top.
The problem is not just gay rights or gender rights, it is about all human rights. A matriarchal society run with a prejudice against those who identify as male would be just as bad.
The tide is turning, but at this political moment, it is not expedient nor profitable for one of the political parties to claim they want gender equality because their codes of conduct come from a previously patriarchal society in 364 AD when the Roman government joined with the Roman Catholic Church casting women out of their religious roles that Jesus had given them.
Accurate history is important, if those claiming that “It has always been this way,” don’t even know that, in fact, it was not always this way. Joan of Arc was a fighter for justice. So was a Celtic leader Boudica, who defeated the British. Women are also valiant at standing up for truth and justice.
Those who claim to honor Jesus would do well to do what Jesus told them to do, help the poor and do unto others the way they want to be treated. He also taught others to forgive everyone.
It is hard to forgive others who offend. First, they have to acknowledge the unfairness of the situation they have allowed to exist by their continuing to go along with it. Notice what is fueling their fire.
Gender equality will not coexist in a patriarchal society, nor a matriarchal society. Humanity must work together to break the glass ceiling of pride, prejudice, and hatred against anyone unlike themselves. Great progress has been made, but more needs to be done peacefully for all of humanity to coexist.
Treating others with dignity and respect starts by choosing thoughts, words, and actions more carefully. Be authentic and know that money is not the bottom line nor an accurate assessment of who is good and who is not.
Namaste