Inspired by a reader of this blog. (One of Two).
They don’t get it. The constant fighting against each other does not work. We see them at the grocery store. We even see it in Washington, adult men and women fighting each other. As if they were enemies. What happened to working together? Being partners? Instead of fighting each other, fighting together towards a problem.
“Women and men have to fight together to change society.” - Muriel Fox
Change happens when men and women work together towards the problem. Not by creating new ones between each other. When they stop treating each other as competition or the enemy.
What if we all worked together to change something? To correct a wrong. To right an injustice. Not only is that where change happens, that is where everyone benefits.
The act of working together is extremely powerful. However, men have their views of women and women of men. It creates an invisible tension that prevents collaboration to begin with.
Many benefit by the efforts to do something together. Even when self interests are involved. By unifying them, everyone wins. It's a happy-happy deal as the expression goes. You may have heard it a different way, a win-win.
In truth, there is strength in numbers. For years, men and women have been pinned against each other. Not just with assumed gender roles. Also with societal views. There’s a book titled Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus , written by John Gray in 1992. While this book is written by a relationship counselor, it creates the narrative that men and women are incapable of working together. Because how could anyone work with someone else from a different planet? This is not the overall thesis of the book. Yet, it highlights just how society would rather view men and women as adversaries instead of teammates. Highlighting differences instead of commonalities.
Life is not a contest. Our congress men and women need to grow up and realize they are playing with our lives and our future due to their self-interests. Instead of working together to change society, they’re working together to tear it down. Burn it all down to the ground. Gender is the only difference here. Men and women can do anything on their own. And together so much more.
Support each other. Even if you’re both going for the promotion. The big client. The performance bonus. In your marriages and friendships. It may not even be about changing the world. It could just be changing your world.
Fighting against each is simply unproductive. Fighting with each other, unified, to meet a goal or obstacle together, now that is how change happens. How momentum is gained. How all our worlds change for the better.
Parenting is more effective. Marriages have less tension and fights. The government works more efficiently. The work environment is safer and more inclusive. Households are better supported. Communities flourish. Children have a better foundation to grow. And on. And on. And on.
Thought Provoking Question 1 : How can men and women better work together?
Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read on sharing wisdom and asking though-provoking questions.
What are your thoughts on this piece? Comment below…