I read an interesting article in the April 2023 issue of National Geographic written by Angela Saini. In it she argues that societies don’t have to be ruled by men, they just often are for no apparent reason.
She says that history shows that matriarchy is possible, yet states that history shows that there are societies where either men rule, or men and women are equal in power. There are no records of societies where women were fully dominant over men.
Why is it this way?
To answer that question, it may help to answer this question:
Why are women, right now in modern-day America, congratulating men who have been honored as Woman of the Year?
Are any men congratulating women who are being honored as Man of the Year?
Women were created to be nurturing and supportive. That is why you see women supporting men, even in areas that men probably shouldn’t be supported in, and why you don’t see that same reciprocal behavior in men.
Women can be in leadership, and can be good at it. I am the president of the board of directors of a non-profit and have been elected to a second term. The ministry is thriving under my leadership and I am enjoying being at the helm.
However, I have the most fun in life when I am able to help someone else reach their potential. And that is why I am enjoying this leadership role so much – I am helping the Executive Director of the organization reach his potential.
God created men first, to be the heads of the human race. But men aren’t capable of reaching their potential on their own, so God created equal but different people, women, to be the companion and support that men need.
If I am being perfectly honest, that annoys me. I want to be top dog!
But when I really trust that God is good and rely on His love and strength to fulfill the nurturing role that He has asked me to do, that is when I am happiest, not when I am trying to scramble to the top.
Whenever I am put into leadership roles that end up going well it is because I was first nurturing and get to continue being so.
Patriarchy is a thing because God created it.
However, God created women as equals, just different. So the ill-treatment of women under patriarchy is not what God had in mind. In true patriarchy, men lay their lives down sacrificially for the women and children that they lead.
Who wouldn’t want to nurture that!
