AIBU to think that women could rule the world?

[Speakuptomakeyourselfheard]

While discussing the possibility of war with my husband, when Russia first started moving troupes to the borders of Ukraine, he surprised me by pointing out that absolutely everything bad that ever happens in this world is done or caused by MEN! He said that he is ashamed of the way his fellow men act, and their constant macho desire to be more powerful, bigger, better, stronger, etc., He added that he'd far rather the world was run by women, that there would be no wars as we're more sensible, and would find better ways of resolving our differences. So my question is, why isn't it? Could we really do it? Why are we still held down by men, whether it be in government, industry, or whatever? How would we go about it? I've just done a brief Google search, and it seems that the numbers of women versus men in the world is about even, so now that we have all the rights that we have, in the UK at least, why can't we run the country? I'd be really interested to hear peoples views, is it because we're all so busy looking after families that we don't have time to fight the men for the power that we'd need to take over, or is it literally that we are the weaker sex, and if it came to an out and out fight for survival as top dog, men would physically dominate us? Or is it something else entirely?

Suggest you start with reading the 2nd wave feminists stuff from the 70s.

There is more, but, a bit of Greer or Lorde in full flow helped me clarify a thought or two.

Enjoy.

Nothing intelligent to say at 1:30am 😂 but following with interest as I am inclined to agree that theoretically you have a point, in all cases, and have thought so myself on many occasions!

However I would also add that I personally believe testosterone can have a bit to do with the way things go in relationship and communication matters and it's possible for both sexes to have higher levels so it could end up with a bit dissimilar outcome in a lot of ways...

Margaret Thatcher couldn't wait to go to war

Men aren't even sending their best... Trump, Boris etc

I don't think it would be any better, to be honest. Women are just as human as men are. We suffer from the same flaws and weaknesses as men.

My grandma, born just after ww1, used to say this.

I totally agree. Yes not all women are saints. But would gangs of women rush round with machetes massacring civilians (Rwanda) round up citizens and shoot them before mass graves (Yugoslavia) use rape as a weapon or murder children (Burma)?. Basically, no. The odd woman might join in, but it is vastly men who do those things. Women just don't have the same violent pack mentality

Given we're still recovering from the Thatcher years, no. Theyll make the same fuck ups they'll just do it with a bra on.

Yabu

It's a nice idea, however the reality is that the world is run by networks of freemasons (men) who control everything globally: banking, media, health, politics, education..basically everything. While some women obtain positions seemingly of 'power,' they are still essentially just gofers for those really running the show (men). Can't see how this will ever change..

Catherine the Great and Chinese empress Wu Zetian day hello for a start

Women can never rule the world because our rights only exist as long as men allow them to exist. No matter what advancements we make as a society and attempts we make to emphasize the importance of the mind, brute physical strength will always win.

There's no way women can rise to the top in societies designed to benefit men. It's so ingrained too, see some of these comments.

The violent people will always ultimately get their own way.

Thatcher happened to a woman but she embodied patriarchal ideals.

There's some interesting reading on it though, about how we needed male risk taking traits to explore and grow, but now we're at a stage of needing to preserve and maintain.

@Redshoeblueshoe

Margaret Thatcher couldn't wait to go to war

Noting to do with a fascist military distatorship in Argentina then ?.

@TheresSomebodyAtTheDoorNeil

Given we're still recovering from the Thatcher years, no. Theyll make the same fuck ups they'll just do it with a bra on.

Total bollocks.

or is it literally that we are the weaker sex, and if it came to an out and out fight for survival as top dog, men would physically dominate us? Or is it something else entirely?

I don't think this is why we can't run the country. Now that the laws have been changed and there is less prejudice against women, we can and have run the country.

But I think this is why a pacifist approach to running countries won't work and why saying "just let women do it" won't eliminate war.

If countries don't put money into defence they become a target for countries that are prepared to. And then, if it becomes a dog eat dog fight for survival, the country that is weaker, one way or another, is dominated by the country that has put the resources into the military.

Women will see this opportunity too and when there are pressures on their population (like the historical animosity between Palestine and Israel, the impact of climate change, the need for energy, or more land) they too will consider military solutions when diplomatic ones fail.

I think we need women’s political parties… focused on things that affect 51% of the world’s population, like safety, rape, dv & assault laws, common law marriage and divorce laws, childcare - especially sharing the load, enforcing child maintenance payments, return to work policies, pensions, healthcare, menopausal health awareness (ie recognizing that these are genuine medical problems that if resolved or balanced can help avoid chronic or fatal health conditions later in life like osteoporosis, stroke, diabetes, heart conditions and some forms of dementia…), post-partum injury awareness and medical assistance (MUCH more common than you think) everyday sexism, quality of life, caring roles being recognised as FTW and payments (including travel, etc…) SOOOOO many things!!! Unfortunately, I expect if women’s parties were formed, they would be hijacked by people whose sexuality/gender agendas had louder voices, and would claim discrimination if their agendas did not come first.

If I think too carefully about this it makes me really cross and then depressed that it probably won’t change in my lifetime.

I totally get what you’re saying OP.

At every level of society, we have men in control. Of course there have been fantastic ‘breakthroughs’ with women in positions of authority and power but (1) those females are heavily criticised in the media and (2) men will always be in control.

We’ve all met men with huge egos. There is absolutely no changing them. They have an inflated sense of self worth, arrogance (portrayed as confidence) and look down their nose at anyone with an opposite opinion to theirs. Then blow up like a can of pop when they don’t get their own way. It is like negotiating with a toddler and you have to be on your game with a heart and mind of steel to not be affected by their behaviours and insults.

But guess what? These are the ones that make it into positions of power!

Be that MP’s, CEO’s, Directors and Managers. It starts early and you can see the power get hold of them and their personality changing because of it.

I work in corporate, pretty senior (think the honour female board member) in a 85/15 m/f workforce, so I see this a lot. I’m a stickler for harping on about ones personal values and being a decent human being.

I challenge (inappropriate) behaviours and call out the bullshit, especially when it is willy-waving. But it is exhausting, and whilst I’m good at my job, it’s the tip of the iceberg that I’m tackling in terms of this happening everywhere. We’re one company in one industry with people in that industry rubbing shoulders with people in Government, lobbying and canvassing for their own advancement and/or monetary gain.

As per the first sentence, it’s depressing. I considered quitting recently and becoming an MP but I would likely be thrown out of the commons on my first day!

"absolutely everything bad that ever happens in this world is done or caused by MEN"

only because they struggled to get power NOT because they always do the right thing.

Tudor conquest of Ireland by Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Jeremy Corbyn is far more of a pacifist than Golda Meir ever was.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Sarah Palin, Laura Ingraham, Katie Hopkins, Kate Shemirani, Phoolan Devi, Winnie Mandela.

Women who found ways to not do the right thing. Just saying.

Wasn’t phoolan devi repeatedly raped? And then targeted high caste men. I don’t think she belongs on that list. I’d be pretty fucked off too if I were her frankly.

I don’t think I would be any less warlike if I were in charge of a country tbh. Think it depends on the woman really.

Women can never rule the world because our rights only exist as long as men allow them to exist. No matter what advancements we make as a society and attempts we make to emphasize the importance of the mind, brute physical strength will always win.

Yep I agree with this. It's scary to think that women are one war, food shortage or natural disaster away from losing all rights we have and rape and beatings to become a daily way of life.

The other problem with imagining all female world leaders is that women will support male leaders but men often won't support female leaders. So the men will always have more support. An example - Trump had lots of female and male supporters. But would male Trump supporters ever vote for a women, even one with similar policies? No.

@poTAYtoes

I don't think it would be any better, to be honest. Women are just as human as men are. We suffer from the same flaws and weaknesses as men.

Yep this.

Look at what thatcher did to Britain. Look at what sturgeon is doing to Scotland.

Not every woman would do a good job in power. Just like not every man would. Sadly, its only the bad ones that seem to make it there, probably for the reasons described by @BackInMarch2020PreCovid.

I am in no way defending horrible men but you can see why men have always had power in society. The bottom line is, we are animals. It's impossible to have genuine power over someone that could kill you if they wanted.

I know they are just reality shows but if you watch Survivor or Naked and Afraid you can see this in action. No matter how strong, outgoing, experienced etc the women say they on the pre show interview, they are always pretty much helpless on arrival in the jungle/island. It's always the man that builds the shelter, makes the fire, goes fishing etc. It's physically much easier for the man. Its easy to see how this power became so ingrained in our society over the millennia.

@Redshoeblueshoe

Margaret Thatcher couldn't wait to go to war

Margaret Thatcher sent her predominantly male troops to war. She wasn't exactly hanging out around the Belgrano for one small example.

“Now that we have all the rights that we have”……. Still struggling with that one tbh
Just because rights are enshrined in law, doesn’t mean it happens in practice