[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he general assumption is – Men are ‘physically strong but spiritually weak’. They use power as a means not only for subjugation, but also for violence on themselves and on the environment whereas, women are considered as ‘physically weak and spiritually deep’ prone to sadness together with their derivative emotions such as guilt, loneliness, depression, dejection and hurt. In other words, negatively perceived, men tend to be aggressive and assertive, while women tend to be depressive and destructive. Aggression and destruction do not benefit both the partners. Such has been the game that genders have been playing for too long. Confronted with the gigantic problems facing humanity today, there is an immediate need to radically change the rules of game.When the basic human limitation is acknowledged and accepted including the intrinsic spiritual emptiness, the need to play one against the other vanishes. Then we can open ourselves to wholeness – intellectual, psychological and spiritual and we are capable of experiencing differently and uniquely. Perceived thus, the normal fear that we experience can become a positive force that will enhance our survival value. Once we can accept our emptiness and open to wholeness, the game of needless aggression and hopeless destruction will vanish.
Our perspective should be – ‘We do not have stronger or weaker sexes, but different sexes. We can then share power collectively and individually to transform ourselves’. Once this happens, crucial social threats such as – poverty, disorientation of families, violence, environmental destruction, etc become our collective concerns, demanding immediate attention. The issues of gender differences and superiority/inferiority, though significant, can be seen from a different perspective – a liberative and holistic one.
‘Frailty, thy name is woman. Girls lack will power and are too easily seduced. They get carried away by their emotions and lack the drive, the power, and the single mindedness of guys’. This is a general belief and for too many years these so called facts were gospel. Women who believed them had their confidence shaken. But not anymore! All the research coming out of labs testing intellectual, emotional and physical prowess, and colleges rating social skills, seems to arrive at the same revolutionary conclusion …. they are not the weaker sex!
