When it comes to power in romantic relationships, power in the work place, power in the family dynamic, men are often known as dominant and women as submissive.

It's rooted in our culture.

It seems to be the way of the world- the way that has been bringing us females down, decade after decade.

We talk about woman empowerment and we say that we run the world. We follow trending hashtags and we speak up.

We tell ourselves these things to motivate ourselves; to keep striving.

We work and we maintain children and houses while making sure to send home-made goods to school for our children’s bake sales.

We do it all, under the illusion that we have gender equality. That we are empowered women. That we live in the 21st century and we finally have it all. You go girl!

Allow me to tell you, that’s all it is; an illusion.

An illusion that we can be equals with our husbands or our opposite sex coworkers.

An illusion that we can come home and put our feet up after a long day at work.

An illusion that we can sleep in a little longer while the lunches miraculously make themselves and the kids wondrously dress themselves.

It's an illusion, because we live in a world where a man is so naturally interested in maintaining patriarchy, that whether he realises it or not, he is suppressing the personality of the woman in his life; his “partner”, which frankly is not a partner, rather a subordinate.

He can tell her “we are one” all day and all night, but when push comes to shove, he repeatedly holds the upper hand and will not have it any other way.

In the name of “protecting her”.
In the name of “knowing what’s best for the family”.

They have been conditioned this way from the beginning of time.

I’m confused as to why a woman may need protection from making her own choices.

The problem is implanted deep in our cultural and social roots. All of our cultures.

The culture of man vs woman. Yes- It is in itself a culture; an oppressive one for the matter.

Men have yet to realise that the interests of women are just as important as theirs. Because men are raised to believe that they are superior, and they grow up expecting to always, always, have the definite and final say.

In discussions

In decisions

In jobs

In life plans

In family dynamics

Men are conditioned to believe that, sure, women CAN have opinions, but limited to just that; opinions and nothing more.

A man needs to be sexually fulfilled, otherwise, he will be “forced” to allow his eyes to wander.

Because a woman is there to fulfill his needs.

A woman is there to fulfill her man in every way, shape, and form his heart desires.

That’s IF, she wants to be a “good” wife. A wife who sacrifices and cares for her family.

Sacrifice is another word that comes directly attached to a woman. A good woman will always make sacrifices.

A woman can have a career and follow her dreams, so long as her children are well kept and maintained.

Why? Because women are seen as givers of love or sexual fulfilment; and limited to that.

The barriers need to be broken.

The argument between man vs woman is much more than that. It’s about unlearning what has been digested by everyone in society for years on end.

Sure men and women are not the same, they never can be.

However, that does not give men the right to be entitled simply because of their gender.

A marriage isn’t a hierarchy.

A marriage is a partnership.

A woman’s job is no less important than a mans job.

A woman’s choices are validated without the need of a man cheering her on.

A woman carries loads heavier than a man can imagine, yet with all that, she is deemed less than.

Simply, because she is a woman.

A man is insulted by being compared to a woman.

Because a woman is an unworthy comparison; an insult.

What a way to raise our girls, in a world where they will never be good enough.

Because they were born female.

We have been pressured by being told “women do it all”. We are forcing ourselves to become burnt out to a point of no return, just to keep up with this label of “doing it all”.

We don’t have to do it all if we want to follow our dreams.

What a world.
What a patriarchal world.

Feminism isn’t against men, it’s against a broken system.

Feminism isn’t a scary word where women are out to get men. Any man who truly has some humanity can be a feminist. It’s really just about being conscious and honourable.