Women in Power

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Let’s continue to look into how men relate to women with power. Last week we looked at the way Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was disrespected by her fellow Congressman, Representative Yoho. And the dignity of her response.

Kate Manne of the NY Times says that there is nothing radical about a woman vice president. She says that in our culture Women Can Have a Little Power, as a Treat.

We misunderstand the nature of patriarchy if we think that merely having power and influence are verboten for women. Women are allowed to have power, so long as that power is deployed in ways that are not threatening to a patriarchal order — in the service of a male president, for example.

Research also shows that the prevalent biases against a woman in power dissolve if she is perceived as exceptionally communal — that is, exceptionally oriented to helping and serving others…

The combination of being a woman and being powerful can be rendered palatable — but to be so, she must be perceived as communal, as a team player and focused on supporting other people. And that sounds a lot like the vice president’s job description.

Now, I think it’s good to be exceptionally communal, to be oriented to helping others, to be a team player. These seem to be the attributes of transformational leadership. But why is it that we think that these attributes are required of women? Demanded of them? 

But this is not what is expected of men.

I am excited about the possibility of a woman vice president. But I find it important to note that we corner women into supportive leadership and we lash out at women who refuse subservience. This is deeply embedded in our patriarchal conditioning. We need to pay attention, we need to notice it, if we are going to change it.

Let’s talk about power. And how it is embodied.

See you tonight.

Saludos,

Gibrán