It seems an odd question to ask in this enlightened era (as if). But it’s worth asking every day. My country just celebrated Women’s Equality Day. And I’m glad we did. Because women will always be equal. Yet their right to vote is still a relatively recent phenomenon. Why?
Historically, most adults married and produced children. The larger, more aggressive males provided food, protection and shelter. And the females provided the nurture, comfort and love that made that shelter a home. So the idea of freedom became tied to the family unit.
As a result, voting was viewed as a family right. The man, the defender, would represent not only himself but his entire household. Women were expected to move seamlessly from their parent’s house to their own. In each case, they were represented by the male “head.” Ideally, their father, and then their husband, would be sacrificial in putting their wife’s and children’s needs first when they voted.
But it didn’t always work that way. In fact, it often didn’t. Men frequently abused their authority. Because, as Lord Acton famously observed, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This painful reality was the reason for the “check-and-balance” systems instituted by modern democracies. But in the home, or for unmarried women, no such check-and-balance system existed. Result? Women needed clear, individual rights.
And so I celebrate equality for women (and others) today and every day. But I’m also not deluded. We all have, or ought to have, equal rights. But we also have to learn to use those rights responsibly. We must all think likes heads of households, and use our freedom to serve something greater than ourselves. Only when we do…
Will we all be truly free.
Excellent, so well put.
Thank you, Rene.
You’re most welcome, Sir!
Thank you Mitch for such a great and encouraging article for us women!
My privilege, Kathryn.
Sadly, the movement now is towards disempowering women.
Yes.
Do you think, VJ? I see movement in several directions, and am not sure which/if any is the dominant one. Your further thoughts?
The discourse I am seeing is trending towards removing women’s rights to vote. They have already lost governance over their own bodies in many states. The DEI trend to eliminate diversity also applies to women. I remember days that women fought for all these rights. It feels like a huge step backwards to me, in a process that has been slow and is unfinished.
Well written, thoughtful
Thanks, L.G.
I might write a response article to this. Made me think a bit. Thank you.
My pleasure, A and/or K.
Your little history lesson about the delayed voting rights for women was enlightening. I never even thought about the reason behind it. Thanks, Mitch. 🙂
My pleasure, Nancy.
A very profound and insightful write, Mitch.
Thank you, Yassy.
My pleasure, Mitch.
Well said, Mitch .. and thank you so much! 😊
My privilege, Terry.
Do women in the US have equal pay to men for the same work, Mitch? Here in New Zealand there is still quite a big disparity.
It’s closer than it used to be, Sandy. But no, I don’t think, apple-to-apples, it’s equal yet.
„władza absolutna demoralizuje absolutnie” tak w domu, w rodzinie, jak i w polityce 🙂
nie da się okiełznać despotycznych charakterów choćby nie wiem jak pragnęło się równości…
Bardzo prawda, Aisab.
Well said. I appreciate how you tied history, responsibility, and equality together. It’s a powerful reminder that freedom only works when we all use it wisely.
Exactly, Daisy.
“…use our freedoms to serve something greater than ourselves”, well said, Mitch.
Thank you, Mitzy.
So true, Mitch. Thank you for sharing. Especially important in this day and age
WOMEN ARE NOT EQUAL TO MEN! Mature ways.
And never will be…
As a male, let’s see you carry an unborn inside your body, give birth toit, and nurse it.
Clearly Women are the superior sex.
They are more attuned to details, more compassionate see more colors and tend to resolve conflicts in more mature manner
Men tend to be base, ruled by their genitalia and ego.
That said, Women should well receive EQUAL PAY for the same job as a man.
And don’t go on about the weaker sex, I have met women who could easily pick me up and throw me across the romm if they had to. Likewise. I have met men who could lift a rifle let alone carry one.
Our government is a mess BECAUSE OF THE MEN WHO RULE!
The worst offender being our department of defense who not only can’t balance their books and hasn’t been audited. Our Congress is much the same with most of the women their calling accountability (MTG as the exception)
And Women only got the rights to vote because Black American Men got it first. And how dare we give them priority over a white woman.
Did you know that Women were asking to vote WHEN THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED! AND DIDN’T GET THAT RIGHT UNTIL 1920!
Their own credit card in the 1970s!
I’ll step down from my soap box…
Thank you, Anonymous friend.
And that is a fact. Thank you, Mitch. 🌸
My privilege, Iman.
I don’t know what to say.