Masculine v. feminine... OR masculine + feminine?

Question: How do you think masculine energy has affected the course of history for good or bad?

Gosh, a bit of a poser - and making a huge assumption that there is something identifiable as 'masculine energy'...

Certainly assertiveness, directness, and action-oriented force have tended to be understood as manifestations of masculine energy; as such, they can be found in both males and females, men and women. Masculine energy has been envisaged as that which is made up of straight lines and angles, while feminine energy has been described as being made up of curves and swirls. Fanciful? I don't know, and I wouldn't entirely dismiss such strong images. However, perhaps surprisingly, it is generally thought to be feminine energy which is swift, creative, and vital, while masculine energy tends to be slower and duller, and is affected by fear, lack of confidence, self-doubt and low self-esteem.

It is these negative qualities of the masculine that result in the exertion of power by the male/masculine over others, in order for the masculine/male to prove itself/himself to itself/himself, to feel strong, when actually it/he is weak.

Feminine energy is necessary to validate the masculine; and each is weak without the other. Balanced masculine energy provides structure, dependability, stability; it is reliable, enabling focus, true strength, and security within which feminine energy, as well as itself, can flourish.

But masculine and feminine energies have been very out of balance, both in terms of individuals and societies/nations. To be 'successful' tends to be understood in terms of wealth and power, including physical strength, rather than in terms of personal/spiritual development and creativity; and collaboration/cooperation can be seen as a sign of weakness. Statistics show that in the UK and other western European cultures, men are still paid more than their women counterparts, and there are still more men in positions of power and influence; while globally, statistics suggest that men's health and education are still better than those of women. There is still sex-selective abortion in many countries, girls may still be subject to genital mutilation and early marriage, women are the predominant victims of domestic abuse and violence, and caring for families and homes is still disproportionately divided between men and women.

There have been many changes especially over recent decades, and feminism has done a lot to liberate women from former female stereotypes. We are no longer expected to have 'clean' jobs, to be nurses not doctors, to be weaker, more vulnerable than men, to be paid less, to be 'pretty', to be stay-at-home mothers, to be more reserved, less rational, less practical, to be the damsel in distress not the hero, to accept that men are 'in charge'.

Maybe what we need now is more 'masculism', to liberate men from male stereotypes, so that they are no longer expected to do 'dirty' jobs and play with bikes and cars, to be paid more, to be doctors but not nurses, to be logical and rational and scientific, not to do housework or childcare, not to show their emotions, to be sporty, to be lazy & messy, to be incapable of cooking or sewing or craftwork, to be in charge.

But more than this, we actually need a bit of common sense - or rather a lot of it. We need to see that within every person there is a combination of masculine and feminine traits and energies, both and all of which need to be nurtured and kept in balance. Only then can individuals become who they really are; only then can the world be rid of the fear that keeps us divided.