“In the 21st century, women will change the nature of power rather than power changing the nature of women.”
—Bell Abzug
The headline of a recent article in Bloomberg Business Week caught my eye: “ Is the Financial Crisis a Male Syndrome?”
“Could it be,“ the authors ask, “ that male domination of market finance results in excessive speculation and risk-taking at the expense of global stability?”
Ya think?? Clearly, the guys have been calling the shots. No surprise there.
What surprised me most—the co-authors were both men!
I was heartened to know there are a few enlightened men (including the Dali Lama) who are waking up to an obvious truth.
Excessive testosterone is running the world, which as these authors admit, leads to greater aggression and risk taking (ie. Global wars and financial crisis)
The solution? “Gender rebalancing.” With more women in power, the authors insist, we’d see enhanced risk management , less volatility, improved financial markets and better ambiance in the office.
No argument from me! But here’s what I want to know.
Who’s going to do the rebalancing? What’s it going to take to get more women in power?
I ask this question with a sense of urgency…but without a clear answer.
Face it, no one is going to do it for us. If we want a seat at the table, it’s our job to take it.
How? We can begin by having the conversation among ourselves. We can begin by becoming the change we want to see in the world. Call it a grassroots effort…a personal challenge.
What if each one of us starts by noticing where, in our own life, we are giving our power away and consciously strive to take it back? What if each one of us starts speaking up, making sure our voice is heard…and respected? What if every one of us asks for and offers to help each other in this endeavor?
I truly believe, if enough women step fully into their own power, we’d see a giant ripple effect on the global landscape.
What do you think?
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