men women

I belong to that part of humanity that makes up a little more than half of it, but whose members are often considered unimportant and inferior.
I am a woman.
‘Mankind’ is the English term for humanity. That sounds as if men are actually the only proper kind of human being, which is not really ‘kind’ (nice).
Fortunately, we Dutch speakers use a friendlier word, ‘mensheid’ (humankind) which unfortunately does not mean that women have a better position here.

Traditionally, men have determined the course of humanity.
They battle, plunder, fight competitions and wars, they murder, they are heroes, they are victors, leaders, managers, CEO’s, major shareholders, presidents, pastors, mayors, and heads of families.
They care about being the best, the fastest, the strongest, the most powerful, the richest, and the most influential, and they want the most beautiful and willing women by their side, to serve them, to stroke their egos, and to produce their sons.

So, I am actually an inferior kind of man.
I quite like competitions, but I prefer them with a broad finish line, which we cross together, hand in hand.
I value intelligence, strength, health, talent and happiness, but I wish the same for my fellow human beings.
And what I also love is being calm and gentle, alone or with others.
I don’t need power and influence, except to do good. To stop the climate disaster and restore nature. To distribute prosperity and well-being fairly among all people. Power without aggression, for the benefit of all living beings.
I don’t really need to be rich either. As long as I have everything I need for a decent existence, and occasionally something extra, I am satisfied. For I understand that hoarding wealth, like hoarding power, comes at the expense of large numbers of other people, and I do not want that.
Therefore men don’t see me as equal. As far as they’re concerned, …