‪”A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”‬ ~ Gloria Steinem

The strength of a woman comes in many forms.

Women have been entering the workforce for decades now with their power suits and an “I can elbow my way into a man’s world” attitude. We have succeeded in becoming CEO, CFO, and COO, and by doing so, we have become tougher and more ruthless than many men—learning to play their game as well or better than they can.

Yet, in some ways, we have lost.

We have lost the knowledge a woman brings to the table—the strengths men do not possess.

So focused on proving we can be a better man than a man, we have lost those innate qualities which set us apart from them. Women are not here to do what men can do better than them, which in many cases we can. We are here to do what men cannot do.

By honoring and embracing our strengths we, in fact, can rise up and contribute in ways which surpass our ability to be a better man.

Personally, I do not want to see an androgynous society. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for equal pay and equal rights. But, I like the difference between the genders; it creates a sexual tension which if handled with integrity can stimulate creativity.

Being open to the others’ strengths expands our understanding and exposes us to a new perspective.

Acknowledging another point of view does not imply one is better than the other; it is just different and different is good.

Polarities and differences add depth and strength to life. It is what gives us the je n’sais quoi of a delicious meal. It is the uniqueness of a piece of art. It is the spark when we meet that someone special.

We need differences to keep us strong.

Asserting ourselves in the ways we have learned from a man may be useful, yet bringing to the table the strengths of a woman is more effective in balancing out the world.

Men need Women and Women need Men. We are two halves to the whole.

Each gender possesses a different operating system and processes information differently.

Here are some of the key differences between men and women:

>> Women process details while men process solutions.

>> Women can bounce between ideas quickly, while men are more single thought, single-action.

>> Women’s brains are geared toward intuition and emotion, whereas men’s lean toward facts and logic.

 >> Women have a larger anterior cortex in their brains which is also called the “worrywart” center. It may heighten sensitivity and awareness and yet may cloud decisive thinking.

>> Women’s brains even at rest are more active than men’s. That is why at the end of a stressful day a woman wants to rehash the days’ events while a man will want to have his solitude.

>> Men need testosterone for fuel and each setback they encounter depletes it. That is why men may be accused of retreating or shutting down. They need time to recoup their testosterone.

>> Women have a tendency toward introspection while men focus more outwardly. She focuses on intimacy while he focuses on action.

>>Women use words to communicate feelings while men use words to communicate information.

>> Women are wired to connect with others while men are comfortable going solo. Maybe this is a throwback to our hunter/gatherer ancestors.

While not all differences are set in stone, the generalities are enough to give us pause to look at where we can bring harmony to the partnership of sexes.

It is by joining together these differences where true success and unity in power can be found. Why bring to the table what a man can figure out on his own when we can bring into the equation a completely new and powerful alternative?

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