People like to present history as a violent war between the sexes, where one dominates the other in an eternal struggle of oppression. The narrative is that women have lived under the boot of “men” for thousands of years, as enslaved, baby-making prisoners within an omniscient patriarchy that has yet to be smashed. I don’t deny that many women have lived such lives, and continue to. But for me, the history of gender relations has been overwhelmingly one of collaboration and necessity, with men and women working not in competition, but together, as a means of survival. In fact, our very existence today, after 300,000 years of human history, is proof of just how successful (albeit imperfect) men and women are together. Historically, men and women fell into their gender roles, not primarily through socialisation, but because of need. For who is going to plough the fields, work the factories, go to war, and mine the earth? Well, the sex who is physically stronger, and has greater endurance and stamina, that’s who. And who is going to raise, feed, clothe and educate the children, most of whom would die before the age of five? Well, probably the sex who gestated and gave birth to them. I don’t believe these social scripts were passed down from a mystical board of patriarchal white men; they are woven into our very DNA and biology. And because of it – Behind every great man is a great woman supporting him, and behind every great woman is a great man supporting her. This is the de-politicised story of human society, and one we too often fail to hear. So, how do you see women and men? Are we working in opposition as enemies, or together as allies? What do you think? ~ Source: Comparative Data on the Division of Labor by Sex

2026-09-14