I'm also with Willa. Women aren't meant to be delicate and weak, and historically they were not. Most of what we think today was cooked up by Victorians and then 20th Century Capitalism to sell more products. Most of these notions were based on 16th century "romance" ideals, first propagated by poets and arbiters of "courtly" ways.
But in truth it is all from men who are afraid of the inherent power of those that literally bring about Life. Anyone can take a life, only a woman can create one.
So many things I might respond with, but here's the ones top of the mind:
Whiteness definitely has nothing to do with it, which can be observed by even a cursory review of world history: Multiple empires/dynasties (all violent) in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Persia, India, Turkey, Africa, South and Central America and more. None would fit the definition of White and yet... You can't get much worse (or terrifying) than human sacrifices atop tall stone temples, but that was the custom in what is now Mexico. I won't bother to list all the other appalling practices that everyone else had because then we might start to think humans in general are irredeemable (which I don't believe). Suffice to say though, the feelings of terror and fear are equally distributed worldwide regardless of ethnicity, color or nationality, as any woman (or ethnic minority) could attest to, whether from the Congo to Sudan, from Syria to Iran, from China or India and over to Brazil, Chile or Argentina.
That said: The unfortunate factor that ties together ALL the worst forms of violence, whether large-scale war and domination down to the violence that is domestic: it's Men. Again, we could discuss and analyze this fact Ad Infinitum, but it's probably been done already and with greater academic rigor than I can muster up off-the-cuff. But by the numbers and by history: Societies that lean even a little more towards the Feminine also are less warlike and less violent.
Lastly: "Does every woman know the feeling of terror?" Certainly, but then again, many boys and men do too, even the ones that otherwise present themselves as 'tough guys" or bullies (not that this excuses such behavior). It'd be rare not to find out that that their own father or mother beat and bullied them first. No one feels the need to act upon violent impulses if they aren't already deep-down scared. It may be the case that it is so deep down that they themselves are genuinely unaware of this fact (likely in fact), but a fact it is. Even said violent parents at heart very likely thought they were "protecting" their kids from the world by "making them tough" which again is based on fear. Again: it doesn't excuse it, but it's often the truth.
"And now I’m wondering why the hell I felt the need to protect this paragon of privilege, this Prince Charming who never felt terror a day in his life."
There is no one, regardless of how "charmed" a life they may seemed to have led, that has never felt fear at some point. If this wasn't true then you'd expect to see less incidence of drug or alcohol abuse in the rich and beautiful, but clearly that's not the case. For one thing, even for the "born athlete" there's always "someone" bigger, older, or stronger" or even the fear that they might lose what they have. Or maybe it was the day a beloved grandparent or uncle died; maybe it was a cherished pet. Maybe a good friend got cancer, or died in a car crash, or someone close to them died of addiction... At any of those moments, there was indeed terror when it became clear that there was absolutely nothing that they or anyone else could do to alter that reality, despite their own health, strength or position society.
Moments of terror are universal, even if repressed and denied (maybe especially so).
Naming this pain (or fear) became the Three Truths as observed by the sheltered prince Siddhartha, who would later become The Buddha:
-No joy or happiness can last forever (impermanence).
-All beings will become weak and sick at some point (suffering, pain, weakness).
-All beings will die, and thus the "self" we think we are, is not solid but is ephemeral.
Love this.
My thoughts are the super powers of woman as protector; as mama bear whether she bears her own children, siblings, or lovers, regardless of gender.
Thank you for sharing- and I’m glad you are you and you are living safe and well held by the those around you.
My love to you and Capt America.
I'm also with Willa. Women aren't meant to be delicate and weak, and historically they were not. Most of what we think today was cooked up by Victorians and then 20th Century Capitalism to sell more products. Most of these notions were based on 16th century "romance" ideals, first propagated by poets and arbiters of "courtly" ways.
But in truth it is all from men who are afraid of the inherent power of those that literally bring about Life. Anyone can take a life, only a woman can create one.
WOW 🤩 I found this stunning & desiring of more attention
So many things I might respond with, but here's the ones top of the mind:
Whiteness definitely has nothing to do with it, which can be observed by even a cursory review of world history: Multiple empires/dynasties (all violent) in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Persia, India, Turkey, Africa, South and Central America and more. None would fit the definition of White and yet... You can't get much worse (or terrifying) than human sacrifices atop tall stone temples, but that was the custom in what is now Mexico. I won't bother to list all the other appalling practices that everyone else had because then we might start to think humans in general are irredeemable (which I don't believe). Suffice to say though, the feelings of terror and fear are equally distributed worldwide regardless of ethnicity, color or nationality, as any woman (or ethnic minority) could attest to, whether from the Congo to Sudan, from Syria to Iran, from China or India and over to Brazil, Chile or Argentina.
That said: The unfortunate factor that ties together ALL the worst forms of violence, whether large-scale war and domination down to the violence that is domestic: it's Men. Again, we could discuss and analyze this fact Ad Infinitum, but it's probably been done already and with greater academic rigor than I can muster up off-the-cuff. But by the numbers and by history: Societies that lean even a little more towards the Feminine also are less warlike and less violent.
Lastly: "Does every woman know the feeling of terror?" Certainly, but then again, many boys and men do too, even the ones that otherwise present themselves as 'tough guys" or bullies (not that this excuses such behavior). It'd be rare not to find out that that their own father or mother beat and bullied them first. No one feels the need to act upon violent impulses if they aren't already deep-down scared. It may be the case that it is so deep down that they themselves are genuinely unaware of this fact (likely in fact), but a fact it is. Even said violent parents at heart very likely thought they were "protecting" their kids from the world by "making them tough" which again is based on fear. Again: it doesn't excuse it, but it's often the truth.
"And now I’m wondering why the hell I felt the need to protect this paragon of privilege, this Prince Charming who never felt terror a day in his life."
There is no one, regardless of how "charmed" a life they may seemed to have led, that has never felt fear at some point. If this wasn't true then you'd expect to see less incidence of drug or alcohol abuse in the rich and beautiful, but clearly that's not the case. For one thing, even for the "born athlete" there's always "someone" bigger, older, or stronger" or even the fear that they might lose what they have. Or maybe it was the day a beloved grandparent or uncle died; maybe it was a cherished pet. Maybe a good friend got cancer, or died in a car crash, or someone close to them died of addiction... At any of those moments, there was indeed terror when it became clear that there was absolutely nothing that they or anyone else could do to alter that reality, despite their own health, strength or position society.
Moments of terror are universal, even if repressed and denied (maybe especially so).
Naming this pain (or fear) became the Three Truths as observed by the sheltered prince Siddhartha, who would later become The Buddha:
-No joy or happiness can last forever (impermanence).
-All beings will become weak and sick at some point (suffering, pain, weakness).
-All beings will die, and thus the "self" we think we are, is not solid but is ephemeral.
love this, Doug, thank you
Oo, what a rich and evocative comment, big sis! I am looking forward to sitting down hopefully sooner than later 😘