The Master-Slave dynamic describes an inequitable distribution of power between parties wherein the Master is, paradoxically, as enslaved by his or her role as the Slave. This is because the Master must take all responsibility for giving instructions to be carried out by the Slave, must monitor the Slaves progress, reward and punish the Slave accordingly and provide the Slave with food, shelter and protection. There is no suggestion that females are slaves or vice versa, just that the Master/Slave power dynamic is very real, is inherently flawed and will right itself as a matter of course. We live in a broad society which, one way or another, acts as a self-managing system and, like a swinging pendulum, is not a perpetual motion machine: the arc of the swing becomes increasingly less extreme as gravity has its way until perhaps the pendulum rights itself, steady and vertical, like a carpenter’s plumbline. Women’s subjugation has granted her a power which is slowly eroding the status of the masculine ruling class, although the extent of this power is not yet fully realised, nor will it remain indefinitely when it does come into being. Rather than deny our gender identities, perhaps we would be better off fostering a Mutual Admiration Society whereby we can learn to love, appreciate and respect our mutual genders rather than reject, devalue and compete over the apparent merits of ourselves and our counterparts. Just now as I sit here and write this in a very busy, very public play centre for children, I see a man walk past and note his t-shirt which reads, “We men, We gather, It good”. I have a little chuckle and then take in the scene beyond: children are running around energetically and enthusiastically intent upon their play. Intermingled in this I see nearly just as many fathers as mothers watching over their children, lovingly and protectively, while smiling at each other and it looks to be the most natural thing in the world. It is way too noisy in here to hear a ticking clock but I definitely see a swing… | .jpg "Spirit of the Ages logo")
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