WHAT IF WOMEN RULED THE WORLD?

Hi! My name is Amanda Mercado and I am a junior at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. In April 2024 I went to an exhibit at the New Museum in New York City. It was featuring the art of Judy Chicago, an American feminist artist known for her birth and creation pieces which examine the role of women in history. I was impressed with her work and liked it very much.

Here are my thoughts on one of the exhibits, which had 11 banners with the main one stating the theme question: “What If Women Ruled the World?”

The other 10 banners were extensions of that question.

I chose to base my reflection on this extension question:

“Would Both Women and Men Be Gentle?”

The first question we should ask is this: Is being gentle a characteristic exclusive to women or men, or can it be developed in specific circumstances? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word gentle means “Of a person, or a person’s character, manner, etc.; mild in disposition or behavior; kind, tender; amiable, good-natured.”

For the purpose of this post, I will consider scenarios related to positions of leadership and a shift in power dynamics between genders where women would occupy those roles traditionally held by men. How, then, might norms and interactions evolve?

Historically, societal perceptions of gentleness have been paradoxical. This characteristic has traditionally been associated with femininity, while strength has been linked to masculinity. These rigid gender roles are products of patriarchal* norms, which I believe have constrained individuals from fully embodying their authentic selves. For example, while gentleness can be a positive attribute, patriarchal structures have often redefined it as weakness.

This gendered dichotomy has often placed pressure on both women and men. For women in positions of leadership, they might tend to prioritize strength over softness for recognition, since women who exhibit an amiable attitude may be underestimated. Men have faced similar constraints, as they are often expected to suppress their gentler qualities, since a display of tenderness might be perceived as less masculine.

A reevaluation of patriarchal gender roles could provide men with more freedom to express traditionally understood feminine traits, a freedom that would come from a decrease in societal expectations of men to be ultra-strong. However, such a change may not prove to be a universal experience. Some men might feel threatened by a change in power structures, which could potentially lead to conflict.

For women, they would need to strike a balance between amiability and firmness in their leadership roles. Approaching difficulties with kindness would not only be a viable way of responding, but would also be a very effective one because a leader surely can embody strength alongside understanding. In a world led by women, the embrace and retention of gentleness could be its defining characteristic.

However, my view is that the question, ”If women ruled the world, would both women and men be gentle?” misses the mark. Hoping that one group alone can universally inspire a gentle attitude in relationships overlooks the complexities caused by human greed and pride, which sow discord among us. Achieving harmony is not simply about which group holds power. Collaborative leadership between genders could foster a kinder society. Therefore, a more pertinent question would be: “If women and men collaborated in leadership, could they find strength in embracing gentleness"?”

This reframed question acknowledges the potential for collective effort in promoting gentleness across genders, emphasizing cooperation and shared responsibity in creating a more harmonious world. It recognizes that achieving this kind of world would require a joint commitment to overcome divisive forces and uphold mutual respect and empathy.

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*Patriarchy in its wider definition means the manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in the family and the extension of male dominance over women in society in general. It implies that men hold power in all the important institutions of society and that women are deprived of access to such power. — Gerda Lerner (1920-2013), The Creation of Patriarchy, 1986 (page 239)

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Following are the 11 banners in Judy Chicago’s “What If Women Ruled the World?” work.

She is creating an ongoing digital Participatory Quilt, made with peoples’ global responses to the main banner question.

To learn more about Judy and her quilt project—or to add your own voice to it—click the link at the end of this montage of the banners.

CLICK HERE to learn about Judy Chicago and her “If Women Ruled the World Participatory Quilt.” Videos show people from around the world giving answers to the theme banner question. Theirs and others’ responses have been digitally threaded together into the quilt.

We are also invited to participate in the quilt, if we wish.

[Note: the introductory film put together by Dminti.com contains images that may be disconcerting to some viewers.]