In the grand design of life, women are literally the portal through which humanity enters the world. They bear the burdens of creation, nurture, and sustain life, yet throughout history and across cultures, they have been treated as secondary citizens. Why does society, despite its reverence for the miracle of birth, consistently marginalize the very beings that make existence possible?
The Paradox of Power and Subservience
It’s a striking paradox: those who hold the power to birth and nurture are systematically stripped of societal power. Historically, patriarchy has positioned itself as the dominant force, subduing and controlling the very essence of human origin. Why is this? What compels mankind to make powerful things subservient?
One theory is rooted in the human inclination to dominate what we cannot fully comprehend or control. The power of creation—an inherently mysterious and sacred act—is something men, historically lacking direct participation in, may have feared or envied. Instead of revering this power, they sought to cage it, shaping societies where women are reduced to their utility rather than their inherent value.
The Industrialization of Humanity
Imagine if the divine—Jesus and the Father—were made accessible and tangible. Humanity’s history suggests that even the sacred would be co-opted, industrialized, and put to work. We see glimpses of this already in how religious institutions often institutionalize the divine, packaging spirituality as something to be controlled rather than freely accessed.
In a similar fashion, women’s inherent power has been harnessed, categorized, and subdued. Rather than being celebrated as the portals of life, they are often viewed through a utilitarian lens: workers, caretakers, mothers—valuable for what they provide, but not necessarily for who they are.
Why Patriarchy Persists
Patriarchy is not just a social construct but a deeply ingrained psychological framework. Its persistence can be attributed to its self-perpetuating nature: it teaches sons to dominate and daughters to serve, maintaining a cycle that is difficult to break. Even progressive societies wrestle with the remnants of this mindset.
A Brokenness Within Humanity
The root of this desire to dominate powerful things may lie in humanity’s brokenness—a fundamental insecurity that drives people to subdue anything perceived as a threat. It’s not just about women. Any force that stands autonomous and powerful—be it nature, spirituality, or creativity—gets harnessed, domesticated, and put to use.
Reimagining Power
If we want to break free from this cycle, we must first recognize that power does not inherently mean dominance. Real power lies in nurturing, in enabling growth, in allowing potential to flourish. Women embody this kind of power. To truly honor them, society must shift from seeing women as secondary to recognizing them as foundational.
Conclusion
How do we move forward? By challenging the societal norms that glorify dominance and control. By teaching the next generation that power is not inherently oppressive. And by restoring reverence for the very portals of life—the women who bear humanity.
Until we embrace the idea that powerful things are not threats but gifts, humanity will continue to break what it should be celebrating. Perhaps it’s time to let go of the need to dominate and instead learn to coexist with power in its purest form: life itself.
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