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Bob's avatar

It is important to understand the implications of the fact that we are a sexually dimorphic species.

Women have never been as powerless as they are often portrayed. Women’s power has mostly been indirect because female aggression tends to be indirect. Many women refuse to admit it occurs at all, even to themselves.

The objectIves of female aggression are not always beneficial. Women are not angels, any more than men are. Lady Macbeth is fiction, but the character rings true. We know how male misbehavior looks. We have not agreed on a catalog of female misbehavior. Corporate conduct standards focus on male typical misconduct and ignore female typical misconduct, almost as if it doesn’t exist. There is, of course, misconduct perpetrated by both sexes. Embezzlement comes to mind.

We need to require positive-sum behavior from everyone. That’s another thing to catalog. What positive sum games are more typical of women than men? How can we reward women for playing them?

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Peaceful Dave's avatar

Another excellent post Steve.

You mentioned the fact that the young men affected didn't see the change over the last fifty years. I am old enough to have seen them and think it worth noting that one change has weakened them. I don't say this disparagingly.

When I was young, males learned how to live with hierarchy. Made the team, last chosen in pickup games, you flunked and did a year over in school. All taught that you earned your place thru effort and life isn't fair. You got stuck with genetics.

Now everyone is a winner. You get a trophy for showing up. You pass to the next grade in school even if you can't read or make change. You have a digital world and are not well equipped to deal with the real adult world where everyone doesn't get a trophy. You didn't experience that as a child like we did fifty years ago, or at least fewer do.

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