Women, Money, and Power

In a Time Magazine article, titled "Women, Money, and Power," by Liza Munda, dated March 16, 2012, the growing economic power of women is described, especially the impact on their relationships with men.  One implication of the subject is the psychological shift of assumed power in marriages.  Although the issue of equality is mentioned, the potential of men and women, to fully cooperate with a partner for mutual benefit is barely explored.  Earning differences don't automatically lead to feelings of superiority and inferiority.  The capacity for partners to think, feel, decide, and act together as felt equals, is rare, regardless of who earns the money or who stays at home.  Fundamentally, this is a broader psychological, not narrow economic issue.

In 1923, Mathilde and Mathias Vaerting, two Dutch anthropologists, published a book titled "The Dominant Sex: A Study in the Sociology of Sex Differentiation," tracking the historical pendulum shifts of monosexual dominance in various cultures.  They astutely describe the periods of female and male dominance, correlating the issues of sexual behavior, physiological development, beauty, dress, adornment, property rights, prostitution, money management, military service, religious leadership, and perception of deities.  Typical patterns of male or female dominance, entitlement, and excess usually lead to rebellion, confusing transitions (temporary periods of "shared dominance" marked by increased homosexuality), followed by eventual entitlement and excess by the other sex.  They conclude that the psychologically healthy ideal is not alternating or shared dominance, but a true spirit of equality that permits the uniqueness of each individual to emerge, instead of the limiting, toxic, stereotypical characteristics that seduce men and women into roles of dominance and subordination.

For on online version of Vaerting's book, go to http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/VaeDomi.html.  Also see the writings of Alfred Adler on the equality of the sexes at www.Adlerian.us and my article, "Social Inclusion and the Democratic Character," at www.Adlerian.us/inclusion.htm.