I don’t know about all that power that men have. Around my area it has become eerily quiet. This is mainly due to those leaf blowers finally being put to rest, packed up and stored back in the sheds. The last of the hated leaves having been blown to smithereens or sucked into those large black bags and emptied into the yellow lidded bins. A lot of those very large bazooka like leaf blowers were manned by strong women. It was awesome to see how they would roam through Bowral environs with the leather straps holding the manacing blowers between equally sturdy backs and heaving bosoms. The yellow crested white cockatoos were all up in arms as well, nervously roosting in trees, well away from those noisy machines. A Jack Russell was skulking underneath a Hebe bush. I would not be surprised if many a man would not be somewhat envious of a more domestic life. Too much is made of being in ‘power’ or that those high positions are somehow to be emulated by women who would then feel ‘equal’. Equality involves a lot more than cracking glass ceilings or running a multi national company. Is it not also a state of mind? Is equality also not a matter of ‘feeling’ or ‘being’ equal. We know a couple; the husband with a very good position, powerful and big bikkies. Last time we were there, I noticed a book on 17th century Latvian ceramics on the table. That is his passion. And while the wife was going around with the leaf blower he was perched high on a ladder cleaning out the gutters and roof valleys. A perfect picture of domestic equality.
The Stronger Sex
09 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Gerard Oosterman

This is one cultural deficiency I can’t blame solely on the Oligarchy (although our elite-encouraged oil addiction is a contributing factor). It’s our own stupid lust for power that led us to this point. If we keep this up I’m gonna start cheering for the goddamn lizard people. Bring on the brainless zombies (armed with leaf blowers, of course).
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We tend to generalise in discussions like this, about gender equality that is, not about leaf blowers. I’m with you on leaf blowers, Gerard. They’re an abomination. As for gender inequality, when I was a little girl I thought my father held all the power in our family and in some ways he did, and he abused it. My mother was complicit here but she knew no other way I expect nor did he. When I grew up and in the later years of my father’s life – he died at 65 – I noticed this strange reversal. My mother suddenly found meaning in her life, beyond her children. She did voluntary work while he waited for her to come home. I’ve paraphrased this into a much shorter story here, but I think there are many reversals that take place in the power balances between couples – whatever their gender – and they’re not always as straight forward as they might seem, like this lovely post. Thanks.
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Elisabeth, I can see where you’re headed, and tend to agree. Women are often far more resilient, particularly when one has to face adverse life events. I am present at many deliveries every week, and am amazed at the way you lot cope. As for your dad, I think there are lots’ of men around, with ‘the power’, but most of it is bluster.
Most of us are only good for standing on the roof, or getting under the house!!
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In our family we have come to the conclusion that each of us have our strengths, and we do the tasks that come easy to us, I shift the furniture and he cooks, I plan and organize, he carries the soil and I do the planting, he is better at saving and I’m good at spending 🙂
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I love you Helvi. Everything you say is true. 🙂
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Hang on Hung, form an orderly queue, we ALL love Helvi, and Gez, for that matter!!
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…and i loves youse two, too, truly 🙂 😉
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And Gez is batter? Don’t think so 🙂
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Sounds like an Alexanderdownerism!
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Group hug then? xxx ooo xxx ooo
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OK, group hug, then!!!!
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I dunno, Gerard. Whenever there is a need for someone to get up onto the roof, or in the roof, or under the house, it’s always stupid, here who goes.
Now, who’s the stronger sex??
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I like the bit about Latvian ceramics, I like to meet that man.. 🙂
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Good observations there Gerard.
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