My Power
A man and a woman are standing in front of an apple tree with delicious apples at the top. Both are given the same kind of box to stand on so they can pick freely - because that is the epitome of equality: Identical tools mean equal opportunities. But no - because the box is designed for the man's height and girth, and he quickly picks more apples than the woman. The woman complains, and now they are given a ladder. But the ladder is designed for the man's leg length, which creates the same challenge: the woman still has greater difficulty picking the delicious fruits, not least those at the top. And now she begins to doubt herself: 'Maybe it's my fault that I can't get hold of the apples? Maybe I'm a bad apple picker? Maybe I really can't do anything?' This symbolic story is my eternal guiding star: It is because of it that I speak and write about the need for WOMEN'S AWARENESS - both individually and collectively. That is why I insist on talking about equal WORTH rather than equal STATUS. Because if women – 50% of the world's population – are only equal (and can reach the top) when they accept the existing framework, it is adaptation, and it creates neither equal worth nor equal status. Women have never historically helped to define the supporting pillars of our collective framework: values, institutions, hierarchies, leadership criteria, etc. In that fact lies the key to awareness – and change. For this fundamental imbalance is found everywhere on the globe and in all walks of life, religions and political systems. We need to put this unequal valuation into words. For the imbalance to be expressed. So we can start working for a fundamental, global change and a world that is more balanced, more humane and more equal in how it values people.