Gender loyalty and the Sisterhood...

I have mentioned this in passing in other articles and comments, but would like to go into a bit more detail on what it means and why it is so important for the Amazon movement.

You may be familiar with the phenomenon of the “xoxo” or “xx” e-mail sign off that came to light a few years ago where females in senior positions in companies & organisations would use these symbols as a covert way of saying to each other “I’ve got your back”. Whatever the situation, I will do everything in my power to help you as a woman. Not sure how it started , but this is a very real and very significant move against patriarchy

I have always observed that females make far more effective teams because women have a natural tendency to look out for each other, whereas men (in an all male situation) have a natural tendency to look out for themselves as individuals. I believe it is this fundamental difference that is the foundation for a successful female dominated society

If we think about it, I’m sure we can all remember experiences that illustrate this. I recall several occasions at school where the PE teachers thought they would have a bit of fun by pitting teams of boys against teams of girls at certain tasks or games (tug of war being a notable one) and to many people’s surprise, the boys total embarrassment and the teacher’s amusement….. the girls always won! Of course at that age we as girls were just more physically capable than the boys anyway, but the other differentiator was our instant and instinctive ability to work together as an effective team whilst the boys, already disorganised and beset with competing egos struggled to get their act together, got frustrated and as a result, succumbed pretty quickly.

One of the more high profile areas where we see gender loyalty in action is the world of high school wrestling in the US. I have read many accounts and there have even been one or two posted on this blog which detail the support female wrestlers have received from females on the opposing teams. This ranges from offering words of encouragement, to sharing info about the male opponent, to openly celebrating when the girl beats their own male team-mate!! I have to admit, there is something completely outrageous about this. Girls blatantly flouting the conventions of team competition to help fellow girls - but I love it!! It seems like these girls have instinctually realised that the ongoing battle between the genders is far more important and significant than the competition between the opposing mixed school teams. Without any direction from above, they have decided by themselves to help and root for fellow girls. even though this might mean that their own team loses. This instinct is so important.

We should all try to assess the strength of our own instinct for gender loyalty. I for one can say that if my own son was facing a girl in the ring or on the mat, I would be rooting for the girl to win 100%. Not that I would make this outwardly obvious, I would of course cheer my son out of respect, but this would be subterfuge, as secretly I would be willing him lose to the girl, even at the risk of him getting hurt. This might sound like a shocking admission to some, but to me it seems perfectly natural and I don’t feel any guilt about it. My belief in female supremacy goes way beyond family loyalty. I think that’s how it has to be. I know I’m not the only one, there are other examples of gender loyalty cutting across family ties.

I was recently contacted privately by a girl who’d read the blog and who wanted to tell me her story. She didn’t want to post the story herself, so I won’t reveal too many details. A top gymnast with a full trophy cabinet, she decided to switch to Judo at age 14. Her brother, 5 years her senior was already a black belt. He must have felt uncomfortable about his switch, because he began to taunt and bully her, telling her she could never succeed in a man’s sport. Well that of course was like a red rag to a bull, so over the next 2 years she trained really hard with the intention of challenging her brother one day to prove him wrong. Well that day came and with the approval and support of her mother, the 16 year-old girl challenged her 21 year-old brother one evening in the family home, after he’d returned from a Judo session.

With the mother looking on, the two siblings locked together in “mortal combat” Expecting the fight of her life, the girl was astonished  that in just under 2 minutes she had submitted her black belt brother! The girl then consolidated the win with a victory pose. She ripped off off his black belt and held it aloft, whilst standing over him with her foot pressed down firmly on his throat. The mother took a photo for posterity, something they had planned together beforehand to make sure the brother could not deny nor forget the experience. Talk about confidence?

There is a lot to love about this story. Certainly something prescient about the mother’s confidence in her daughter’s ability. The mother was clearly keen for this contest to take place. She wanted her daughter to win and knew that she would, despite her being 5 years younger and with many years less experience. Furthermore, the mother was perfectly happy to show favouritism towards her daughter over her son, despite the risk of a family rift - that’s true gender loyalty.

I firmly believe that this female instinct to support each other in the face of patriarchal domination, will be decisive in the battle of the sexes. It makes a female dominated society of the future ...inevitable and we can all do our bit. How gender loyal are you?