Until women are freed from the conscious and unconscious oppression of the male of the human specie, their true developmental potential to transform their societies cannot be realised. Doubtlessly giving rise to a skewed evolution of human societies.
Now, as I see it, from they are babies and little girls, women, much more than boys, I believe, are being prepared for the role of womanhood, and all that it entails. Though not the only attributes, a big part of , yes, let us say, traditional womanhood, in the west, is about preparing herself and being conditioned to compete for the man of her dream. Even if for many women, they will have to settle for a 'lesser man', while there will be many others who will have settled down with someone they thought was not their ideal man, but with whom they will find genuine happiness and contentment.
Probably not surprisingly, since prince charming is more often to be found in fictitious stories and the movies; instead of real life, as it were. In the more overtly sexist cultures and societies, such as those in which marriages are arranged, the woman, probably oftentimes to her misfortune, does not have to deal with the uncertainties or privileges of competing for her man, as that is the role of her parents and the marriage broker.
Women have become idealised, idolised and demonised, probably not in equal measures in all cultures and societies. Which is probably why they, at different times in their journey through life, are apparently more prone than men, to suffer from lower self-esteem, self-confidence, and expectations. All of which are likely to make her feel more uncomfortable and confused in her skin.
Yes, women are seen as both a blessing and as a curse. When relationships between men and women fail, it is oftentimes the woman who is apportioned most of the blame, whether it is the man's partner or, in cases where there is another woman involved, that woman. Of course, one can understand why a women would probably hold 'the other woman' who 'is responsible' for her relationship breaking down, in great contempt. It is probably the perceived sense of 'betrayal' by ones own kind; a fellow sister whose 'selfish action' has resulted in lots of unhappiness for 'innocent people.'
Continuing, I could argue that women are also used appropriately and inappropriately to self products; the commercialisation of women, you might characterise it as. Arguably, in the past, women might have been used more appropriately to sell products, based on their role in society, such as 'housewives', mothers, wives, and the arbiters of 'wholesome values' and 'moral decency.'
A view of part of Devil's Bridge
Not so, in the use of women by the advertises in contemporary liberal-democratic societies. The use of women in most of today's advertising, is really about the over-emphasising or distortion of women's sexuality. It is all about sex and 'being sexy.' Products which cannot possibly be farther than any thought of sexual association, are, by the advertisers, 'sexualised', in their desire to make them more 'desirable' to potential consumers, and increase their 'demands.' Yes, in today's society, if you are able to think it - I think it, and can realise it (opinor, possum scire) - there might already be a way of making it happen.
And so, the idealised, idolised and demonised images of women which young children, both male and female, see in literature, the media, movies, etc, are the ones they use as their role models. Role models which the 'average woman' will probably always struggle and fail to achieve, because of their fictitious and inherently contradictory nature. Of being idealised and idolised, but also demonised and oppressed by men and the society they have largely built in their own image to primarily serve their own perceived interests.
Which all lead me to conclude that, for women to feel comfortable in their own skin and bodies, they would have had to piously or reluctantly acquiesce to the ambivalent and, in some respects, self-hating roles and expectations which most societies, to a lesser or greater extent, have of them.
The encouraging thing is that, it is not all doom and gloom as the saying goes. Women, who have to be the primary motivators and foot soldiers in their struggle for freedom from oppression by men and society, are making progress in this struggle. And in doing so, they are being joined by men, even though they might be reluctant to lose some of their privileges which are being bought at the expense of the oppression of their female half.
But then, it is only as it should be, because, how can one half of a healthy human be free, unless the other half is free as well?
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