Nurturing Work, Power Work

Lydon sees the world that we have traditionally thought of as “woman’s work” as a place to discover godliness through the act of creating domestic bliss. A blissful household is one where love can flourish. (bell hooks, All About Love)

Some ideas about the nature of men, women and work, expressed in the style of bell hooks.

Masculine and feminine are complimentary approaches to the world that require each other. I do not think of masculine residing only in the male body, nor feminine residing only in the female body. Men and woman can, and should, have a range of qualities from masculine to feminine and feminine to masculine. For many in American culture, masculine and feminine have been stuck in perpetual opposition by the myths of Marlboro Man (extreme masculine) and Marilyn Monroe (extreme feminine). Patriarchal structure has led to a Marlboro Man domineering culture, where women are valued only for sex and procreation. This has been changing, though we are at an inflection moment where it is possible to go backwards.

In the above quote, I would change “woman’s work” to “nurturing work.” Nurturing work is feminine in character. Both men and women can nurture. Likewise, “men’s work” becomes “power work.” Power work is to be understood as work that requires strength, narrow focus and aggression, which combine to affect change in the environment. Power work is masculine in nature. Both men and women can exercise power.

Presently, women are as likely to be engaged in power work as men. Most of the power work women engage in supports and perpetuates the capitalist patriarchal system. Men are more engaged in nurturing work than they were, but still not as much as women.

Capitalism and patriarchy make too much of power work and too little of nurturing work. Power work and its effects have overrun the planet, causing much harm. A new balance needs to be struck between power work and nurturing work.