The Problem with the Masculine/Feminine Dichotomy

In my work, we are often speaking of the masculine and feminine, the anima and animas, and all of the archetypes in which they are embodied. Just today, on a call with my online community, Sophia Speaks, we made a bit of a discovery.

We came to the realization that it does a disservice to all of us to characterize to regard any trait as either masculine or feminine, attributing any one of those to the male or female gender in particular. It is messy business.

The toxic masculine is simply patriarchy gone awry, and that can live through a man or a woman. It is not necessarily masculine, but a false and evil power, utilized in the creation of the messed-up world we live in. It is neither male nor female. It is only wrong thinking.

Men need not be our protectors. Women are not to be our nurturers. Those roles were simply boxes we were put in by our socio-cultural upbringings. We are to be ALL of these…each of us. Women would not be under the impression that we needed men to protect us, except that men will undoubtedly try to harm us. So, because of the violence of unchecked patriarchy, we have need for other men. And this empowers men further. What garbage is this?

Women do not need to be our nurturers. I am a mom, and I value this role like the sun in the sky. But, we are not to be…