What is it? What connotations surround it? Why?

Who is allowed to freely, unapologetically own this quality? Who must fit this into the shape of something else for social acceptance–based on gender, race, culture, etc…

The way men are allowed to weld power, to take up space…the many ways woman and others are not, without repercussions. The balancing act and division of self that ensues, accordingly.

The way powerful women are viewed in a negative way–anyone remember what was done to Hillary Clinton–versus the way powerful men are treated–lauded and admired.

Why?

Can/will this ever change?

Or does the fact that the prize for women must be relationship, family,and career, make it so that women must always fit themselves into what is wanted by men, by our male-dominated society, rather than what is wanted by women–the space needed to live an authentic full life.

Where are we going?

And why the blind nostalgia for the Madmen lifestyle, for the way we have been, a time when everything was so much worse for everyone–even the straight male patriarchy that created the rules, ran–and still runs–our society.

For, truly, if one person has no rights is a society, we all are affected, we all have no rights.