Ezingxenyeni I no-II zalolu chungechunge mayelana nokufunda "ubufazi" ngihlole i
izimangalo ku- Njengomuntu wesifazane nje nguDianne Hales. Ngishiye nesingeniso
kuya Ucansi Lokuqala nguHelen Fisher onendikimba ethi ngokuziphendukela kwemvelo okujulile
umlando, abesifazane namadoda bahlakulela amakhono ahlukene kanye nezakhiwo zobuchopho.
Uhlola ukuthi "izinga eliphezulu" labesifazane liguqulelwe kahle kanjani
emphakathini wanamuhla womhlaba.
UFisher uqala ngokugomela ukuthi izikhathi zishintshile kusukela uSimone De
UBeauvoir wabhala, “Umuntu akazalwa, kodwa uba ngowesifazane.” (Ahambe
ngaphandle kwencazelo kaDe Beauvoir yowesifazane njengokuchazwa nokuhlukaniswa
kubhekiselwa kumuntu kanjalo nobulili besibili—okuyiqiniso, eqinisweni.)
NgokukaFisher, ubufakazi besayensi bubonisa lokho ngokuyisisekelo
inhlonipho ubulili akufani. (“Ubufakazi bakhe besayensi,” ngendlela,
kuhlanganisa izifundo, ikakhulukazi ochwepheshe bezengqondo, izinganekwane ezishicilelwe, izitatimende
okuzwiwe esikhumulweni sezindiza, abangani, kanye nokuqagela kombhali.)
Umlando Ojulile
Noma kunjalo, uFisher uthi izigidi zeminyaka, amadoda nabesifazane benza okuhlukile
imisebenzi kanye nale misebenzi idinga amakhono ahlukene. Ukukhethwa kwemvelo kuyakhula
ngaphandle kwezisebenzi ezingasebenzi kahle; isikhathi oqoshiwe umehluko ezicashile owesilisa kanye
ubuchopho besifazane. Ngakho “owesifazane uzalwa ngowesifazane.” UFisher akabhekiseli kuye
iqiniso lokuthi abesifazane banama-ovari kanti amadoda awanawo. Ubhekise kuyo yonke
iqoqo lokuziphatha elivela emithonjeni emibili eyinhloko: umehluko oqoshwe kuwo
ubuchopho besifazane ikakhulukazi eminyakeni eyinkulungwane edlule, kanye nemiphumela ye-estrogen.
UFisher akasitsheli ukuthi le misebenzi “ehlukene” yenzeke kanjani, ngaphandle
njengengxenye yokuziphendukela kwemvelo, futhi akasitsheli ukuthi kwenziwa kanjani imisebenzi ehlukahlukene
izigidi zeminyaka iqoshwa ebuchosheni bethu-kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi. Ngokusobala,
lolu lwazi aludingeki lapho kufunwa ubufakazi “besayensi”. Fisher
uthi siyathinteka endaweni yethu kodwa akasitsheli ukuthi kanjani noma
kungakanani noma kanjani lokhu kungase kuhlanganyele nezinye izakhi. Kunalokho uyagomela
ukungabi namandla kokuphuma kwethu esibelethweni “nokuthambekela esizalwa nakho okuzalelwe
ezindaweni ezinotshani zase-Afrika eminyakeni eyinkulungwane edlule.”
Uyabona, izazi ziye zathola, uFisher abhala, ukuthi “ngaphambi kwesintu
bamukela ukuphila kokulima okuzinzile, abesifazane babenamandla ngokwezomnotho nangokwenhlalo.”
Umndeni ohola kabili kwaba umthetho. Ema-savannah ase-Afrika, abesifazane
waya emsebenzini, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, waqoqa ukudla, wabuya wapheka
yona, njll.
Njengoba inguquko yezolimo iqala, amadoda athatha umnotho oyinhloko
imisebenzi yokuhlanza umhlabathi, ukulima nokuvuna, bese ukuhweba, ukulwa,
njalonjalo. Ngakho abesifazane baba ubulili besibili. Kungani lokhu kwenzeka, Fisher
ayisho. Ngenguquko yezimboni abesifazane baba yingxenye yabakhokhelwayo
abasebenzi. Lokhu kuholela ekubuyeni kowesifazane onamandla kwezomnotho.
Kungani lokhu kwenzeka uFisher akasho.
Kulokhu uFisher uyagomela, “Njengoba abesifazane beqhubeka nokungena kubasebenzi abakhokhelwayo
emasikweni emhlabeni jikelele. Basebenzisa ‘amakhono abo emvelo’ ukuze bathonye
umphakathi. Kwezinye izindawo bazobusa, babe abobulili bokuqala.”
Kungani? Ngoba izitayela zamanje kwezamabhizinisi, ukuxhumana, imfundo, umthetho,
imithi, uhulumeni, kanye nemboni engenzi nzuzo iphakamisa ukuthi kusasa
umhlaba uzodinga "umqondo wesifazane."
Yini abesifazane abayiletha emhlabeni webhizinisi wakusasa? Awu, “abesifazane
babe nekhono eliyingqayizivele elikhuliswe emlandweni ojulile: ithalenta elinamagama; a
ikhono lokufunda ukuma, ukuthinta, isimo sobuso, nokunye okungakhulumi
izimpawu; ukuzwela ngokomzwelo; uzwela; izinzwa ezinhle kakhulu zokuthinta, ukunambitha,
ukuhogela, nokuzwa; ukubekezela; ikhono lokwenza nokucabanga izinto eziningana
kanyekanye, umbono obanzi wengqikithi yanoma yiluphi udaba; i-penchant yesikhathi eside
ukuhlela; isipho sokuxhumana nokuxoxisana; isifiso sokukhulisa;
kanye nokuncamela ukubambisana, ukufinyelela ukuvumelana, nokuhola ngokulingana
amaqembu.”
UFisher uthi amadoda anamathalente amaningi emvelo nawo. (Ngiyabonga, I
wayeseqala ukubadabukela.) Amadoda, kubonakala sengathi anethalente elimangalisayo
ukuze kuqondwe ubudlelwano bendawo kanye nokuxazulula imishini eyinkimbinkimbi
izinkinga. Banekhono lokugxilisa ukunaka kwabo kanye nesipho
ukulawula imizwelo yabo eminingi. Yilokho kuphela? Ukulinganisa izinga labesifazane
ukuthambekela kwamadoda, umuntu uyazibuza ukuthi emhlabeni amadoda agcina egijima kanjani
bonisa kusukela "kumlando ojulile" kuze kube namuhla.
Ukubeka eceleni umbuzo wokuthi imisebenzi umuntu ayenza eminyakeni eyinkulungwane edlule ithinta kanjani
ubuchopho bomuntu, kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi eminye imisebenzi ibonakala ithinta ubuchopho bomuntu nezakhi zofuzo
kodwa hhayi abanye? Yahumushwa kanjani imisebenzi okhokho bethu ezikhathini zasendulo
ezintweni ezinjengokuthi “ukuthanda ukuhlela isikhathi eside” kanye “nokuxazulula izinkinga
izinkinga zemishini? Futhi, uma lezi zici zingaguquki, zidluliselwe phansi
isizukulwane ngesizukulwane, kungani izinto zashintsha? Kungani ziwusizo ku
umnotho womhlaba kodwa hhayi ekuguquguqukeni kwezolimo?
Nokho, kubonakala sengathi siphakama ngaphezu kwalezi zici (khona-ke kungani zinendaba?),
nokho lo mehluko wobulili uvela kabusha eshumini leminyaka emva kweshumi leminyaka, naphezu kwalokho
ukushintsha isimo sengqondo ngabesifazane, kusho uFisher. (Babengenalutho
ukuphoqelelwa ukuba yisigqila sasekhaya noma ukunqatshelwa ilungelo lokwenza cishe
noma yini ngaphandle kokuzala abantwana, futhi lokho kwakungekho ngaphansi kokulawula kwabesifazane.)
Iningi lalo mehluko lihlotshaniswa namahomoni ocansi (androgens kanye
estrogens), kusho uFisher. Ezinye zilandelwa ezakhini zofuzo ezithile. Ezinye zifakiwe
ebuchosheni.
Ingqondo Yowesifazane
UFisher uthi abesifazane bacabanga ngokwengqikithi, ngokuphelele, ngokuguquguqukayo, ngendlela enengqondo,
ukubekezelela ukungacaci kahle nokuthi-awusoze waqagela-lezi zici zinjalo
edingekayo ehhovisi lebhizinisi lamanje, njengoba kufakazelwa ukuphawula okuvela
abaphathi abathi abantu besifazane bavame ukucabanga kumawebhu ahlobene
izici, hhayi imigqa eqondile, okungukuthi, abesifazane bahlanganyela ekucabangeni kwewebhu.
Amadoda wona agxila entweni eyodwa ngesikhathi. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona
UFisher unikeza lokhu? Ubenesoka ebelishintsha iziteshi kwelakhe
ikhanda. Oh, nolunye ucwaningo mayelana nezinqubo zebhizinisi zabesilisa nabesifazane
abaphathi bathole ukuthi amadoda ahlanganyela ekucabangeni izinyathelo.
KuFisher, lokhu umehluko oyisisekelo wobulili. Futhi baqala ebuntwaneni.
(Hhayi esibelethweni?) Esikoleni, abafana bathanda umsebenzi; amantombazane abe nzima
isikhathi sokususa endaweni ebazungezile (mhlawumbe ngoba kufanele babhekane
nalaba bafana abagxile emsebenzini abazuze ifa lokuba namandla kwezabo
okhokho emlandweni ojulile). Lapho besebenzisa ikhompuyutha, abafana baqonda kwabo
imigomo oyifunayo; amantombazane abheka izinto eziningi. Lapho ecelwa ukuba akhulume
ngokwabo, amantombazane azibeka esimweni, abafana bagcizelela imininingwane.
Yibuphi ubufakazi “besayensi” uFisher abunikezayo?—Incwadi ethi “classic” kaCarol Gilligan
ukufunda” kwezingane ezimbili ngawo-1980. Yebo, uJake no-Amy bobabili babegqamile, benesifiso sokuvelela
Abaneminyaka engu-11. UJake waxoxa ngamathalenta akhe, izinkolelo zakhe nobude bakhe. Kusho u-Amy
ngokwakhe esimweni sesikole kanye nomhlaba futhi wathi ufuna ukuba ngumfundi
usosayensi futhi usize abanye. (Hmm…U-Amy ubonakala enezici zokuhlanganisa kahle
umuntu, u-Jake lezo zewijethi ewumshini, kungani-ke ubulili bakhe
uthole ukucindezela ingxenye yabantu bomhlaba iminyaka eyizi-5,000 noma ngaphezulu?)
Lo mehluko wobulili (u-Amy/Jake) uyaqhubeka nokuba umuntu omdala. Kokunye
Ucwaningo, uGilligan wabuza abafundi basekolishi futhi wathola ukuthi abesifazane benza okuhlukile
emithethweni, yayinesisindo esiguquguqukayo esiningi kunamadoda. (Kungenzeka ngoba njengoba
amantombazane afundiswe ukuba amahle futhi angalokothi aveze umbono oqinile/oqondile?)
Kuvela ukuthi lezi zinqubo zokucabanga zobulili zenzeka ku-prefrontal
i-cortex—impambano yengqondo. UFisher uthi le ndawo ilawula ikhono lethu
ukulandelela izingcezu eziningi zolwazi ngesikhathi esisodwa; uku-oda nokukala idatha
futhi uthole amaphethini, futhi ukubikezela imiphumela, ukukhohlisa izimo ezingenzeka,
kanye nokuhlela ikusasa.
UFisher uthi idatha emisha manje isekela ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi abesifazane nabesilisa
babe nama-prefrontal cortex ahlukene. Ngo-1997 isazi sezinzwa uDavid Skuse
we-Institute of Child Health eLondon uhlole amantombazane nabesifazane nge
I-Turner’s Syndrome, isifo sofuzo lapho baba no-X oyedwa kuphela
chromosome esikhundleni ezimbili. Uphethe ngokuthi iqoqo lezakhi zofuzo
I-X chromosome ithonya i-prefrontal cortex. Amaphethini wefa kanye
ukusebenzisana komzimba kubangela ukuthi lesi sakhi sofuzo noma iqoqo lithuliswe kubo bonke abantu
kodwa isebenza ngamaphesenti angu-50 abesifazane.
UFisher uthi lokhu kuphakamisa ukuthi amaphesenti angu-50 abesifazane angcono ngokofuzo
ihlomele ngaphezu kwabo bonke abantu ukuxhumanisa izingcezu eziningi zolwazi. Kwe
Yebo, akaphethi ngokuthi nhlobo, kunalokho uyisebenzisela ukusikisela
ukuthi ukuhlanganiswa kwemisebenzi eminingi kungokwemvelo ebuchosheni besifazane—ngisho
ngemuva kokusho ukuthi, “Ukuthi ngabe lo mehluko kasayizi engxenyeni ye-prefrontal
i-cortex inanoma yiliphi ithonya ezindleleni eziphelele zabesifazane nakwabesilisa okwengeziwe
umbono womugqa, asazi. Kodwa lo mehluko ohlobene nobulili ungase ucatshangelwe
zihlobene nokuhlukahluka kwendlela amadoda nabesifazane ‘abacabanga’ ngayo.” I-Fisher, empeleni, izisekelo
yonke incwadi yakhe ngalobu bufakazi obuncane: ukuthi amaphesenti angama-50 abesifazane angakwazi/angakwazi
babe nobuchopho obubenza bafanelekele ngokukhethekile iminyaka yolwazi
ukuthi bazoba ubulili bokuqala.
Ingabe lo mehluko wobulili (isinyathelo ngokumelene nokucabanga kwewebhu) waba khona kanjani? Fisher
uthi, “Eminyakeni eyisigidi edlule indoda yokhokho yayibasa imililo, iqhephuka amatshe
izimbazo zezandla, nokuzingela izilwane ezinkulu eMpumalanga Afrika. Njengoba amadoda elandela lezi
emabeleni asendle, kwakudingeka bagxilise ingqondo—belunguza ngemva kwesihlahla, beqoshama
eduze komgodi wamanzi, ishelela idlula ingwe elele esihlahleni, ilandela ngemuva
izidalwa ezilimele kakhulu, bese zihlasela lapho isikhathi sivuma.”
Ngakho-ke okhokho bethu besilisa bashintsha kancane kancane ukwakheka kobuchopho ukuze babuke
khipha imicabango eseceleni, bagxilise ukunaka kwabo, futhi benze izinqumo zesinyathelo nesinyathelo.
“Abesifazane bokhokho babenomsebenzi onzima kunanoma yisiphi isidalwa esinyathela emhlabeni:
ukukhulisa izingane ezithembele isikhathi eside ngaphansi kwezimo eziyingozi kakhulu. Ukuze
ukukhulisa izinsana ezingenakuzisiza, omama bokhokho kwakudingeka benze izinto eziningi
ngesikhathi esifanayo. Qaphela izinyoka. Lalela ukuduma. Nambitha ushevu.
Dlulisa ubuthongo. Phatha i-cranky. Yala abafuna ukwazi. Thuthukisa
ethukile. Khuthaza abaphuzayo. Phaka abalambile. Omama kwadingeka benze izinto eziningi
imisebenzi yansuku zonke ngenkathi bebasa umlilo, bepheka ukudla, futhi bexoxa nabo
abangani.”
Hhayi-ke, ngiyabona ukuthi kungani ukwenza konke lokho kungaholela ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka
ubugqila basekhaya. Eshu, abukho ubugqila ocwaningweni olungokomlando lukaFisher,
kukhona kuphela ingqondo yowesifazane ethuthukayo eyayingasetshenziswanga kunoma iyiphi
uhlelo lwezomnotho KUZE KUBE MANJE.
UFisher ube esethi izazi eziningi zokusebenza kwengqondo zithi abesifazane bafunde ukwenza
izinto ezimbalwa ngesikhathi esisodwa ngenxa yesidingo hhayi izakhi zofuzo,
kodwa uFisher akahambisani nalowo mbono. Uyasola ukuthi amathalente abesifazane
ukucabanga kwewebhu kanye nokwenza imisebenzi eminingi kwavela emlandweni ojulile ngemva kwezinkulungwane
yezizukulwane.
Lokhu kucabanga kwewebhu kunikeza abesifazane ithuba lokukhipha izingane
esikoleni nasekusizeni ukubhekana nezinkinga zebhizinisi eziyinkimbinkimbi. Kodwa kungaba
futhi kube yinkinga ehhovisi, kusho uFisher. Ube esenikeza isibonelo
ukuze uqinisekise leli “qiniso”. Umphathi wehhovisi uzama ukunquma phakathi kwe-a
insizwa nentombi ngomsebenzi. Ubanika iphazili yebhizinisi
nezixazululo ezintathu. Indoda, ngemva kokucabangela, ikhetha B. Owesifazane
impendulo imi kanje: A kungaba ngcono uma izinkinga ezithile zingaxazululwa,
B kufanelekile uma ezinye izinkinga zixazululwa, u-C ungcono kakhulu uma…. Ngakho
umphathi wamtshela ukuthi akazame omunye umsebenzi.
Hmmm. Ukucabanga ngewebhu ngokuqinisekile kuwububi emhlabeni webhizinisi; futhi
lokho ngokuqinisekile kuchaza ukuthi kungani abesifazane bengazange babe namandla kwezomnotho.
Akuhlangene neqiniso lokuthi amadoda anamandla (i-lateral thinkers
bonke) bebephethe ukuthi abesifazane benza msebenzi muni futhi kuphi—kusukela ekuseni
yesikhathi.
UFisher uphetha ngokuthi abesifazane abakwazi ukufana namadoda futhi ngokuphambene nalokho ngoba bona
badlala ngezitezi ezahlukene zokuziphendukela kwemvelo. Zombili izindlela zokucabanga zavela
kudala lapho ubulili bunemisebenzi eyahlukene. Ima kancane
lokho kusho ukuthi uma sishintsha imisebenzi eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ezayo, abesifazane bebezokwenza
uthole ukucabanga okuseceleni futhi ngokuphambene nalokho? Noma ngabe sonke senze yonke imisebenzi,
singaba nezingqondo ezifanayo? Kuyadida kakhulu lokhu.
Okudida nakakhulu ukuphawula okulandelayo kukaFisher—“Kokubili [ukucabanga kwewebhu nokusemuva]
zisetshenziswa yibo bonke ubulili ngesikhathi esithile.” Kodwa akazange nje
uthi lokhu bekungenzeki? Uma kungenzeka, kusho ukuthini injongo yakhe
incwadi. Kungashiwo kanjani noma yini ewusizo nganoma yikuphi kwalokhu, kungasaphathwa isisekelo
yonke i-pop psych/isayensi mayelana nokuhluka kobulili okunquma kusengaphambili abesifazane
namadoda kuze kufike ezindimeni zawo ekuphileni?
Konke lokhu kusolakala ngendlela engakholakali, ingasaphathwa eyokuhlekisa, ikakhulukazi
lapho sithola ukuthi, njengoba kusho uFisher, esikhathini solwazi kanye nentsha
Isikhathi sokuhwebelana kwembulunga yonke kuyinzuzo enkulu ukuthola okuphelele
buka. Kodwa, linda, abesifazane banayo, amadoda awanayo, ngokusho kukaFisher. Uma singakwazi
bathole ubuchopho babo, bangayithola kanjani eyethu? Noma uphakamisa ukuthi lapho
ngeke abe khona amadoda ezweni lezinkampani zekhulu lama-21?
Okulandelayo sidlulela kwenye indlela yokucabanga ukuthi abesifazane bangcono: amathumbu noma
ukucabanga okunembile—angisoze ngaqagela. Lokhu kungachazwa ngu
omaka bobuchopho be-somatic abasisiza ukuthi senze izinqumo. Abesifazane bangase baqhubeke
lezi zimpawu zomzimba ziningi. (Yebo, ukushaywa nokudlwengulwa kungenza
uyazwela kulezo zinkomba zomzimba. Uxolo, uFisher akakhulumi ngokushaya
nokudlwengulwa, ngakho-ke aziyona ingxenye yokuhlolwa kobuchopho.)
Ingabe ujwayelene nedatha yokuhlanganisa (ukuhlela amaphethini abe amabhlogo we
ulwazi)? Phela, ubulili buhlanganisa izinhlobo ezahlukene zamaqiniso. Ibhola lezinyawo lamadoda
amaqiniso; abesifazane chunk ukufunda ubuso.
Abesifazane balithola kanjani leli khono lokuzizwisa ingqondo? UFisher uyasola esikutholile
ngenxa yezidingo zokhokho bethu. Ube esenikeza isibonelo sanamuhla:
UFisher wayehleli esitolo sekhofi esikhumulweni sezindiza elinde indiza.
Abesifazane ababili babekhuluma edokodweni ngemva kwakhe nengane ababehamba nayo
waqala ukukhala. Ingxoxo yabo yokuthi benzeni ngakho yayingathatha
beka eminyakeni eyisigidi edlule, kusho uFisher. Omunye wabo wathi, ngisanda kushintsha
yena; omunye wathi, Ngiyazi ukuthi akalambile. Ndawonye babuyekeze inqwaba
yezizathu, ukuzama ukujwayela indida yomuntu—umntwana.
Yebo, yilokho kuphela engizokusho.
Abahleli bebanga elide
Okulandelayo sifunda ukuthi abesifazane bangabahleli bebanga elide. Lokhu sikwazi ngocwaningo
ukuhlola amarekhodi okuhweba ngamasheya amaklayenti angu-35,000. Abacwaningi bathola
ukuthi amadoda ahweba ngamaphesenti angu-45 izikhathi eziningi kunabesifazane. Abesifazane abazange nje
bhala izindaba ngendlela amadoda enza ngayo. Abesifazane bafaka imali yabo emhlalaphansi
izinhlelo. Amakilabhu okutshalwa kwezimali kwabesifazane kuphela, ngendlela, abuyisela amaphesenti angama-21.3
ukuthengwa kwabo kwesitoko kuyilapho amadoda kuphela amaqembu ehola amaphesenti angu-15. Kusuka kule Fisher
unquma ukuthi abesifazane bangabahleli abangcono bebanga elide. Avume ngokuphasa
ukuthi izimo zenhlalo zingakuchaza, kodwa uthi kungase kuchazwe futhi
ngokwakhiwa kobuchopho bethu besifazane. UFisher uyabhala, “Ukuhlela isikhathi eside kuyinto
ngokungangabazeki inqubo yengqondo efakwe ku-prefrontal cortex ye-
ingqondo.”
Ibuphi ubufakazi abunikezayo? Ubala ingozi eyenzeka ngo-1848. UPhineas Gage,
ngenkathi esebenza, wathola induku esihlathini futhi waphuma ekhanda lakhe.
Ngenxa yalokho wavala amehlo esokunxele kodwa ngenye indlela ngokuphelele
abuyiselwe ngokomzimba. Kodwa ubuntu bakhe bushintshile busuka ekubeni ngumuntu onokuthula, onekhono,
onobuhlakani, umholi womsebenzi onomfutho esikhumbeni esingaguquki—esingakwazi ukuthwala
izinqumo ezithatha isikhathi eside. Lokhu kuhlobene kanjani nesikhungo sabesifazane
ukuhlela okude, angikwazi ukukuqonda kahle, ngoba uPhineas wayengumfana namajaha
abakwazi ukulahlekelwa amandla okwenza lokho uFisher athi abanakho ekuqaleni
indawo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uma leli khono lifakwe kuwo wonke ama-prefrontal cortex,
kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi amadoda angabi nayo?
Abesifazane, kubonakala sengathi, bayivumelanise nomlando ojulile. Yebo. Emuva madoda
kwadingeka bacabange ngemicimbi yanyanga zonke kodwa abesifazane kwadingeka bacabange amashumi eminyaka ngaphambili
bacabangele ikusasa lezingane zabo. UFisher ube esecaphuna uGeorge Bush, kubo bonke
abantu, ukuqinisekisa ukuthi lokhu kufanele kube yiqiniso: “Abesifazane bahle embonweni
into.” Futhi, ngokumangalisayo, “Ngethalente labo lemvelo lokucabanga ngewebhu, ngokwengqondo
ukuguquguquka, ukuqonda, nombono webanga elide,” kusho uFisher
uguqule umhlaba webhizinisi.
I-Estrogen
Abesilisa, uFisher uyagomela, ahlobanise amandla nesikhundla kanye nesimo, abesifazane bayakubona
njengenethiwekhi yokuxhumana okubalulekile kwabantu. Ukulwela isikhundla kwamadoda kuhambisana
nge-awusoze waqagela-testosterone. Ukunambitheka kwabesifazane kumanethiwekhi abantu
ihlotshaniswa ne-hormone yesifazane i-estrogen. Abesifazane, uFisher uthi, umusa
ukubambisana ngokuncintisana, ukusebenzelana nokwabelana ngesimo nokuzimela.
Lezi zici zivela ebuntwaneni. Ekilasini amantombazane anesizotha,
abafana banomsindo; amantombazane ahlale alinde ukubizwa; abafana bayakhohlisa, bayamemeza
khipha izimpendulo, futhi ufuna ikhredithi. Abafana badlala impi; amantombazane afune ihlombe futhi
ukuthandwa - ukuthandwa.
Sazi kanjani? Isifundo sabafundi bebanga lesi-8 ezikoleni ezimbili eCalifornia
ekuqaleni kwawo-1990 isinika impendulo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ikilasi noma uhlanga noma
isizinda somndeni bathola ukuthi “abafana babengabafana namantombazane kungamantombazane.”
Lo mehluko wobulili uyabonakala nasemhlabeni webhizinisi, kusho
Fisher. Ehhovisi, abesifazane babelana futhi bahlanganisa, badumise, baphakamise
esikhundleni soku-oda, yiba nesimo sengqondo sokuwina, sebenzisa imali encane ohambweni lwebhizinisi,
futhi bathembeke kakhulu. Amadoda adlalela ukuwina, afune iziqu nezinga, nokuqongelela
ulwazi. (Ima, akubona onobhala abagcina ulwazi. Ingabe kukhona
kwalokhu, ngokwezinga okuyiqiniso, kuhlobene nezindima zabantu
gcwalisa? Cha, kufanele kube umlando ojulile.)
Impela ngiyazibuza ngiyazibuza ukuthi kungani amadoda eshayela lolu hlelo. Uma
omunye wamukela ithisisi kaFisher, yingoba banezici ezinyanyekayo kakhulu
njalo. Kodwa ukuthi uthola kanjani emlandweni ojulile kanye nemisebenzi ethile yamadoda
ezindaweni ezinotshani zase-Afrika ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka edlule ukuthi “abafana bamemeza izimpendulo, madoda
gcina ulwazi" Angitholi neze. Ingabe ukhona?
Noma kunjalo, kubonakala sengathi phakathi kwezimfene, izimfene eziyiduna azivamile ukuba zilingane
amabandla, amatasa ngezikhundla. Ama-primates wesifazane nawo azilinganisa,
kodwa inokhiye ocashile futhi ozinzile futhi ophansi. (Kunjani lokhu kulingana?)
Kulokhu uFisher angasho ukuthi ukushayela kwendoda yesimanje isikhundla kuvela emlandweni wangaphambili
izikhathi. “Kulula ukubona ukuthi kungani amadoda ebheka isikhundla, isikhundla, imali, iziqu kanye
indawo yehhovisi njengamandla”—ngoba lezi zici ziheha abesifazane. Yebo, ngiyavuma,
uma umfana ene…ihhovisi elikhulu, ngiyamfuna.
Ugqozi lwabesifazane lokuxhuma kumawebhu okuxhumana nabantu luvela esikhathini esidlule,
futhi. Ngoba abesifazane bokhokho ababezakhela abangani babebancane futhi babe nokufinyelela
ekudleni nasekuvikelekeni okwengeziwe. (Ukusinda ngokubambisana? Kuyini lokhu?) Fisher
iphinde iqagele ukuthi i-proclivity yesifazane yokuxhumana okuvumelanayo kanye
amaqembu alinganayo ahlotshaniswa nama-estrogens njengoba isifiso sikhula
ekuthombeni (kuyakhula?) futhi kuyehla ekunqamukeni kokuya esikhathini (ini?) Qhubeka, uyakwenza lokho
kusho ukuthi abesifazane abangaphambi kokuthomba nangemuva kokuya esikhathini abanayo indawo entsha
umphakathi wembulunga yonke?
Ngokufanayo, i-testosterone ifaka izintambo ebuchosheni bowesilisa ukushayela isikhundla. Ezifundweni
eCity College yaseNew York, sitshelwa ukuthi bajove i-testosterone
ibe inhlanzi ye-swordtail yase-Mexico ethenwe, kanye nabesifazane abasezingeni eliphansi
okungebona abantu kanye nalezi zidalwa zonke zithuthuke esikhundleni esiphakeme ngenxa yalokho.
Futhi, ocwaningweni lwabesifazane abachayeka emazingeni aphezulu e-testosterone
esibelethweni, mancane amathuba okuthi bashade, banezingane ezimbalwa, zabo
imisebenzi ibaluleke kakhulu kunomndeni, futhi baphishekela imisebenzi
isimo esiphezulu.
Sengikushilo lokhu, uFisher wabe esethi imvelo ayihlelekile futhi ikhona
akukho ukuxhumana okulula phakathi kwama-hormone nokuziphatha. Kanjani okunye ukuchaza lokho
amadoda angochwepheshe “anezinga eliphansi lamahomoni wesilisa kunezisebenzi zekhola eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka
namadoda angasebenzi?” Ngendlela efanayo, uFisher uthi, abesifazane abasebhizinisini
umhlaba ubambe amagqubu futhi ujwayele ukugwazwa ngemuva. (Ngakho-ke akukho kulokhu ayikho
kade usho noma yini?)
UFisher uyabuza, Kungani abesifazane bengakafinyeleli ukulingana emhlabeni wezinkampani?
Ngokusobala akanandaba nokulingana emhlabeni ongewona wezinkampani, noma
ingabe ubheka ukuthi “izici zokuzalwa” zabesifazane (noma ezabesilisa) zingase ziphikisane
ezweni lezinkampani, futhi ngaleyo ndlela umhlaba wezinkampani kufanele ulume uthuli.
Akubonayo uFisher ukuthi umhlaba wezinkampani usuqala ukuhlela kabusha
ngokwayo kangangokuthi manje idinga izici ezikhethekile zabesifazane-hhayi njengama-peons cishe,
kodwa njengoba...anginaso isiqiniseko.
UFisher unikeza izibalo ezilandelayo: Ngo-1900, amadoda ayephethe amaphesenti angu-75
imisebenzi yobufundisi; ngo-1990 abesifazane benza amaphesenti angu-68 amakhompyutha nokwaziswa
ukucubungula imisebenzi kanye namaphesenti angama-79 azo zonke izinsiza zonobhala nezokuphatha.
Cishe amaphesenti angama-98 onobhala kanye namaphesenti angaphezu kwama-90 omabhalane, ukufakwa kwedatha
okhiye, abagcini bamabhuku, ama-stenographer, nabamukela ukwamukela abantu ngabesifazane; Amaphesenti angama-80
kubo bonke omabhalane abakhokhayo, omabhalane bamafayela, omabhalane abaholayo, kanye namabhalane olwazi
abesifazane; Amaphesenti angama-40 abaphathi abaphakathi ngabesifazane.
Kodwa amaphesenti angama-95 abaphathi bezinga eliphezulu be-Fortune 1000 kanye ne-Fortune 500
izinkampani ngamadoda; kanye nabahola kakhulu aba-5 ku-Fortune 500 ngayinye
izinkampani amaphesenti amabili ngabesifazane.
UFisher uthi ukucwasa kungesinye sezizathu ezenza abesifazane babe
hhayi ama-CEO. Usola ukuthi kunento ephilayo. I-testosterone iyasiza
ekushayeleni amadoda ukuya phezulu (nakuba amadoda angochwepheshe, njengoba kushiwo ngenhla,
babe namazinga aphansi wezinto) futhi i-estrogen inomthelela ekushayeleni kwabesifazane
ukuze bazinike isikhathi sokukhulisa izingane zabo, ngaleyo ndlela bathuntubeze ikhono labo
ukuzuza isikhundla esiphezulu (okungenani emnothweni ojezisa umphakathi).
UFisher ucaphuna ngo-1989 NYT ucwaningo lwamalungelo obunikazi asebenzayo ayi-1,497 athole ukuthi angama-83
amaphesenti omama abasebenzayo kanye namaphesenti angu-72 obaba abasebenzayo badatshulwe yi-
ukungqubuzana phakathi komsebenzi nokuphila komkhaya—kodwa abesifazane abaningi kakhulu kunalokho okwakucatshangwa amadoda
umsebenzi wabo wawuwukuzidela okukhulu, kangangokuthi kwakungafaneleki. (Asibone:
ukukhulisa izingane noma ukhiye wokufaka idatha? Kuyikholi enzima.)
Kodwa qagelani? Kube nezinxushunxushu zenhlangano ebhizinisini laseMelika
kangangokuthi izinkampani manje zidinga ubuholi obuncane kanye nethimba elihlukaniswe kakhulu
izakhiwo. Umhlaziyi webhizinisi, uSally Helgeson, uthi, “Inhlangano ekhulayo
izoba phakathi nendawo ezungezile enezipika eziphuma kumayunithi asathelayithi.
Umphathi ngamunye uzoba phakathi kombuthano wabasebenzi, nezikhulumi
yokuxhumana okuqondile okuphumela emibuthanweni eyengeziwe yabasebenzi—a
i-spider web noma isondo elikhulu lenhlanhla…. ”
Manje ngiyamangala ukuthi kanjani amadoda aphezulu emhlabeni wezinkampani, ngamabomu
ukucabanga kwangemuva kanye ne-testosterone, kungaqhamuka “nokulingana okwengeziwe
ithimba” indlela? (Mhlawumbe ngoba akunjalo?) Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi amadoda azokwenza
babe omabhalane futhi abesifazane bayoba ama-CEO emhlabeni omusha wezinkampani? Kodwa uma abesifazane
bayalingana, kungani befuna ukuba ubulili bokuqala enkampanini
umhlaba esiwuhlele kabusha ukuze ulingane? Ngiyabuza futhi
yini engenzeka uma kungaba khona enye “isiphithiphithi senhlangano” esiphumela
esakhiweni esifanayo sobushiqela esinaso manje?
Ingabe abesifazane baphumile futhi?
Yebo, njengakho konke okunye okukule ncwadi, akukho lutho okufanele lube nengqondo
noma zisekelwe eqinisweni noma encazelweni enembile yomhlaba. Iziqinisekiso
mayelana nokuziphatha kobulili kungathathwa njengeqiniso ngisho nalapho kuphikisana
noma kubalulwe engxenyeni engezansi yobulili okukhulunywa ngabo noma obuphethwe omunye
ubulili kanye noma ngokusobala abanalutho.
Ngisho noma noma iyiphi yayo yayinesisekelo eqinisweni, isho ukuthini ngempela
abantu bachitha kanjani impilo yabo? Ingabe inezici ezithile ezisuselwe kumahomoni
kanye nokwakheka kwe-prefrontal cortex yethu kusho ukuthi akufanele sifise ukufeza
izinto ezithile? Vele akunjalo.
Into ecasulayo ngempela ukuthi, ngaphandle kokungahambisani, nje
amanga asobala, ucwaningo oluyi-crummy, nezinto eziphilayo, izincwadi ezifana ne-Fisher's kanye ne-Hales'
zithathwa serious by the I-NYT, izicelo zabo aziphikiswa. Futhi, "ngiyasola"
ukuthi iningi labantu base-U.S. linohlobo oluthile lwalo “mehluko,”
“Amadoda avela kuMars, abesifazane bavela eVenus,” “akuyona ingcindezelo yobulili,
ukuhluka kwamasiko nje kuphela” kwezombangazwe—ngisho nabantu abaningi abakucabangelayo
ngokwabo abantu besifazane bayayithenga futhi bafake isandla ezincwadini ezikuyo.
Kimina, kuyinto ecindezela kakhulu ukuvela njengoba abesifazane beyimpahla.
Kuyasinciphisa, futhi, kubhayoloji yethu, futhi ithi lokhu kuyinto enhle
ngoba ngemva kwezinkulungwane zeminyaka yomlando wanamuhla, sithola ukuba nencane
indawo ezweni lebhizinisi abaningi bethu abafuni lutho ngalo
indawo yokuqala. Isetshenziselwa ukusikhawulela, ukusivala, ukusithumela ukuklabalasa
ukuchitha izinsuku zethu sizama ukuba izidalwa zabesifazane abanye "ochwepheshe"
basichazile ukuthi sibe. Kuyini ukuchaza nokwehlukanisa abantu besifazane
amadoda anento yokwenza nenkululeko? Kungani ukwenza? Izimpendulo ezithanda izinto ezibonakalayo zingase
zihlanganisa: iyathengisa, yenza inkatho yenzuzo yezinkampani zabezindaba kanye
izimboni zemfashini, zithola abasebenzi besifazane emsebenzini abangaba
ikhokhwe kancane, njll.
Enye impendulo iwukuthi ihlanganisa noma yikuphi ukuvukela kwabesifazane okwenzekayo.
Lapho abalwela amalungelo abesifazane sebehlele futhi balwela amalungelo abo kanye nenkululeko
(futhi bawina izinguquko ezithile), abakwenzanga ngokufuna ukuba amantombazane abe amantombazane
nabafana babe abafana. Kodwa ngemva kwawo wonke amagagasi alwela amalungelo abantu besifazane, ukusabela kuye kwaba njalo
okufanayo: kungcono uhlehle futhi uqale ukuziphatha (okungukuthi, ukuba
abesifazane abahle abanazo zonke lezo zici ezikhangayo "ozizuze njengefa" nalokho
nesandla ekubeni omama abahle kangaka, abakhathalela wonke umuntu
ukuphila kahle kodwa okwakho, okuhambisana namandla nokwenza izinqumo).
Kuyasiza futhi ukufihla noma yimuphi umqondo wokucindezelwa okuhleliwe nesigaba
kanye nelungelo lobuhlanga. Lihumusha umzabalazo wenkululeko, umzabalazo
lokho kuhilela izimiso nemigomo kanye nokuhlaziywa kwe-patriarchy, kwezinye
umbono ongacacile wezinketho ezingenawo umsuka wepolitiki oqhubekayo
konke: njengalokhu, ukukhululeka kusho ukuthi ungakhetha phakathi kokuba yisisebenzi (iholo
isigqila) noma unkosikazi nomama (umlingani wasekhaya/inceku). Uma umuhle
amantombazane amancane, okungukuthi, ukwabelana namalungu eqembu, avala umlomo mayelana ne-patriarchy
kanye nokuhlukunyezwa nokucindezelwa, sizobe sesinivumela ukuba nibe omabhalane besikhathi esigcwele,
ukuthola imali eyanele ukuthenga i-lipstick eguqukayo enezinketho eziningi
yemibala. Sidinga i-lipstick funa umuntu akhohlwe ukuthi singabesifazane
ngobuchopho besifazane kanye naleyo hormone yowesifazane i-estrogen egijima phakathi kwethu
imizimba.
Okokugcina, kudinga ukuba sichithe isikhathi esiningi senza lokho okufanele kusithathe
ngaphansi kwamasekhondi angu-37.7 ukwenza. Okusho ukuthi, kufanele siqhubeke siphenya ekujuleni kwethu
umlando, amahomoni ethu, amaqanda ethu, igazi lethu lokuya esikhathini, ngisho nobuchopho bethu
ukuze kutholwe izizathu zokuthi kungani abesifazane kufanele baphathwe njengabantu, abafanele
yempilo ehloniphekile kule planethi, futhi ayikho enye.
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