The Balance of Power

I am of the opinion that women do not have power in what I will call the administration of relationships. Yes, we have the power to terminate relationships. But I don't feel we have the power to initiate.

My friend the Kayaker will not initiate anything on Match. He waits until a woman communicates with him, and then he decides whether he wants to return the communication or not. In that manner he protects himself from the sense of rejection of receiving no response to his winks or e-mails.

I can say what I want. I can think I know what I want in a relationship, but I have no ability to make that happen. I make my desires known and then must sit back and ride in the boat while someone else paddles.

As I think about this, I'm curious if there are women — younger women, more assertive women — who feel they have power or control in relationships. Is this a Southern thing? A born-in-the middle-of-the-century thing? I'd love to hear from ten women of all different ages and religious backgrounds and geographic orientations that say either I'm right or I'm wrong.

It's a curiosity.