Male/Female Relationships

Dancing has always been a fascinating metaphor for me of male/female relationships. In American secular society, male headship doesn't seem to be embraced. But those same secular people embrace this natural order in partner dancing -- without realizing it, I think. Partner-led dancing is impossible without it. I often wonder if the natural law involved in partner dancing is entirely analogous to relationships.

In a relationship, I would hate to be passive - I want to add something; I want my ideas to matter and be mixed in; I want to play a vital and indispensable role. In dancing, the woman is anything but passive; she is moving and very active. In fact, she is the "keeper of momentum."

But it's the man who starts the momentum. And guess how much leading she does? ZERO. I've always been amazed at that. She initiates NOTHING. Except her own styling. She can do plenty of her own special moves, even go into the splits without him leading that -- but all within the framework that he provides. And she NEVER LEADS. None of her moves directly influence his moves.

This is where I wonder if the analogy still applies. In a perfect male/female relationship, does the woman really always only follow (and do her own thing within the framework)? Does she never initiate anything?