BLOG TAKE-OVER BY MY WIFE! ??

Voor Nederlands https://www.tribes.world/nl/blog/blog-take-over-by-my-wife

I am a mother, a woman, a daughter and a sister. I am a leader.

After two wonderful weeks of vacation, during which my husband has indeed been 100% offline, it's time for him to go back to the office. He was looking forward to it, especially because he is going to announce a new tribe this week. As his wife I recognize his enthusiasm when he has another special story to tell, but this time the revealing is not up to him, but to me. Because at the newest Tribes location in the National Monument Raamplein 1, comes a tribe that is completely focused on women: the Mosuo!

The Mosuo have lived for centuries on the shores of Lake Lugu, which borders the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. It is a great culture, and also known as the 'Kingdom of Women'. Women are the head of the family, and their power and strength are shown in different ways. The focus of a Mosuo woman is not only on caring for the children and domestic work, but on making the important decisions for the family as well. There are no traditional marriages, a woman is free to choose with which man they want to be, for how long and how often. However, husband and wife never share the same home, and inheritance is through the female line. In general, women are approached with more respect than men in the Mosuo society.

Western standards would call this a non-traditional division of roles, but I think it is finally the right division of roles. Because let's be honest: where would men be without us women? We have been looking after them for centuries, and now we really know how to multitask. The traditional division of roles already originated in the prehistoric times, when men were still hunting animals and women were collecting fruit and vegetables. Of course, it was much easier to carry a baby on your arm while picking apples from a tree than when you were hunting a lion. Us women learned to multitask centuries ago, and today we use that power to combine full-time jobs with the life of our family.

Women can make each other feel that we have to work to be part of society. The fact that we can work full-time as women is a good development, but not having a career outside the door does not mean, of course, that you are not part of society... After having had a full-time job for a number of years that I enjoyed, our first child was on its way. I was facing an important decision, and my family and husband encouraged me to follow my dreams.

I chose to become a mother. A profession I am proud of, a career that will give me the most satisfaction. I raise my children, I make our home a home, and I support my entrepreneurial husband. When my husband returned from his trip to the Mosuo in February, he gave me the biggest compliment. He told me that I am a 'real Mosuo woman'.

I am a mother, a woman, a daughter and a sister. I am a leader.

And there is nothing more beautiful than that this tribe will be central in the Raamplein 1 National Monument as a tribute to the woman. A place to work, to get inspiration and to meet like-minded. For entrepreneurs, women and mothers!  

Author:

Véronique Schaepman

Wife of Chief & Founder Eduard Schaepman