Lysistrata in Today’s Context
The Power of Women and the Androcentric Power Structure
Dr. Alissa Gardenhire
September 26, 2024
In Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, we witness a group of women, frustrated by the ongoing Peloponnesian War, using their collective power to bring about peace by withholding sex from their husbands. While this comedic play was written in 411 BCE, its message still resonates today: women’s power is real, and it’s time we stop allowing society to erase or devalue it.
Understanding Our Power
Women have always been the bedrock of society’s maintenance—holding families, communities, and economies together—yet history consistently undervalues our contributions. This fallacious devaluation of women is not accidental. It’s part of a deliberate, deeply ingrained system that stretches back to early Christianity and beyond.
Take, for example, how the women in Lysistrata are portrayed: though they ultimately succeed in their mission, they are still depicted as “lusty and vain”—reinforcing the stereotype that women’s worth is tied to their bodies or sexuality. Such portrayals exist to undermine our power and diminish our impact.
This portrayal persists today. Women are often cast as overly emotional or irrational, while men are positioned as natural leaders. But the truth is, women have always held immense power. From early Christianity, where men felt threatened by women’s influence, to modern androcentric systems, the undermining of women’s value has been systematic and purposeful.
The Power Structure and Women’s Role in It
We contribute to maintaining androcentric power structures by not fully flexing our collective power. Whether at work, at home, or in society at large, women are often hesitant to assert themselves. This hesitation is reinforced by societal norms that tell us we are worth less than men. But as Lysistrata shows us, when women stand together and refuse to play along, the system begins to crumble.
Androcentric power often relies on violence or the threat of violence to maintain control. Historically, men have wielded this form of power to enforce dominance, but it’s a flawed model of leadership. Real power lies in the contributions that sustain life—those made by women in caregiving, domestic roles, and now, in leadership roles across sectors. Yet the current system doesn’t value this power because it doesn’t align with the male-dominated framework that prioritizes force and control over collaboration and nurture.
We see this in the rise of movements like incel culture, where men believe they are entitled to women’s bodies and lash out when they don’t get what they feel is “rightfully” theirs. This toxic mentality isn’t limited to fringe groups; it shows up in mainstream politics and culture, with some leaders reducing women’s worth to their reproductive capabilities and implying that our bodies are public property. Our society continually tells us that our bodies, work, and contributions are not our own.
But here’s the truth: the system only works when we play along. When women comply, we perpetuate the structures that diminish us. The moment we reclaim our value and stop playing along, that system begins to lose its power. Creative resistance, like the actions taken by Lysistrata and her companions, can topple even the most entrenched power structures.
The Centered Leadership Framework: A Path to Reclaiming Power
So how do we move forward? At Leadership Centered, we apply a leadership framework that helps women reclaim their power, dismantle gender discrimination, and create a more just and equitable world:
Inquiry: Start by exploring the root causes of gender inequality. Why have women been portrayed negatively throughout history? Understanding the origins of this discrimination helps us to challenge it. Much of it ties back to early Christian rhetoric and male-dominated power structures.
Intention: We must collectively intend better for ourselves and for future generations. Women must envision a future where we are valued for our contributions, respected for our power, and given equal opportunities to lead. This intention must extend beyond ourselves to how we engage with society—our leadership is crucial for creating balance.
Imagination: It’s not enough to want change; we must actively imagine it. Just as the women in Lysistrataenvisioned a world without war, we must spend time visioning a more equitable world where women’s bodies, minds, and contributions are fully respected and valued.
Impact: Finally, we must act. Whether through creative resistance like the women in Lysistrata or through collective action like the Women’s Strikes in Iceland, where women stopped all work (both paid and unpaid) to demonstrate their value, our goal is to impact societal change.
Reclaiming Our Power
While Lysistrata is a comedy, its message about the power of women is serious and relevant today. We are powerful. Our bodies, work, and voices are our own—and when we collectively recognize and assert this, we become unstoppable.
At Leadership Centered, I work with women to help them reclaim their power in leadership, business, and life. Through UnBias Yourself, I also engage traditionally privileged leaders in the conversation, showing how gender equity benefits everyone. Gender discrimination is not just a women’s issue; it’s a societal issue that requires collective action.
It’s time for us to reclaim our power, assert our value, and build a world where women’s contributions are fully recognized. The shift begins with us, but we must also engage men in this process. Together, we can dismantle the systems that hold us back.
#LysistrataToday #WomensPower #GenderEquity #CenteredLeadership #ReclaimOurPower #CollectiveAction #Feminism #UnBiasYourself