Teachers, spouses, bosses and governments, try and fail time and time again to protect us, to teach us, to guide us, and they will continue to fail because looking up to parent figures emphasizes something in the human consciousness that is incomplete, and therefore unnatural. It emphasizes hierarchy as an organizational principle.
Hierarchy allows people to have authority and position over the lives of others. Eventually hierarchical power structures are internalized, essentially giving those in power, authority and position over the self-identity of those who are not. In a top down society this principle effectively centralizes approval seeking as the primary source of personal fulfillment for those below. And everyone, is below someone.
An easy way to justify this disequilibrium is by taking on the role of someones surrogate mother or father. Insuring the power dynamics in a way that most people understand and accept at a level that permeates deeply into the unconsciousness mind.

On the surface we have a systems that seams to be based on merit and achievement. However In such a structure you have to ask yourself, who is it that judges merit? Who is setting the standards for achievement? On closer observation one may notice that success is not based on skill or talent in many professional and educational environments. It is based on winning the approval of an artificially, and usually self-appointed parent figure. This person now has the power to motivate or manipulate at will. Approval seeking tends to ooze into a persons relationship with their character. Allowing an authority figure’s reach to extend not only to qualifying and individuals work, but their worth as well. Good work good person, bad work bad girl.
Yes this dynamic tends to negatively affect women significantly more that it does men. Studies have shown that women are far more likely to treat communities outside of the home like that of a traditional family. Giving more of their time, effort and loyalty to these endeavors than their male counterparts. Why? Because although hierarchy can be viewed through a matriarchal lens, In most cases it is driven by patriarchy, making  daughters of every woman serving under it.

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