Femininity and Feminism in Tango (II)

When the two sexes tango together, something mysterious happens: feelings, attraction, chemistry, romanticism, synergy, etc. The gratification of tango arises from the fact that it is danced by a man and a woman. The man leads the woman, enabling her feminine beauty to be fully expressed. The woman surrenders to the man, follows his lead, and uses her femininity to allure, comfort, and reward him. The two sexes support and complement each other, making each to shine brighter in the other’s company.

Some people argue that any gender can play the opposite gender role just as well if given the chance, which I doubt (see comment). Men are not good at playing the feminine role, not because they are not allowed, but because they are inherently masculine. A man does not possess a woman's soft, light, and flexible body, nor does he share her psyche, which has evolved due to women's reproductive nature and their intrinsic need for beauty (to attract males), affection, and security. These traits influence how women dance. Conversely, women do not have the build and strength of men, nor do they possess the male psyche shaped by men’s hunting nature and their instinctual drive for initiative, control, and protection of loved ones. If men and women were naturally suited to opposite roles, tango would have evolved differently.

Near my house, a female goose is hatching under a tree, while a male goose guards nearby, ensuring the female remains undisturbed. When passing that tree, I have to make a detour because the male goose does not allow me to get close; he is highly protective of his partner. Could the male hatch and the female guard? Perhaps, but that arrangement would not feel as natural or fitting. Masculinity and femininity are characteristics of the sexes, essential to the species’ well-being. The male is typically strong, assertive, protective, and aggressive—a good father and guardian, if you will. The female is typically soft, attractive, submissive, and affectionate—a good mother and caregiver, if you will. These characteristics enable the sexes to attract each other and form sustainable relationships beneficial for offspring. People often fail to appreciate the workings of nature and strive to alter them. However, what is natural stems from millions of years of evolution and is, as a result, the most optimal and effective way. Interfering with nature often leads to disastrous consequences, such as climate change, environmental catastrophes, mysterious diseases, sterility, birth defects, the disruption of the natural order between the sexes, and the decline of the family and its value system, etc. (see Tango and Gender Issues). Those who believe they are smarter than nature or God are harming us all with their ignorant interference with nature.

Good human values are based on what benefits humanity rather than an individual person or gender. The problem with individualism and feminism lies in their narrowed perspectives, focusing on one person or sex. Consequently, they confuse the good with the evil and the beautiful with the ugly. Greed is ugly, yet it is justified as the pursuit of happiness. Selfishness is ugly, yet it is beautified as asserting one's rights. Arrogance is ugly, yet it is prettified as self-confidence. Masculinity is admirable, yet it is vilified as sexism. Femininity is attractive, yet it is denigrated as female weakness, etc. Such ideologies challenge the traditional way tango is danced, labeling it male dominance and gender inequality (see Tango and Gender Equality). They propose dancing tango in a way that eliminates differentiation between sexes: men do not lead but only suggest (see Three Theories on Leading), women do not surrender but remain independent, may initiate steps or interrupt men, tango embrace is being replaced with an open dance hold to allow more individuality and autonomy, and role swaps and same-sex partnerships are encouraged. As a result, tango is transformed to something that is no longer tango.

Tango embodies the idea that men and women are interdependent rather than independent, that masculinity and femininity complement each other rather than create inequality, that being a masculine male and a feminine female is attractive, beneficial, and desirable, that harmony between genders is achieved through mutual respect, submission, accommodation, and cooperation—not antagonism, animosity, confrontation, or power struggles, and that love triumphs over hostility. While individualism and feminism emphasize individuality and independence, tango focuses on the the oneness and harmony of their union. It calls for friendliness, submission, humility, adaptability, cooperation, agreeableness, and yielding. Tango demonstrates that the sexes can form a harmonious relationship by embracing these values. Despite the challenges tango faces in the West, it continues to positively influence lives. Without adopting these values, we cannot fully enjoy either the dance or the relationship between sexes (see Tango and Gender Interdependence).