Women comprise 50% of the world’s population, yet lead only about 15% of all countries. We see the same discrepancy in our daily news when elected officials gather; at best, there might be a sprinkling of women at the table. The same holds true for organizations worldwide—most are led by men.

So, women, what’s up with that?

We can certainly point to external forces such as sexism and misogyny as significant impediments to both women’s political and economic parity. Here at RISE, we also look at our internal world, knowing that is how we best impact the external world.

So let’s take a look first at what women bring to the office and governing body:

• Women doctors have better outcomes: patients have better outcomes and are more likely to leave the hospital alive and not return.

• Women legislators legislate more and bring more money back to their districts.

• Women CEOS have higher profitability.

• Peace accords last longer when women are at the table and are more tightly adhered to.

We know that women make a profound difference everywhere—in the family, the community, the sports arena, the doctor’s office, the boardroom, and the government. Yet there is still much pushback regarding female leadership—particularly at the helm. Why does this persist with all the contributions women make, as well as professional and accomplished women today and in centuries past?

That is a complex question, and here are a couple of things to consider.

Marianne Williamson said: “Men major in masculine energy and minor in feminine energy, and women major in feminine energy and minor in masculine energy.”

We all, regardless of gender, have both masculine and feminine energy. The imbalance of the two is where our challenges arise, personally and collectively.

Masculine energy is characterized by self-confidence, decisiveness, and the ability to set goals and achieve them. Feminine energy is characterized by intuition, empathy, receiving, inspiration, and creativity. Who doesn’t want a mix of all of that?

Because we have more male leaders who major in masculinity and minor in femininity, we live in a world that reflects more of the major than the minor. Thus, we are prone to conflict, greed, war, violence, and poverty one generation after another rather than a world that reflects the very best we can be.

This is not about fault. We are all part of the ‘problem’ here because we continue to ascribe to the imbalance. It will drive you crazy if you think about it too much. Best to focus on the solution!

What gets in the way of balancing our feminine and masculine energy?

Gender identifies! One for girls and one for boys, two social constructs that perpetuate this imbalance within us and favor one over the other. Gender identities are not real. They are inventions that do not serve us well.

The male identity is primarily defined by domination, power, and control. That’s the end game. Above all else, being a man means dominating, exerting power, controlling, and avoiding anything feminine or risk being called weak or unmanly. In other words, limit your feelings, don’t feel or express them, and limit empathy and intuition, all key to a deeply fulfilling life.

The female identity is the other side of the damaged coin, instructing her to be confident but not too confident, successful but not too successful, and a boss but not bossy. And particularly not more confident and not more successful than the man in her life. This is limiting and oppressive.

Both identities come at the expense of the other. In other words, it’s a losing proposition for us all.

We all desire to learn, grow, accomplish, share our gifts and passions, live our purpose, and succeed. A single human identity that balances our feminine and masculine energy, based on love, care, and compassion, supports the complete human being.

So, women of the world, it is time to Woman Up! We are drowning in bro talk or, at minimum, immersed in it so that it becomes our norm to be excluded and referred to as guys, to study and learn history that, for the most part, does not include us, to change our names to his upon marriage, to honor and celebrate mostly men, see men as our best leaders, and who we study for medical advancements. It impacts just about every aspect of our lives.

Let’s not let it continue another generation. It’s time to fully embrace what you bring to the party, the boardroom, and the peace table.

Here are three ways to Woman Up:

1. Let that gender identity nonsense go. Only you can define who you are, what you value, your goals and purpose, and how you will achieve them. You are here in this world to be your very best, whatever you determine that to be. That is your purpose—not to subordinate yourself to anything or anyone. Let what society has forced on you (women and men), according to your body parts, go. It’s nonsense!

2. Increase your self-awareness and self-compassion ongoing. Learn to consult your heart and let it be your guide, not a human construct that limits rather than expands your individualism, potential, and promise. Heart qualities such as care, love, appreciation, compassion, and kindness are the most potent forces available to you. Heart qualities like compassion are also fierce and unifying. Because the heart sends more signals to the brain, start there!

And if you panic, feel anxious, afraid, or not good enough, returning to your heart (as you’re in head-brain territory alone) will lift you up and get you back on track.

3. Surround yourself with people living what you want more of. We become who we surround ourselves with. Ask questions, be curious, listen, and learn. Read and study more. Ask the Universe for support. Demand it, in fact! The Universe always has your back. Be certain of it, and you will bring more clarity and certainty to your life.

And know that there are now plenty of men out there who will support you or at least not get in your way. Men are coming to enjoy their lives more as they expand beyond pre-defined gender roles, make deeper connections, focus on more than work and money, share the load equally with their partners, and live more fulfilling lives.

A recent Forbes article said this about women: “They’re (women) great at collaboration, they’re capital efficient, they’re emotionally intelligent, they're multidimensional, they care.

When you, women, retreat from all you can be, the world loses all that. So no more! And men, when you support women in realizing their full potential, you reap the benefits of a more peaceful, capital-efficient, and kind world. So get on board. We want you with us along for the ride.

Instead of a lose-lose, let’s make it a win-win. Because when women and men rise, we take the whole world with us.