Equality…sameness…it’s all a bit confusing. In an age where every woman has to be seen to want equality, it would take someone with immense courage to say ‘Actually, I am not so sure after all if this equality thing works for me!’

Say it, and you may find yourself persecuted by the League of Very Noisy Feminists who blame you for single-handedly sabotaging the achievements of a generation! Well, I can only speak for myself of course, but suspect that I am not the only one voicing doubts as to what women (all women?) really want.

When we talk ‘equality’ I take it as a given that women and men have equal value. That is not up for discussion and I don’t believe any woman anywhere, even if she wears a burka, wants to feel she is somehow worth less than a man.

First of all, whatever restrictions culture places upon woman (i.e. having to cover up) has nothing to do with equality as such. It is to my mind entirely possible to feel equal to any man while following cultural traditions.

Primarily, equality is about self worth and respect (from men as well); secondarily it is about rights. Of course a woman should get paid the same money for doing the same job as a man. Of course women should be able to hold positions which were traditionally men’s jobs, if they so choose. Men should be able to stay at home with the children if that is what works for the family unit. Equality of choice…absolutely!

But…I also think there are a lot of women out there who appreciate certain inequalities and differences. As it happens, my husband has a job mostly associated with females. I work in an office because housework doesn’t pay any money. However, I find the image of a man going out hunting for food every day very appealing! He would come home sweaty and hungry with his fellow hunters and would look forward to some pampering and food.

There, I said it! I think attempting to iron out all differences and denying certain aspects of nature which affect (mostly) women will eventually backfire. This has nothing to do with being old-fashioned or being opposed to ‘progress’. It simply means appreciating that there are two sexes in this world who have a different physiology, who evolution has primed to perform different tasks, and whose differences - actually! - are a basis for attraction to each other.

There are, after all, two ‘opposite’ sexes. Each valuable in their own right, but not the same. And any man out there who is not sure if he should offer me his seat on the bus…I’ll appreciate it!