It's not a completely unfamiliar concept to her, the idea that in some cultures women can have just as much social power as men. Before coming to live on Earth, she had always heard that such a thing was a mark of an uncivilized society, that it was the will of Rayetso that men should lead and women should serve. A proper Castithan man is one who has his wife firmly under his thumb. The humans, on the other hand, seem to feel differently, though she's given to understand they've had their own struggles over proper roles for each gender.
The idea that women lead by default, though — that is a little new to her, and the surprised flicker of her lashes as she glances back up to his face may give that away. Immediately afterward, Stahma wonders if she's shown him too much, if the frustration she feels at her people's traditional strictures is too obvious, that he felt the need to point out that particular aspect of his own culture — or perhaps he is simply very perceptive.
"Then your leaders are all female?" The question is pure curiosity, though she is trying not to sound as startled by that suggestion as she feels. She laughs, very softly. "Such a thing would never be permitted among my people. Men lead and women serve. To do otherwise would be to subvert thousands of years of tradition."
Stahma doesn't sound particularly as if she is trying to convince herself of anything. If nothing else, she's just stating a fact — that that is how things are and, if those in power have their way, that is how they will continue to be. And yet... the Castithan way, as well she knows by now, is not the only way.
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The idea that women lead by default, though — that is a little new to her, and the surprised flicker of her lashes as she glances back up to his face may give that away. Immediately afterward, Stahma wonders if she's shown him too much, if the frustration she feels at her people's traditional strictures is too obvious, that he felt the need to point out that particular aspect of his own culture — or perhaps he is simply very perceptive.
"Then your leaders are all female?" The question is pure curiosity, though she is trying not to sound as startled by that suggestion as she feels. She laughs, very softly. "Such a thing would never be permitted among my people. Men lead and women serve. To do otherwise would be to subvert thousands of years of tradition."
Stahma doesn't sound particularly as if she is trying to convince herself of anything. If nothing else, she's just stating a fact — that that is how things are and, if those in power have their way, that is how they will continue to be. And yet... the Castithan way, as well she knows by now, is not the only way.