I’m peering into a women’s world and I must say I don’t understand.  If I could get the world’s women to read one of my commentaries, podcasts or radio broadcasts, my communications career would thrive.  However, something tells me I’m not quite there yet.

Being a man comes with its advantages.  Lord knows I don’t have to recount them here.  Wars have been fought over who has the most testosterone.  In fact in third world villages, factory floors and boardroom offices, it goes on every day.  Add a little bit of sexual chemistry into the mix and it gets even more interesting.

The sexual chemistry part is the fun part.  However, I only practice it with my wife.  Nonetheless, back in the day I thought “Harry and Sally” lived in every conversation.  There is something about a sparkle in some youthful eye that can’t be repeated.

From my biased place in life I’ve come to know that women live in a world of feelings, passions, colours and emotions.  At least that’s what I’m picking day by day as I write about corn futures, stock markets, monetary policy and agricultural policy.  It’s a bit of a contrary world because I’ve met and worked for many women who seem to have a vestige interest in me pursuing all of the above.  However, when I look outward into the world beyond my personal and professional space, finding out what makes women really tick will be key in any professional success I have in the future.

The problem is being a man can have its disadvantages, the greatest that does not understand women.  Case in point.

Why does Hillary Clinton want to be President?

Because she wants to find out what it’s like to sleep in the President’s bed.

Yes, I laughed when I heard that joke told by a very famous agricultural economist in Louisville Kentucky at the largest indoor farm show in the United States.  However, from a women’s perspective it’s not too funny, even though many women laughed.  A joke is always content but delivery sometimes is much more important.  That was done in spades in Louisville.  The problem is women are often the butt of jokes and Hillary Clinton’s torment with a husband’s infidelity is always a cheap excuse for a laugh.

I’m sensitive to that now.  For instance I’d like to bring women into my largely male audience for all of my professional work.  I want that because it makes economic sense and I want that because I know I can be better for it.   However, as of yet, I don’t know how.

I’ve had several occasions to repeat that joke about Hillary Clinton.  The closest I came was last week in Chesley Ontario.  As always I get to a point in my presentation where I talk about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  I tell the audience that neither one of them mentions “corn-based ethanol” anymore because it’s becoming politically unpopular in some American circles.  After I say that, I move on to something else but the joke about Hillary is on the tip of my tongue.  Needless to say I wouldn’t even think about telling a joke about Obama’s youthful dalliance with drugs.  Of course how many people even know about that?

So my struggles continue in the world, which demands political correctness.  However, I’m not trying to be politically correct, I’m just trying to embrace women with the respect they deserve.  Nonetheless, for the most part with them and me its like we’re both “deer in the headlights.”

Maybe its because I’m a child of the 1970’s and I’m trying so hard.  Women’s liberation was a relative new term when I was young.  Tip toeing through that minefield in retrospect has been my greatest challenge.  I went through the dating world, one unsuccessful marriage, into the dating world again and then onto a successful marriage.  After all of that, I’m wondering still, how can I make my life’s work more appealing to half the world’s population.

Sometimes I simply ask.  For instance I recently asked three women at basketball practice how I should write a column to make me appeal more to women like them.  Their reaction was one of mild shock, like they had time to read.  However, I think that reaction was also due to the fact that they are not used to a man asking such questions.  I dunno.

Answers might lie with some of my gay friends.  Yes, you have read about those friends of mine in this column.  It’s surely true, gay men have great emotional connections with women.  Maybe, just maybe they can give me a few tips.

No, I don’t want to re-incarnate myself as the next Oprah.  However, peering into a women’s world has always seemed daunting.  I’ve got strong and invincible women all around me.  Finding a way to reach them professionally will continue to be my goal.