Are men absolutely better than women, as understood from Ibn Kathir's interpretation of the verse, "Men are in charge of women"?

This issue should be avoided because no action depends on it. The preference for men in the Qur’an does not mean absolute preference, but rather leadership (qawamah) and a man's ability to manage family affairs, or the completion of religion for men because the male gender is legislated to perform acts of proximity (qurb) that are not legislated for women, such as jihad and judgeship. Women are also prevented from prayer and fasting during menstruation and postpartum bleeding. As for individuals, preference is given to piety.