Present (327 words)
The first part of this question regarding sexuality as a social construct and its purpose, is almost a rhetorical question to me. There is no truth behind these thoughts, feelings and beliefs regarding the “weaker” sex, but it is with the power that these thoughts create that much of our male dominated society operates. If we were to start acknowledging women for their full potential in business, then there goes the glass ceiling. Do you really think that some members of the status quo want that sort of change to take place? Does male dominated society really want to admit that gay men can do more than run fashion shows on the Bravo Network? To have power, a group must be able to take it away, or continue to keep it from another. To be feminine is to be weak, to put your family at least on an equal to your work is to be unworthy of executive level work.
In terms of what gender equality would look like in our society, I think things would change just a little bit. Child rearing would be considered a valued part of our society that cares for and nurtures the abilities and connections of our future leaders. In addition, women wouldn’t be assumed to have to work the “second shift” when they get home from work, having to cook, clean and take care of the children while the husband relaxes. Women CEOs would no longer be tokens of our present day “equality”, and rather would be just another valued voice among many different viewpoints in the executive world. Terms like gay, lesbo, dyke, faggot and the like would lose their power among those who feel they convey a weakness in the recipient. In essence, exercises like this would become more about how did we get to this point, rather than how can we get to that point? And that would be a great place to be.
Matt
4 comments:
Matt said...
"To have power, a group must be able to take it away, or continue to keep it from another."
Great quote Matt. Can I borrow this? It is an excellent way to show how the concept of "power" is actualized. We never really think we have power until someone on the receiving end of our power web reveals that to us.
Great insight, great job!
Sure Mr. Robertson, not a problem. To be honest, I didn't remember saying that, so I had to go back and read it to make sure I actually did.
Interesting how stuff just comes out in the flow of things. Sometimes the ideas are just waiting to get out of your head.
There was a special on TV recently, that was about the people from the happiest country. The suprise was it was Denmark! Over the course of the program, people were interviewed and asked questions about their attitudes and Denmark's provisions for it's people. It turned out that when asked what people from Denmark valued, respondants said, "having time with my family and friends." When people from other countries were asked the same question, the responses were very different--"my boat," "my vacation house," "my car" were typically mentioned. In Denmark, people are given a mandatory 6 months maternity/paternity leave! Child care and eldercare is also sponsored by the government-- and with positive remarks! Maybe it is not just the race thing that should be evaluated-- but maybe we also need a reassessment of our national values as well!
Matt and James, I agree that many people think of power as coming from outside. Someone has it, keeps it and controls it. It is a conventional way to think about it. On the surface it seems logical.
At its purest and highest state, Eastern philosophy (Zen, Taoism) talks about power coming from within. This is not to excuse bad regimes or govenment that torture, control, put down people, or commit genocide. That is what we call force and it's not power.
There is a story of Frankl (Sp?)a holocost survivor who never yielded his inner power to his Nazi gauards. He built up his inner strength an power and outlasted his captors.
The same could be said about Nelson Mondella who was in prison for many years and come to he the beacon of power for the world.
Are these execptional people? Are we also capable of having that kind of inner power.
To master self and not limit one's power be granted by others takes effort and practice.
If we can do that well, our own destiny is truely in our own hands.
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