Tag: subjugation

The Overlords in the Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy

On By Roger B. BurtIn Characters, Origins of Gaia's Majesty, StruggleLeave a comment

 

Universal Struggle

Struggle is universal among the animals of Earth. Competition presses their development. And we see that competition in the interactions of  protagonists and antagonists. In the Gaia’s Majesty series the antagonists are called Overlords. But with them the essential struggle is against their greed and domination.

People are predators who had their origins in the sea. The Tethyans were some of those who developed in the sea but were charged to contain their predation. There were other predators who emerged and they remained thoroughly committed to greed and power. Those are the Overlords. Given the mission of the Tethyans for stewardship, the conflict between these two groups was inevitable.

Not An Invention

In fact these antagonists are not strangers to us. There are many forms of rule and that rule may be benevolent or oppressive. Looking back at European history we see a ruling class which was composed of intertwined royal families. Some were more benevolent than others. Royalty finally bowed to a new form of government, but the existence of powerful intertwined groups did not disappear.

In some way it is appropriate to say that royalty has been replaced by the oligarchy. In each country we see wealthy families dominating business and they have great governmental influence. In Russia the oligarchs have been fleecing the people. Their grasp on power is deep. In America we are clear wealth heavily influences our government. Oligarchs are among us as well.

Benefitting the Many

The Overlords in this trilogy are a devise. They were not meant to be a truly substantive part of the work. Certainly they have a role, but in the end they yield to a more fundamental theme. As with royalty, times change and different kinds of influence come into being.

A core theme in these works relates to the end of the subjugation of women and their empowerment. And as that occurs there is broader benefit and prosperity. And even better, there is the reality of them forming strong partnerships with men.

In the end wouldn’t it be wonderful if we replaced the rule of the oligarch with the benevolence of women and men in partnership? Of course it’s a dream, but the power of the empowerment movement and its benefits are already flowering. So it may not be just a dream.

What do you think of this dream?

###

Don’t Miss My Developing Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy

I refer to it as a work of magical realism. It is a series with a strong mythological element and a real world setting in this time when women are being empowered at last. It is a time of wonder and awakening for all of humankind.

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power – Book 1

Avery had dedicated her life to work for the future of third world women. Her life was enhanced when she met the man who became the love of her life. They could not know that they shared a destiny and that a mission set long ago by our Earth Goddess was to be revealed before 

them. 

Available Now in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called

—

Gaia’s Majesty-Challenge: The Chosen Rise – Book 2

These people, called Tethyans, live in cities in the sea but can morph into fully human form and come to land to form families. They join with the warrior women called the Andromeda to fight against the forces working to impair the future of humankind. Avery has found her birth name of Chantia and she and Beck find there is soon to be a child of seeming great import just as the world falls into terrible strife with millions already dead. 

Available Now in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon

Gaia’s Majesty-Challenge

Feminism and the Roles of Characters

On By Roger B. BurtIn Origins of Gaia's Majesty, Women Rising, WritingLeave a comment

Changes For Female Characters

How do you feel about recent changes for women?

It has become more challenging to write female characters, especially now that the traditional role of women is being questioned. “The woman’s place is in the home” has receded into history and the permissible roles are changing. Yes, I chose the word permissible deliberately. There are still pressures regarding what a woman should and should not do and how she should act. This is an evolutionary process. And it affects how we develop fictional characters.

Greater Challenge

And so the author has to decide upon what a female character should be like or at least should attend to how they may be affected by contemporary views. Of course, if we are writing fiction a woman can do anything the author wants her to do. And then we will see how the reading public reacts. This raises the possibility for the author of challenging views and change. Of course, there is the matter of wanting people to buy your books.

Off Into a Changing world

And so I set off into the world of fiction and fantasy. The setting was contemporary which conditioned certain choices. And that can be challenging. There is a context for the present but if we are writing into the future there are many more contexts that become available.In the Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy these were women chosen for roles to lead us into the future and related to whether that future will be fulfilling or disastrous.

In history and in the present women certainly have had a variety of roles whether we approved of them or not. In this instance I began with a role where the Andromeda women were the consorts of rich, powerful and greedy men. I wanted them to be people readers could relate to and not simply courageous women who sought wealth and ease. They had to have values even if they were hidden. And implicit is that just because they are consorts they are in no way despoiled. They are their own person and have their mission. In fact they deserve recognition and praise.

What Will Women Think!

It would have been complicated to weave the history of the warrior women of ancient near Asia into the story for context purposes. It was inspiring to come to understand this part of history and the Andromeda women had to stand on their own. Of course they were not uniform and had their personal stories. I came to appreciate them more and more as I got deeper into the books. I’m pleased to say that so far I’m finding that women appreciate them. I think we all fundamentally understand that challenge in life is highly variable as is adaptability depending on need.

Coming to Comfort

The theme of an end to subjugation of women and their empowerment is woven deep into the story. I admired these “gutsy” women. They are smart and tenacious. Certainly they are not passive and retiring. They are who they are and they have joined a cause and that relates to what is happening for women and all of us now. Women have a growing opportunity to fulfill their talent and potential. And that in turn leads to value for all of us. It is truly a pleasure to see recent revelations about what women have suffered under predatory men and that those men are now suffering consequences. It is not all over, but increasingly we will now see women stepping foreword and they will receive broad support. It is more than about time. 

###

Don’t Miss My Developing Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy

I refer to it as a work of magical realism. It is a series with a strong mythological element and a real world setting in this time when women are being empowered at last. It is a time of wonder and awakening for all of humankind.

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power – Book 1

(Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon.) 

Avery had dedicated her life to work for the future of third world women. Her life was enhanced when she met the man who became the love of her life. They could not know that they shared a destiny and that a mission set long ago by our Earth Goddess was to be revealed before them.

Gaia’s Majesty-Challenge: The Chosen Rise – Book 2

(Available now in Pre-Order and goes on sale April 29 on Amazon)

These people, called Tethyans, live in cities in the sea but can morph into fully human form and come to land to form families. They join with the warrior women called the Andromeda to fight against the forces working to impair the future of humankind. Avery has found her birth name of Chantia and she and Beck find there is soon to be a child of seeming great import just as the world falls into terrible strife with millions already dead.

The Origins and Sources of the Majesty Trilogy – Pt. 2

On By Roger B. BurtIn Struggle, Women RisingLeave a comment

Wrestling with Meaning and Reality in the Women’s Movement

Strange Fundamentals

Normally one could outline the fundamental issues in a movement but in the case of women the fundamentals are not at all clear. 

The first things which needs to be confronted is that there is a movement at all. How curious a statement! We have a list of issues but exactly why there is a need and why there is a growing movement to do something about the problem is unclear. And then there is the matter of opposition dwelling in alternative realities.

It Is Happening

First we face the fact that women are calling for an end to subjugation. The movement is happening in waves and there is far from universal acceptance of the need for change. One question is why it is happening just now after tens of thousands of years of human history.

Why now may be the hardest question. The need for it is a matter of justice and we have a need for their unfettered contributions. Such a need is far from being accepted universally. Women call for it and struggle to find allies.

Many of us contend that subjugation is unfair and wasteful. Why limit the contributions of half the population? It is almost as if the answer is—because we do. When we look around, we can see many issues where opposition is not well supported or clear in its base. 

Agreement on Reality

Working to solve the problem would be easier if there was an agreement on reality. The question of reality is a major focus of this blog. In fact opposition seems to extend to the believe in some quarters that there is no subjugation. No matter how well drawn the arguments there are those who do not accept the argument. Even in the matter of women being paid less for the same work. The fact that it is documented yields little change or acceptance of the need for change.

A Stubborn Problem

It would appear that the starting point which is most clear is the agricultural revolution when more children were needed to tend the farms. Thereafter it becomes more complex. The fact of the position of women has become a matter of culture and cultural change inevitably runs up against opposition partly because culture is not changed easily.

There is an open question about why women are permitted so many kinds of inspiration but not the inspiration that comes with equality and full partnership.  To me the women’s liberation movement is a glorious dawning. Yes, I still call it women’s liberation because I fell in love with the term decades ago and, to me, it has special meaning.

Then there is the matter of men. In the ongoing set of posts about patriarchy there are many things which become apparent, not the least of which is male devotion to power, control, their own fear and insecurity. They have to admit their weaknesses, fear of each other and failings before they can admit women to the full benefits of the world—to their own benefit

Then There Are Attributes

In some posts on this blog I have touched upon the stunning effects of the Mysterium and I must say I think that refers to the inherent power of women to enchant and bond which is threatening to many. Quite possibly threatening to some women as well as men. With it comes inherent obligations of various kinds. And by obligations I mean such things as fulfillment of real and implied promises. Another part of the problem is that all the cards are not on the table. Where does such power lead?

A Debate Without Foundation

What I mean by foundation refers to the fact that we debate the subjugation and the need to end it, but as when I refer to attributes, it is not at all clear what must be brought to the table. We do not look behind the scenes often enough. Bringing change requires us to wrestle with that maddening thing we call reality on which there is little agreement within each of us and certainly not among ourselves.

And with that elusive spirit we call reality  comes issues of fake power, male insecurities  and fear, the steadfast flow of culture and deep psychological /emotional roots. It may well involve a contest of power of many kinds.

What Is Fundamental

I think the fundamental statement of this post is that I believe we need to do a much more thorough examination of the basics related to the subjugation of women. And this is a must do project.

Later I will get to the idea that this movement is leading all of humanity somewhere. We may need to set our sights on the future and what may be in store for us. And by saying that I do not suggest what is coming must be disastrous or cataclysmic as some may fear. That may seem an absurd statement but there is distinct unadmitted fear in the air. What is to come may, indeed, be glorious. Dare I use the word transformational?

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

Men! Who Are We?

On By Roger B. BurtIn personality, visionLeave a comment

 

It Seems I’ve Missed Something

For decades now we’ve heard of Women’s Liberation and the end of the subjugation of women but I hear precious little of exploration by men about what it means for men. By that I mean, who are men and who are they to become? Are they to simply accept the changing place of women but not explore themselves? If it is being discussed, it seems to be in a whisper with a whimper.

That does not mean I’m an advocate of a roaring fight against the liberation of women by men. It quite simply means such monumental change in human history suggests there will have to be monumental changes by men and certainly more than whimper.

Fundamental Reexamination of Self

Without men’s role assessment or self examination it is impossible to make a meaningful adaptation and response to this change. It is hardly a sudden event. It has been coming for many decades even if we just look at the fight for the vote by women. But the movement is growing and I would contend that men should see this as an opportunity for them.

An opportunity to yield power? Probably, but there’s a lot more to it. As a man I must say that I see us having a constricted identity. I won’t even begin to try to delineate who and how we are because it’s not up to me. It is up to us as a whole and must indicate a productive commitment to change. Instead we seem to see resistance of various kinds. Even if there was no challenge, it is time for us to examine ourselves.

Meanwhile Back at Identity

What we are seeing is a long overdue movement to diversify identity which is causing confusion. There is considerable resistance when people present themselves as homosexual, bisexual, multisexual or whatever. The fact of the matter is that we are complex and there is place for all of our various iterations.

But a prominent focus seems to be on limited acceptance of women being liberated and gaining power. Granted some of it may be resistance to yielding power by men but as it is being done we are failing at self examination.

This Is An Opportunity

Dare I use the word liberation when it comes to men? Is it possible that we need to face that there has been some form of subjugation by our own sex even while we concentrate on restraining women? We might actually gain a great deal if we focus on what men might gain rather than what they might need to yield. At base perhaps we all need to take on liberation and an end to subjugation. Who are we as men and what possibilities might we open for ourselves?

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

Feelings of Inadequacy and Powerlessness

On By Roger B. BurtIn Health, Struggle, visionLeave a comment

 

Personal Management

To fulfill our potential requires not just commitment and dedication for success. It also requires us to deal with our perceptions of ourselves and our belief or understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. Perspective is needed to balance such things as our talents or lack of interest. Our weaknesses need not drive down our self esteem. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s also a matter of orchestrating our motivation with self esteem. And it is often not so easy to understand our strengths and how they may benefit us. The bottom line is that management of the self involves management of an orchestra.

We cannot all be talented in the same way. Where we do not have talent we may have lack of interest or commitment or we may view something as inessential. Men have sports heroes and we are instructed to admire and follow in their footsteps. But some of us are not interested and where formerly this may be seen as an inadequacy or a weakness it can be transformed into a view of lack of interest because there are other talents which offer potential for growth and satisfaction. The confinement may be in what men do to each other. Part of the question relates to recognizing the extent and diversity of effects on each other. All too often there is an
enforced lack of introspection especially if the issue is not to be discussed.

And Then There is the Sexual Arena

Now before us we are seeing considerable evidence of the issue of male sexual abuse. Boys may ask each other, “Did you get any?” This is a depersonalization of women and helps lay groundwork for abusers. This question comes from the outside and, if the young man has values which indicate to him that he wants to not treat women as objects, self esteem may come to be at question.

Establishing a Useful Focus

As the sexual abuse scandals have become highlighted we see a central focus on males exercising power. We need to not overlook the other possibilities and it would need to be central to male group discussions. For many men it is not primarily a matter of power but one of THEIR self esteem. And when women step forward and talk about how they were abused they are too often punished and shouted down which makes matters worse.

We need to recognize that men may push and harass women sexually not because they are exercising power but because they feel powerless and inadequate. In short, it may be compensatory.They hope they may prevail and feel more powerful or worthwhile. Just as when Trump strikes out because his narcissism isn’t being fed. These behaviors can be more indicative of insecurity, fears, powerlessness and personal flaws rather than an exercise of power. They reveal weakness. These men may avoid despair by attempting to reassure themselves and their worth. Otherwise they can collide with a personal negativity.

Self As Trash

If a man believes he is trash then the subjugation of others may enhance, for the moment, their feeling of their own worth. But these kinds of self disregard can be assuaged only temporarily. Self concept and what we believe in ourselves is a virtual statue of self image we carry with us. And if it is dubious or negative then it must be supported and dealt with over and over because there is no event in day to day life which will thoroughly mitigate it unless there is a thoroughgoing search of the meaning and substance of ones self regard and belief. And men, when they are willing to search and admit can help each other with this problem. And so we return again to the meaning and need for men to self examine together. We share these flaws in self and in male culture. One of the leading indicators of this problem being underlying is seen in the man who must always receive praise and adulation. Enjoying recognition and celebration is one thing but the insistence and extent of need indicates a personal flaw.

The Bottom Line

If all the above seems complicated, it is because it is complicated. We need to examine these various themes and lay them out before us. If we focus only on power, we lose track of the variety of things which feed the dysfunction. We have our work cut out for us.

How often have you been able to perceive this process in men?

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

The Issues For and From Men

On By Roger B. BurtIn Struggle, Women RisingLeave a comment

 

Again I come back to asking men to examine themselves and their culture. The change there must be on the horizon is not up to women alone. While there were men who were wise and made crucial contributions in the past, there are also many men in history who had devastating effects.

Exercising Power to Dominate Others

One of the issues most often noted when we discuss abuses by men is the issue of power. We see efforts to dominate and control others. Certainly women see this especially in the way women are subjugated. When men introspect many often see this issue as a force in their own lives. It begins early and may be displayed in peer groups and in the form of “leadership” they exercise in such groups. And later certainly it comes up in business and military settings of all kinds. Bullies portray it and it comes out in sports. Less often it is at issue in school performance which has an objective measure.

Widespread Manifestation

Over a lifetime these themes are manifested in ever so many settings and is something that men suffer as well as women. But women have suffered more and it is still at issue. It may be domination in meetings, harassment by other workers in various forms. Thus, it comes out in competition of all kinds, even in adult life. It is rarely brought up but it is something that we all must contend with. Now is the time when it should begin to be highlighted.

Power as a display of sexual supremacy

But the primary issue placed before us now is the issue of sexual domination and harassment. The matter begins early. “Did you get any?” one boy may ask another. Real men are supposed to be preeminently successful in not just winning favor but in taking it. Certainly when this topic is brought up it is frequently greeted with insistent denial. But, no matter how we try to push it away, there is an implicit theme especially among men at a younger age. Of course, it then carries over to later in life. It may be a matter of competition and personal belief that a man should take sexual domination because power of all kinds is the province of men—supposedly. Too often it is not examined as a principle which is right or a valid pursuit.

Failure to Examine Supports Abuse

Of course, especially to the degree that it is not examined, it may support abuse of all kinds—even molestation and rape. It may feed issues of self esteem and perceptions of strength among male peer groups.

It cannot be overestimated how much there are underlying issues in male culture. Any attempt to raise them usually leads to denial, even anger at its mention. Certainly men don’t want to discuss it with and before women especially as we enter the era of empowering women. But they do not relish opening the issues with each other either. It is a touchy and difficult subject.

It Must Be Dealt With

But again I come back to the necessity for men to air it among themselves at last. Among each other is where it should begin in an honest environment. If there is resistance, then we must ask, in a forthright fashion, why and for what reasons.

These core issues lay the groundwork for our future. The power of men is eroding whether they like it or not and realignment for the future requires the retirement of denial.

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

The Importance of Women Marching Is Being Overlooked

On By Roger B. BurtIn Struggle, vision, Women RisingLeave a comment

 

We are so proud of you!

Time to Pay Attention

We have just had a second large and important women’s march. The coverage and analysis has not done it justice. The import needs to be writ large. It is time to look in depth on the public stage.

There’s Something Fundamental – Attention!

Much focus of news is on Trump and dreadful political dysfunction in Washington but something much more fundamental is happening. We can begin to see special importance when we ask, Why are women marching? There are some notes about equality and health care rights but there is clearly insufficient attention to the depth and meaning of this movement. The coverage is dreadfully superficial.

Time to Probe

I have to be insistent. Stop and ask why women are marching. Surely it is more than one focused issue or restlessness. I hear very little in terms of in depth questions. is it the young (millenials) or is there more to it? There has been a groundswell of a wave coming for decades now. Superficial attachment to one issue is common but surely there is depth and complexity. We may be surprised at what we find.

What Do Men Think?

And then there is the matter of men. What do men think about what women are doing now that they are on the streets? There are some men visible among the women but I hear no coverage or only a minuscule amount off coverage of what men think. Do they support women? Or what part of women’s demands? Why or why not?

Write Our Questions Large

I can’t emphasize enough the import of what is happening with women and it is not just in the United States. Honestly I’m not even sure if all the women know why they are in the streets. It doesn’t seem political. And I suspect it goes beyond ending subjugation. We may focus on visible issues but surely there are many others lurking.

Or if it is called political, why are we letting people get away with that because fundamentally that means the true meaning of the movement is being dismissed. We are throwing everything in the trash hopper of politics these days.

And What of Men

And with what is coming out we have a lot of questions of men. Who are these sexual abusers? Who are these power hungry men? We have to step back and ask in depth why they are doing these things. It is often dismissed as a matter of power. Yes for some. But that is insufficient. And does abusing women really satisfy a sexual need. The psychologist here is jumping up and down because he doesn’t believe those simplicities tell us what is happening or why it is happening. There is often a matter of compensatory functioning for felt inadequacies. People who have deep feelings of inadequacy or view the self as trash will often drive for power and abuse others. I can’t begin to open the depth of issues in this format but there are questions which must be asked. Things are often not what they seem.

And, of course, there is the matter of what the male culture has often done to men. Those set of issues need exploration.

Potential and More

Beyond issues of rectifying abuses there is the matter of potential. I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it over and over…we are missing the potential of half of our population and men are missing out on the full potential of women, of part of their own potential and the intriguing benefits of in depth partnership with women.

I’ve been following the women’s movement since the 1960s and we are seeing a deeply rooted cultural change. Women and men alike are struggling with it. And part of the reason is that we aren’t truly probing these changes. Some of it seems to be related to effective birth control coming under the control of women. And there are men who are working hard to snatch control back from them.

Benefits For Men and All of Us

In earlier posts I’ve said there is a lot about the male culture that I find offensive and ineffective if not stultifying. And so now women are offering us alternatives and new blending. This is an exciting opportunity to be seized. Can we take off our blinders and fight back against our denial? This is a fight to benefit every single one of us even those who would crush the women’s movement. Right now we need to probe what is happening and giving it true in depth coverage.

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

A Focus on Patriarchy – Pt. 7

On By Roger B. BurtIn vision, Women RisingLeave a comment

 

 

Levels of Interaction

Cutting to the Core

It is ever so easy to simply focus on a conflict which we clearly have as women press for an end to their subjugation. But resistance to change is not the core issue although it must be confronted. The issue is our future and what the flow of culture is creating.

Among Animals

Yes, we are animals and like all animals we struggle. But there is a difference because of the magnitude of the meaning of the outcome. If we triumph, we do not merely triumph over other human beings but we triumph in the salvation of our planet and entire races of beings. The stakes have gotten that high. We are no longer just hunters/gatherers. And among us are people of vision such as Elon Musk among others. Also among us are the power hungry with vision only of themselves and their financial gain in the display of their sociopathy.

Seizing the Opportunity

At the edge of our awareness we are turning over thoughts about the future. We wonder how much longer capitalism will endure and what will follow it. Over the centuries we have seen one form of ruler come after the other. Absolute rulers fostered endless conflict and subjugation in the ancient world. Interlocking royal families ruled Europe but their decline did not bring peace and fascism came to call.

Above all we need vision at this time and it will require positing goals for the future and how we attain them. In bits and pieces vision will help us gain a way forward. Yes, the culture which bears it will be glacial but at some point it becomes climacteric. And, in my estimation I see the greatest promise is found in the women among us. It is a force yet to be fully released.

And I shudder even at using the word force but I see it in a sense as a component of a cultural flow.

What Is Happening

The rising of women is something which wraps me and my attention. I see the patriarchy failing not just in the sense of our questioning their right and legitimacy but in the fact of their decline. And at the edge of the process working into the center are the women.

Daily I delight to see the women appearing on the news shows. Young, engaged, talented and forthcoming with their opinions and talent.They are less afraid, more assertive and balanced. What I am viewing is ever so far form what I saw in my youth and is what I sighted in the sixties. It didn’t just draw my attention, it commanded my attention.

The Cutting Edge

From time to time in human history we see breathtaking development. Perhaps we fail to see them moment to moment or even month to month. The Renaissance was such a time. Rome and the ancient world declined as the Vandals, Visigoths and others rose to bring an end to their tyranny. It did not bring wonderful change. It brought the Dark Ages and much of the scholarly pursuits retreated to distant libraries to be tended by Middle East scholars and people like Irish Monks. Then the world exploded.

Without question we are seeing an entirely new type of explosion and many are telling us and warning us that it is at hand. Whether it elevates us or devastates us is open to question. But, I would suggest that the empowerment of women may be at the core of the possibility for transformation. Perhaps at last we can come to a markedly beneficial transformation. We have great struggles yet to be overcome but I’m convinced that women hold a key element for that transformation. Are we now to replace a focus on power with a focus on wonder and creation?

These thoughts may be dismissed as merely misguided hope but we will see won’t we?

What have you concluded? Please let me hear your thoughts. roger.burt@earthlink.net

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

A Focus on Patriarchy – Pt. 6

On By Roger B. BurtIn vision, Women RisingLeave a comment

Continuing to Share

Family Origins

Since I’m calling for men to come together to share who they are and how things are for them, I’m going to continue to share in this format.

My family was definitely not a feminist bastion. It focused on our home where my mother tended that home and the two sons. My father had a certain authority in those days as the man of the household and partly because he was surgeon.

Interestingly, he had a distinct tinge of feminist leanings and he made it clear to me that he supported women coming into medicine as physicians and did not see women coming to power as a threat. His attitude had a leveling quality to the coming reality.

My mother was not antifeminism but it was nothing she would have fought for. It was simply that her background meant this home with a successful man who had fought his way out of poverty in Mississippi was just fine with her. She could not have wanted more.

Another Direction

It feels to me that I had been freed by distancing myself from “normal” male identity.

It seems my nature is what led me away from patriarchy toward support of feminism. I was always intrigued by possibilities and sought novelty. I regret (though it could not have been otherwise) that there were no computers until long after my youth. I would have been a rabid computer nerd. I was not competitive unless wanting to do a good job and get things done was a form of competitiveness. I never saw power as important and often was dumbstruck by venal men in power and what fools so many of them were as they served only themselves.

Who Men Are

Some say men are competitive and aggressive. I was neither. My favorite book as a young child was Ferdinand the Bull. His core attribute was that he loved to smell the flowers. My mother read it over and over to me. Again, if there was any competitiveness, it related to doing that job well and uncovering new possibilities which could be pursued relentlessly.

I learned the limits of male power over time and found it often errant and saw endless skirmishes around men who sought power and domination at all costs. As I watched men pursue power and their own financial interests, I came to see the limitations of their power and its worth. I learned to fear them not at all. In my estimation the shallowness of their pursuits disappointed me. And to this day I see their pursuits were often damaging to so many among us. If my future was impaired by their machinations, then I could go somewhere else. Something else is always possible. And, of course, as is apparent, not all men are devoted to power and financially focused sociopathy.

What Satisfies

Of course not all things, no matter how long they have dominated, will endure. I believe in the cultural flow and know its relentless nature. It may be glacial but it does flow and requires endurance and patience. We see that need for patience in the empowerment of women. From the suffragettes, women in World War II, women’s liberation and on to today we see their endurance and, yes, gains. There is much more to come.

In another regard, what do you see coming and what would you wish? Please let me hear from you. roger.burt@earthllink.net

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt

Discovering How Life Really is

On By Roger B. BurtIn personality, Struggle, visionLeave a comment

 

Where Our Identity Comes From

Establishing an identity is a complicated process. It has to do with who is available for us to identify with, our ability patterns, intelligence, and our personality. And I think you can probably come up with other factors.

Given my dissatisfaction and lack of interest in many things which are supposed to interest and enthrall boys meant I sought other things. I chose to explore science, looked at the world as my family traveled, and sought to experience the world in general. That is hardly a comprehensive list because opportunities were always presenting themselves. For me I think personality was central. I wanted to seek out possibilities and unique opportunities.

My Father and I

Naturally my father played a role. I was closer to him than my brother was. Even as a surgeon he liked to get his hands dirty in the yard. He never got entirely away from his early years in rural Mississippi. We went deep sea fishing off Montauk on Long Island, he taught me to shoot which I liked as a hobby but not when it involved killing animals and he took me to ball games which I endured until the day when we went to a Yankee double header. The first game was 26 innings. Enough was enough. He was handy around the house and built furniture. Those things interested me.

Doing a Good Job

One thing that was particularly important to me was doing a good job. Power was not of interest. Getting things done especially in new ventures was of considerable interest. Too often though I saw men of power who lacked vision. When I took the job in the inner city Baltimore I was stunned.

The heads of the psychiatry department were utterly lacking in vision and the psychologists were no better. The latter group invited me to join them and in the first meeting they spent the entire time talking about how they could try to seem more important to the psychiatrists. I never went back. There was substantive work to be done. And even worse there were no women in the central halls of power. Oh yes, there was a nursing department but what I saw out in the programs on the street was their frustration as they did battle with the men in power. At basic levels there were women nurses and social workers who contributed to diversity of viewpoints. But at the top levels there were men only.

Closed Systems

Because of the import of the job I had to face a closed male system. And it was inevitable that I would come to view the men as struggling with their image of themselves and the threat involved by the women struggling for recognition and a say in a new enterprise. As it turned out this was just at the cusp of the Women’s Liberation movement of the 1960s and their meaning and substance utterly engaged me.

Masculinity

What kept emerging over time was seeing in men a central problem in their discomfort with masculinity. They often seemed to feel they did not measure up but when you stepped back it was essential to wonder why there had to be a universal code of masculinity.

But it seemed that fear was a core element and that also surfaces in discussions of patriarchy. It seems likely that progress in our various intersexual relationships may require clearly facing the issue of fear. And honestly I think this will be a monumental task. Men have financial interests in league with the matter of power which is an impediment to change. But at base I think the most important issue and the one which will relate to a turning point is the matter of fear.

What issues do you feel will be crucial? Please let me hear from you at: roger.burt@earthlink.net

Gaia’s Majesty-Mission Called: Women in Power by Roger B. Burt

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

Creating Characters and Plots by Roger B. Burt

Stepfamilies: Professionals and Stepcouples in Partnership

Whatever Happened to Community Mental Health by Roger B. Burt