Tag: women’s movement

Fearing Women

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

 

In the Weeks Ahead

In this age of the empowerment of women it is distressing to see the limited focus related to the issues. It should be clear that this author is clearly in support of the women’s movement. but I’m feeling the need to do more in depth exploration of matters that need to be dealt with as women become empowered.

The Threat of Women

It is impossible to look at the women’s movement without seeing the fact that it is feared. Or at least that is my perspective. Why should we fight against equality given the benefits that are offered for all of us? Once that question is asked something becomes perfectly clear. People fight the equality of other people all the time. We have class warfare, country warfare, deep prejudice against people of color and on and on. Why not against women?

In Fact

Something fundamental has changed. Among other things, women have gained control over their reproductive capacity. Or at least they are making significant gains although there is opposition there as well. Many of us are now having fewer children in a complex and changing world. These and other changes are opening doors to women having greater autonomy and possibilities.

Not So Simple

As we begin to explore the issues, the import and complexity becomes apparent. To some the complexity is reason enough to be opposed to the movement. But, in fact, in this rapidly changing world we must examine the detailing of any such changes.  The essential nature of it is apparent and the possibility of benefits are huge. But we need to understand the impact of change and what will be demanded of us.

An Essential Question 

To some of us it is apparent that women being empowered is something that is frightening to many men. Whether they want to hear it or not, it is clear that, yes, many men are afraid of empowered women. When the subject is opened, it is clear that it is not a simple matter and we are just beginning to explore what is happening and what it may mean. And when we say what it may mean we find it may mean many different things to many people. It is time to begin to explore because the consequences are rather impressive.

Why Fear?

Yes, why the fear is an essential question. First of all it will be difficult to help many men admit they are afraid. When they admit fear it may mean to them that they are admitting weakness. As soon as this component is opened other questions come cascading out along with many alternatives.

Then There is Partnership

In fact we are not just looking at empowerment or a yielding of power. We can, in fact, join together in a new glorious day. Suddenly we open further contributions and alternatives for all of us. 

The issues are complex and unexpected. Recently a study was revealed that said teens who don’t date may be less depressed. Oooops. It actually may have been unsuspected but not surprising upon examination. Beginning dating is difficult, emotionally risky and is a major learning experience.

The Bottom Line

We have substantive explorations to undertake. We may be frightened and have to deal with the unexpected but we do not have to go too deeply to see the benefits of empowerment and the acceptance of it by men can be hugely rewarding. Not the least of the benefits may be truly complex partnership. There is so much more to come and since I am among those who seek the “what if” endlessly this is a new and glorious day.

###

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

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

Opportunities Not to Be Missed

On By Roger B. BurtIn Cusp of Reality, Transformation, Women RisingLeave a comment

 

Accelerating Change

The title of this blog is Cusp of Reality. Equally it might have been The Challenge of Vision.

This is a distressing time in that it seems events are moving faster and faster. We are talking about the PostCapitalism society and world conflicts are accelerating after a hopeful period.

Frustration With Research

When I decided upon psychology as my career I was intrigued by the human mind and what I ran into at once was the fact of needing to do research to foster development. Too often though the reality I found was that psychologists looked to an area of study and then would tweak the research to be able to publish a paper. it generally was not groundbreaking.

Sorry if my colleagues find that offensive but my personality type gets in my way all the time. I want to forge into possibilities. And that means taking risks and fostering speculation as a way to open new possibilities. 

The bottom line is that I find much of what is going on out there in this rapidly changing world is narrow-minded. The world is racing forward and, too often, it seems we are being left behind. Let me offer some examples.

The Depth and Meaning of the Women’s Movement

Maybe I’m not looking in the right places but I find the commentary about women too often stifling. There are some outstanding books written by women about the coming days of women. Yes, I said days of women. In this country we are seeing a marked change. I won’t even attempt to catalogue what is happening but the subjugation of women is not just being challenged, but it is clearly coming to an end—and the changes are worldwide. One indication is that we suddenly are seeing markedly smart, perceptive and capable women appearing as commentators on television. Can we have some broad based search of this movement? Why now? Where might it lead? And to my male colleagues—Will men please wake up! Especially older white men.

Jobs and the Future in a Rapidly Changing World

I realize the call for coal jobs to come back was a political ploy but in so many areas the expectation for the future is narrow. Artificial intelligence among other tech areas is racing forward and I hear next to nothing groundbreaking in terms of looking at how people need to be prepared. We need research first of all looking at what might be the jobs needed in the future and then we need to look at how people can be prepared. And there is something even more fundamental. We are seeing whole categories of our citizens who are dismissed as future hires because we have not looked at their abilities in an enlightened fashion. I know from my career and my evaluation of intelligence that there is unexpected potential. And when I bring it up, it is dismissed out of hand. A stunning lack of willingness to even attempt vision crucial for our future. Not to say these studies will be easy. No, they will be extraordinarily 

challenging and the time to begin is now.

Then There’s Transformation

Transformation is another one of my favorites. The situation we have now has great potential and that means we may be looking at transformation in the near future. Of course the other possibility may be devastation which strongly suggests we need to be paying attention and work hard in our own behalf to transform our future in a positive fashion. Currently our country is in the throes of a major political and ideological crisis. We can only hope that we will gain control of it and put ourselves on a more positive track. 

Responding to the World As It Is

We can’t afford to continue as we are now. We talk about a rapidly changing world but chatting about it is not a good way to approach the future. We need comprehensive and groundbreaking research. Often that is considered more than challenging but risky as well because the undertaking requires trying things which may not work. It would require constant revision and refinement. Yes, we have a choice. We can be passive or we can vigorously start challenging the meaning and possibilities of our future. There I go again. Always the initiative type personality.

What possibilities have you run across that requires research and exploration?

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

The Search for Matriarchy

On By Roger B. BurtIn vision, Women Rising2 Comments

 

What does matriarchy mean to you?

We Seem To Be Having a Debate

Was there a time in human history when matriarchal (matriarchy meaning female rulership) societies dominated and then were replaced with serial patriarchy which is where we are now? There seems to be real passion involved and terms such as matriarchalism, matrifocal and matrilineal swirl through the debate.

Notable in the debate is the book The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why An Invented Past Will Not Give Women a Future by Cynthia Eller. Eller is described as setting out “to refute what she describes as feminist matriarchalism as an ‘ennobling lie’”. From what I could see this does not seem to be a dispassionate academic debate. Naturally it is a little hard to rush back into history and see exactly what happened. And reports may be biased. Surprise, surprise. 

And then there is the question of how to characterize periods of rule by women. In fact, Britain has a rather long history. Was the time of Queen Elizabeth 1 a matriarchy? How about Queen Victoria and the current queen? Somehow I think matriarchy is a little over the top as a description. Men did not exactly fade away.

Goddesses Are Prominent 

Throughout history women have held various kinds of power. Goddesses are prominent in human history and we invoke some truly strong imagery. We describe our planet as being ruled by an earth mother and mother nature is always with us. In fact, I chose Gaia as our Earth Goddess for my trilogy because it invoked the images I sought. Clearly many of the images relate to the fact that each of us has a mother. These are archetypes (recurrent symbols and motifs) with substantive meaning. I do not view them as part of the debate. Something else is going on.

Part of what is going on seems to be an underlying debate about whether patriarchal dominance is inevitable or whether it is a matter of dominance at this time. But, now I’m going to shift gears. The inevitability of male dominance is unlikely and at issue and we are seeing a new movement empowering women. 

Then There Are the Feminist Movements

There are other terms of interest. The women’s movement of the 1970s is described as the second wave of feminism. At the time it caught my attention and I found it well worth supporting. And more recently came the third-wave feminist movement beginning in the 1990s. It apparently arose from the backlash against second-wave feminism initiatives. And now we have something called the current feminist sex wars. That seems apt in describing the controversy flowing around Eller’s book. 

Debate Versus Goals

Now I’ll ask the question which is the real point of this post. Why are we having this debate at all? Do we have to decide if there is some great given right for men to rule now and forever or if women are brought in to rule and is it to become eternal. What a monumental waste of time.

At some point we risk wish replacing thought. That description may characterize the debate since there are surely different agendas behind the scene. And so, let me return to Sally Armstrong’s book Uprising: A New Age Is Dawning for Every mother’s Daughter. She describes the movement worldwide and the benefits derived.

Benefits and Justice

It would seem more productive if we focused on the benefits and what constitutes justice of all kinds. As noted, we hear little about the real reason for income inequality, for example. A lot of cards are not on the table when it comes to equality for women and that would be a better focus for analysis and understanding as well as outing the perpetrators.

Equality and Partnership 

It might be interesting to view the effects of matriarchy, matrifocal societies and matrilineal processes but it may be they are not going to give guidance in the current circumstances. It would seem more productive to accept the benefits of empowerment of women and to look at the barriers to equality and partnership in our present day. Then we can set an agenda and do away with squabbles about history. We have work to do in the here and now.

What are your biggest concerns about health care?

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 Women of the Andromeda

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

 

What do you think is happening to women?

Numerous Roles for Women

From the beginning, in writing the Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy, I was clear that the women had to be extraordinary. Related is the fact that I have always been captivated and intrigued by the movement to empower women. There is a battle and clearly there was untapped potential. And in that battle women are showing how tenacious they can be.

But I felt I could not begin from pure fantasy. Of course part of what intrigued me was my love of mythology and how it speaks to us. Mermaids keep appearing in myth and I chose them to join us for the adventure. But there were other elements in history that were intriguing. In Adrienne Major’s book The Amazons I learned about some of the real warrior women in history.

Presenting Themsleves

And so the women of the Andromeda came into being. Many Tethyan women were reserved in the sea against the day when the mission for the salvation of our beloved blue planet and humankind would be called. But especially on land there was presently to be a confrontation and warrior women were needed to help.

In the Beginning

But in opening the series it did not seem right to simply have the women rush into battle. Two realities collided. One was that major human conflicts often begin in a low key fashion. One thing with which I collided was myself. I wanted a “normal” beginning related to how people are. So I chose innocent Avery as the lead character who thought she had lost her family and felt abandoned. Little did she know she had an extraordinary family.

But her family wasn’t merely hiding in the sea. It had an organization and women had been chosen and chose themselves to be defenders in the movement to come. And there were certainly enough issues to be combatted in the real world as we understand it today.

Among the People

The Tethyan people fell generally into three groups. The people who lived in cities in the sea called the Primals, the women who came to the land to form families and the defense force of women called the Andromeda. The women in the sea cities searched history and precious documents for the meaning and substance related to their future. The families on land positioned themselves for future dedicated possibilities. And the Andromeda women took on real world missions. These women could be dangerous and violent if needed.

Dedicated Women

The roles women assume are often complicated and in what they feel they must do they often have to resist restraints imposed by the larger society. And such was the case for the Andromeda women. Certainly they could embed themselves in government and corporations, but they could also engage in other forms of intrusion which might be useful. And so some of them became consorts with the powerful, greedy men called the Overlords. From that position they gained valuable insights and information.

I’m sure there are those who will criticize me for putting these women in such positions which are often frowned upon and they may be unfairly criticized for what they dedicated themselves to do. But that was a component of the real world and it needed inclusion.

These women took terrible risks, gave valiant service and, in the writing, addressed a reality which exists now and will in the future. I took delight in them. Brigid was most prominent and strong. She came to her position through tragedy which, of course, is often what leads to dedication. And darling Luisa was irresistible. She was so engaging and clever and seemed innocent. Except she was not innocent but dedicated.

And so fantasy and reality meld and talk truths about our world as it is whether realized or not and the future as it may be. Such dedication often leads to transformation of many kinds.

And I think in the future I may just write detailed stories focused on these amazing women. In the near term there will be posts on each of them.

Do you admire such women?

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

Meshing Fantasy with Unfolding Crises

On By Roger B. BurtIn Cusp of Reality, Struggle, Women Rising, WritingLeave a comment

 

dreamstime_m_42140422

Do you find current world events disturbing or hopeful?

The World Trembles

Again I have to note the title of this blog is Cusp of Reality.

The news recently is chilling. It was not so long ago that the world seemed so much more stable and suddenly it seems almost surreal. Did I somehow move to an alternative planet which bears a strong resemblance to this one, but with an entirely different character? It feels that way and simultaneously I find myself reviewing history as I’m reading the book Postcapitalism by Paul Mason (again).

Inseparable Reality and Fiction

Suddenly we are falling deeper into crisis and it seems they are just beginning. While we cannot know where it will lead the possibilities are far more daunting than hopeful. And then I look at my Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy and see an unfolding of a worldwide crisis. It is very difficult for me to separate the fiction from what may be the reality of what is unfolding in our world whether it is social conflict or dangerous climate change.

Oceans as Models

More and more I’m convinced of the significance of what is called wave theory in human affairs. Waves come in many forms. We can observe the succession of empires in the ancient world, the coming of feudalism moving to capitalism and now seemingly beyond. Each has a wave form and, like waves, there seems to be a culmination and an end. Another wave inevitably follows. Our mighty oceans are deeply significant as models. Likewise politically we see waves of astonishing proportions leading to cataclysmic wars and such things as dynamic economic developments. The march of human history is hardly peaceful, nor is it adequately described as a march.

Melding Truths

It is impossible for me not to respond to what is resonating around me. I have always looked off into the distance and weighed the significance of events and experiences. It would appear that my devotion to my fiction reflects a concern about world affairs. As I have said, I see great truth about humanity in mythology and in my writing I have meshed myth with the empowerment of women.

What Women May Bring

The rise of women is not core to the developing world crises but I see it as a wave of a contrary sort in that it represents something which I believe is of profound significance. It gets little attention but, as in the Gaia’s Majesty Trilogy, the movement of women and the grace they bring to human affairs may well be a determining factor for the outcome of our development.

Tools to Face Our Future

Reality is truly something open to interpretation and vastly different outcomes. It is essential to our stability but, taken as definitive, it may leave us vulnerable and without the tools to manage inevitable crises. Suspending our belief has utility and the search for alternatives of all kinds can help us survive. In the same way fantasy should not be dismissed because it helps us explore and seek alternatives. And that includes coping skills and utility in speculation.

Will we face who we are and our vulnerability? Will we use our skills and our talents to guide us? In future posts I will be addressing themes related to the strengths and weaknesses of humankind as well as elements of vision. Dealing with what is to come requires us to blend reality with tools derived from fantasy and speculation. And my special interest in our world is seeing how the unfolding of the potential of women may serve us.

What is your hope and your fear?

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page

The Search for Matriarchy

On By Roger B. BurtIn Cusp of Reality, Mythology, Women RisingLeave a comment

 

dreamstime_m_7187068

What does matriarchy mean to you?

We Seem To Be Having a Debate.

Was there a time in human history when matriarchal (matriarchy meaning female rulership) societies dominated and then were replaced with serial patriarchy which is where we are now? There seems to be real passion involved and terms such as matriarchalism, matrifocal and matrilineal swirl through the debate.

Notable in the debate is the book The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory: Why An Invented Past Will Not Give Women a Future by Cynthia Eller. Eller is described as setting out “to refute what she describes as feminist matriarchalism as an ‘ennobling lie’”. From what I could see this does not seem to be a dispassionate academic debate. Naturally it is a little hard to rush back into history and see exactly what happened. And reports may be biased. Surprise, surprise.

And then there is the question of how to characterize periods of rule by women. In fact, Britain has a rather long history. Was the time of Queen Elizabeth 1 a matriarchy? How about Queen Victoria and the current queen? Somehow I think matriarchy is a little over the top as a description. Men did not exactly fade away.

Goddesses Are Prominent

Throughout history women have held various kinds of power. Goddesses are prominent in human history and we invoke some truly strong imagery. We describe our planet as being ruled by an earth mother and mother nature is always with us. In fact, I chose Gaia as our Earth Goddess for my trilogy because it invoked the images I sought. Clearly many of the images relate to the fact that each of us has a mother. These are archetypes (recurrent symbols and motifs) with substantive meaning. I do not view them as part of the debate. Something else is going on.

Part of what is going on seems to be an underlying debate about whether patriarchal dominance is inevitable or whether it is a matter of dominance at this time. But, now I’m going to shift gears. The inevitability of male dominance is unlikely and at issue and we are seeing a new movement empowering women.

Then There Are the Feminist Movements

There are other terms of interest. The women’s movement of the 1970s is described as the second wave of feminism. At the time it caught my attention and I found it well worth supporting. And more recently came the third-wave feminist movement beginning in the 1990s. It apparently arose from the backlash against second-wave feminism initiatives. And now we have something called the current feminist sex wars. That seems apt in describing the controversy flowing around Eller’s book.
Debate Versus Goals

Now I’ll ask the question which is the real point of this post. Why are we having this debate at all? Do we have to decide if there is some great given right for men to rule now and forever or if women are brought in to rule does it become eternal. What a monumental waste of time.

At some point we risk wish replacing thought. That description may characterize the debate since there are surely different agendas behind the scene. And so, let me return to Sally Armstrong’s book Uprising: A New Age Is Dawning for Every mother’s Daughter. She describes the movement worldwide and the benefits derived.

Benefits and Justice

It would seem more productive if we focused on the benefits and what constitutes justice of all kinds. As noted, we hear little about the real reason for income inequality, for example. A lot of cards are not on the table when it comes to equality for women and that would be a better focus for analysis and understanding as well as outing the perpetrators.

Equality and Partnership

It might be interesting to view the effects of matriarchy, matrifocal societies and matrilineal processes but it may be they are not going to give guidance in the current circumstances. It would seem more productive to accept the benefits of empowerment of women and to look at the barriers to equality and partnership in our present day. Then we can set an agenda and do away with squabbles about history. We have work to do in the here and now.

Gaia’s Majesty: Discovery Amazon page

Roger B. Burt’s Amazon home page