Gebara Chapter 2 – Evil and Gender – thought #4
“Daily life is the fight to live for today, to look for work, to do the cooking, to bathe children and do laundry, to exchange the gestures of love, to find meaning in life… Daily life, and especially that of a woman, is a place where history is made and where different forms of oppression and unacknowledged forms of Evil show up.” (pg 77-78)
I was talking to someone tonight about Families.
Sociologists describe the Family as the most critical –and most violent – institution in existence.
I notice that in today’s culture, the Family has taken a back seat to everything else. Children are raised by daycares and school teachers to enable Mothers and Fathers to run the world, to make a buck, and to “find themselves”. As a result, things are running amok. (In my humble opinion). Children are paying the price, and Women are taking the blame. I don’t care what men say or do … if a woman wants to change this, she can do so … she can refuse to play that way anymore. Instead of focusing her energies on trying to change men, she can use that same energy to change how SHE does stuff. It’s hard work, and it’s met with –sometimes violent – resistance … but with intuition (a specialty of women), hard work (after generations of practice of doing hard work), and dedication (a ‘staple’ of motherhood), I have strong faith that it can be done. And, as women are renowned for their networking/community-building skills, we all know we’ll have each others’ backs …
To sum it up, I’ll amend Gebara’s quote: Daily life, and especially that of a woman, is a place where history is made and where different forms of oppression and unacknowledged forms of Evil are defeated.
There now. Isnt’ that just so much more refreshing?
So - I'll be honest: I read this one several times before deciding to respond. I guess it's one of the things that keep me coming back to your blog - you really make me think. Thank you for that, my friend. Your insights are engaging and, well, insightful. And helpful. They cause me to consider my world in a new way, and I am always in the need for that.
ReplyDeleteYes - it is much more refreshing. Our history is full of repression and despair, so it's encouraging to see people take things seriously without taking them to heart. Does that make sense? Because I agree with you - the battle does go on, but the battle will be won in the end.
The family IS the basic unit of society. I've always felt that women represent not only the heart of that unit, but the repository of the refinements of society we call culture. All that is good and uplifting and wholesome comes from the influence of powerful, worthy women who bear the light for all to see, influencing the world one kind look, one gentle interaction, and one powerful step at a time. Again, I usually find myself in awe of women, a respectful, adoring kind of awe.
thank you.
Mmmm. And thank you!
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