You philosophers out there know that what we write about on this site is called metaphysics. Metaphysics is that branch of philosophy which searches for the essence or truth of whatever is being examined. The most profound question that can be asked of a philosopher is what is the distinction between reality and illusion? Or related to our species today—what the heck is happening in the human community? In this essay we are going to focus on the distaff half of humanity and especially address the concerns of those active in the #MeToo movement.
Why are women treated so unjustly in the Global Village? If you follow our lead beginning with this essay you will find the answer to that question. But why are we just now getting to asking questions like these? “These are truly unchartered waters for the country. We have in the past argued over the values to be applied to objective reality, or occasionally over what constituted objective reality, but never the existence or relevance of objective reality itself.” (1) Well it’s high time that we did!
In 1931 Virginia Woolf addressed members of the London and National Society for Women’s Service focusing on her experience as a female author. She made it clear that misogyny prevented women from living life itself, “how writers need experiences to write about, but women are kept from or judged for having them, or their experience is diminished, disbelieved, denied.” (2)
Too little has changed in the last 80 years since Woolf ended her life in despair. We believe the change that is needed begins with a change in worldview. Hillary Clinton seems to agree that our story needs to be modified. “We have not yet developed a modern, future-oriented narrative.” (3)
The context trapping women in subordinate positions is global and so are the results. “The full spectrum of gender-based violence also encompasses, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, domestic battering, sexual exploitation, violation of reproductive rights, ‘honor’ killings and rape. Not to mention all kinds of threats and abuses of power that hurt women physically, sexually, economically and psychologically.” (4)
Equal rights for women might be emerging in a location where we would least expect it—the Middle East. In Kurdish-controlled northern Syria the patriarchy appears to be breathing its last breath. “By law, every government institution in Kurdish-controlled Syria has a co-president or co-chairman of each sex, and most government boards and committees have to be equally mixed by gender as well—except for women’s institutions, which are led by only women.” (5)
Now let’s get down to the very roots of the gender controversy by clicking on the link below.
Insight # 59: It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior. — Nathaniel Brandon
Link:
- Women in The ABC’s of Simple Reality, The Encyclopedia of Self-Transformation, Vol II (2018), by Roy Charles Henry.
References:
- Baker, Katie J. M. “What Do We Do With These Men? The New York Times Sunday. April 29, 2018, page 7.
- Chocano, Carina. “Conventional Wisdom.” The New York Times Magazine. October 28, 2018, page 12.
- Galanes, Philip. “Pain and Progress After 2016.” The New York Times Sunday. September 17, 2018, page 8.
- Barbara, Vanessa. “How I Learned to Yell.” The New York Times. November 12, 2018, page 9.
- Nordland, Rod. “Women are Free, Armed, in Syria’s Kurdish-Controlled North.” February 25, 2018, page 10.
