tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6171296868274970791.post6293381688115156342..comments2023-10-24T01:09:33.943-07:00Comments on indigoalison: The view from hereUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6171296868274970791.post-75720435204705029832010-05-21T02:54:29.482-07:002010-05-21T02:54:29.482-07:00For the most part, children will value what they a...For the most part, children will value what they are taught to value. <br />If in a society girls are praised for being thoughtful, and boys are praised for being competitive, then this will become the norm for each gender. <br /><br />The problem cannot be pinned on <br />"women...further up institutional food chains// to get to the top and stay there most women lose sight of what makes them strong". <br /><br />Because once a certain type of highly competitive societal structure/system/ or "food chain" is in place, then it's crush or be crushed/ eat or be eaten. Bowing before those that would eat you is not something even pacifist Ghandi would encourage. <br />It seems very short-sighted to put the blame on the few that try to challenge such a system in any way whatsoever.<br /><br />So, the problem cannot be attributed to the handful of women that learn to climb within this close-knit network in which men regularly are praised and women diminished for the same values.<br />Women still regularly earn less for the same work, and are no doubt expected to care for family as well.<br />To those women, I say 'kudos'; simply by being there, they are creating a change within that system. It may not be enough of a change, but it's a start.<br /><br />The real problem is that boys need to be taught different values. No longer should we smile when boys act thoughtlessly or selfishly. "Boys will be boys" is far too often uttered to excuse poor behaviour by boys.<br /><br />If we want to live in a society that values a different kind of strength, then boys too need to be taught the importance of generosity, of being kind, and of respect, the same way that girls are taught.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com