Minorities

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 4

Posted onThursday 14 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel Conclusion In closing, this book interested me for a number of reasons — primarily that of why intelligent and educated women stay in religions which effectively exploit them. I say “intelligent and educated” because I…

Is there organized religion after patriarchy? pt. 3

Posted onWednesday 13 February 2013Sunday 10 February 2013

After Patriarchy: Feminist Transformations of the World Religions, edited by Paula M. Cooey, William R. Eakin, & Jay B. McDaniel Judaism Continuing with the quick review of the articles contained within this provocatively titled book, we move to Judith Plaskow’s “Transforming the Nature of Community: Toward a Feminist People of Israel.” She argues that Jewishness…

Unspoken Worlds article reviews, pt. 3

Posted onSunday 10 February 2013Saturday 9 February 2013

Interrelatedness One of the precepts of ecofeminism (at least as I attempt to practice it) is the recognition of not only the value and beauty of both human bodies and the physical world, but also of our deep spiritual and genetic connections with all that is. This is, I think, a serious issue with most…

Unspoken Worlds article reviews, pt. 2

Posted onSaturday 9 February 2013Friday 8 February 2013

The Divine Feminine The entire modern concept of Goddess (whether omnipotent or not) is still relatively new and shocking to many, though it has much more ancient roots than most of us imagine. Nevertheless, when faced with even a modest conceptualization of Goddess, most members of the modern androcentric world religions react with quick anger….

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 4

Posted onSunday 3 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

Talking with male friends, the general consensus I hear seems to be that manhood is more about taking care of yourself so others do not have to do it for you, and then meeting all your other obligations as well – to family, to society, to work, and so on. What most strikes me about…

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 3

Posted onSaturday 2 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

What’s even more weirdly interesting is that we’ve seen this sort of social upheaval in gender roles happen before — though we didn’t recognize it at the time – in the inner city black communities. It started in the 1970s as manufacturing started closing the inner city factories, and then too, “the men who lived…

“The End of Men: & the Rise of Women” by H. Rosin, part 2

Posted onFriday 1 February 2013Thursday 31 January 2013

Why did I find this book so disturbing? In some ways I completely agree with the author: “the picture emerging is a mirror image of the traditional gender map: men and [economic] markets on the side of the irrational and overemotional, and women on the side of the cool and levelheaded” (166; italics mine). If…

Community Service Personal Reflection Journal

Posted onMonday 29 October 2012

Most of my journaling for this class has already been posted here, in Collie’s Bestiary. However, in perusing the syllabus for this class, I re-read that the journal is supposed to consist, amongst other things, of “any other personal observations or revelations which may occur. Entries might include observations about the community work and her…

“Ending Violent Crime Cheaply & Permanently” by Medicine Story, pt. 2

Posted onSaturday 27 October 2012

In a fascinating storytelling style, Medicine Story shares the startlingly successful program he and various other Native American elders created to assist incarcerated men. Initially it was just for Native Americans, and included women’s circles, but over the years (due to a wide variety of reasons) the men’s circles were the only ones that continued,…

“Ending Violent Crime Cheaply & Permanently” by Medicine Story, pt. 1

Posted onFriday 19 October 2012Monday 22 October 2012

Ending Violent Crime Cheaply & Permanently: A Vision of A Society Free of Violence by Manitonquat (Medicine Story) is an astonishing little book — one I might have had trouble believing if I hadn’t already stumbled elsewhere across some of the statistics mentioned. It is self-published as well: surprisingly short but very concise and readable….