Riane Eisler TEDx: Economic Growth Doesn’t Measure Wellbeing?
Riane Eisler is presenting a new perspective on economics within a feminine context with the next generation in mind. She offers a new economics that focuses on solving problems, accurate measures and wellbeing. She speaks of the real wealth of a nation in caring, this has nothing to do with money in truth. She speaks of caring in economics and partnership economics, this is based on equality which is the natural order.
Note caring is not a motherhood statement it is our true nature. It is what makes life worthwhile. It is extraordinary to me that females are seen as ‘carers’ and men see themselves as ‘providers’. Nothing could be further from the truth in respect of humankind. We are shape changed by gender but our nature is to care for one another, naturally. Women have had permission to fully expressed this men have been largely suppressed by other men as caring is seen as weak and being ‘a girl’. It is not. It is the real strength of humanity. The feminine has been largely undervalued and I would say taken for granted as women can be selfless and typically don’t demand a price on caring. Women are devalued, of that I have directly experienced. I experience it as put downs and being ignored in respect of my opinion or if it is not science or technology the socio-emotional work is not seen as a skill that is innate coming from nature and powerfully empowering. It is the very foundation of life itself. Riane calls it social wealth. We are experiencing social breakdown. I see this as the neglect of caring in favour of making money or career. The result is evident in drug and alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, loneliness, disease and general unhappiness etc.
Riane states the status of women is a better predicator of general quality of life and long term economic success than GDP. I would agree with this. It is often unseen but it is impact heavy. She speaks of poverty and indicates the mass of the poor are women and children (I am one of them). Not because of discrimination but due to the caring work that women do is by most nations fail to support this work, she says. I would add that discrimination is definitely part of it in my experience, as I had talent and ability but I was not afforded the same opportunities as men, I saw it subtly at work.
Riane speaks of a full spectrum economic map. I agree. It is not about dominance, that has been the male projection of power in my view. I say this with love and respect for men. My hope is we can work together for a better future for the next generation that more than survives. She speaks of economic suicide in not investing in human capital development. This equates to the social fabric. I have noted that investments are in respect to where money will be generated as human wellbeing is not viewed as of value. Child care is deemed appropriate in child care centres to break the nexus with mothers as the desire is to create controllable frequencies. It means that children become institutionalised and mailable to mind control through technologies. I don’t know if Riane is aware of this. In my view greed makes people blind to the real value in life as the focus is profit maximisation as identity, status and profit which serves the self rather than the many. When you work for humanity, as I am doing, money no longer holds values. What holds value for me is living my true nature which I have found expresses through caring, sharing, revealing and healing – LOVE.
In respect of the value of housework or caring work, I note that in Australia at the turn of the century a male could go to court to gain compensation if his wife was ill to pay for a household domestic worker, yet she was never paid. Women today do it all still – work, housework, caring for parents, children, friends, shopping and full time work. I know they are exhausted. It is incredible that this burden is laid at their feet. I look at the males and I note they (in some cases) won’t help as they see it as women’s work, particularly less educated or older men. There is no appreciation or awareness and this is where salient entitlement (normalised) occurs. They expect it. I do not choose to be a slave to anyone. If my fate is to be alone, that is fine by me. I am seeking equality with a man, nothing less. My husband was an incredible person, he and I shared everything. He was not brought up as a traditional man, he just naturally worked with me as an equal – we shared washing, cleaning, cooking and shopping but not money. I believed in independence there. I never met another like him again. I loved how we seamlessly just helped each other out of love and kindness, it was true equality. There was no prescriptive work for ‘she’ or ‘he’. He is a humble man, I saw that as a trait I deeply admired. He had an intelligence that was not about winning but exploring, expressing and explaining what he believed. He was also quiet and didn’t have any desire to dominate, neither did I. I didn’t tell him what to wear as I didn’t mind what he chose. I never expected him to agree with me but to be himself. I always look back with a deep gratitude that I had the privilege of being with such a beautiful man who taught me of the greatness in men, that is why I love men. He was truly my best friend and my partner. That is the basis of partnership economics and probably why I am the person I am.
Below is an excerpt from Riane’s website. https://rianeeisler.com/
RIANE EISLER, JD is President of the Center for Partnership Studies and internationally known as a systems scientist, attorney working for the human rights of women and children, and author of groundbreaking books such as The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future, now in 26 foreign editions, and The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics. Dr. Eisler has received many honors, including honorary PhDs and peace and human rights awards. She lectures worldwide, with venues including the United Nations General Assembly, the U.S. Department of State, Congressional briefings, universities, corporations, conference keynotes, and events hosted by heads of State.