Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Michael E. Tigar: David, I'm going to answer this question based upon the third and fourth and fifth centuries of the Common Era. [Origine Perneau], of the Centre Jeanne d'Arc, The Center of Joan of Arc in France, has written a book called "La Femme au tourne des Cathedrales," “Women in the Time of the Cathedrals” and has pointed to the crucial role of women in the early church. Now this is not going to be sort of a religious homily or try to make us all become the good Roman Catholic, not at all. But that book and the study of the Joan of Arc Institute contains powerful, powerful insights about the role of women and of feminist ideology in important social struggles, to the extent where the church “fathers” had to suppress these women's movements in those succeeding centuries. So my first observation is that that really is a hell of a question and an extremely important one. And my second answer is that now the struggle must begin. It must begin in your country and in my country, where despite the fact that women have the vote, and their numbers have increased in the professions, they are confronting the glass ceiling that prevents them from rising into positions of true power. That is an issue that we must address in the context of our own societies and to the extent we have power to do it. We as white men of a certain age probably ought to set an example by making sure that we are mentoring and encouraging and working with powerful and articulate women so that they are with us and take their place in wielding whatever power you and I in our lives are able to wield; and for others, to deal with these issues of gender discrimination in our workplaces, in our educational system, in all aspects of our lives. We need to be conscious of the ways in which we have internalized certain attitudes about male dominance and address those issues.

by Michael E. Tigar

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Michael Laitman: The correlation between men and women in governing human society does not have to be equal. We think this way, because from our point of view this appears to be truth and justice. But in reality, this is completely not so. We are tearing women out of their natural sphere: out of the family, bringing up children, the household, building a home, and building a family. Precisely this is bringing us to the disintegration of families, to divorces and to all the negative phenomena that are so widespread today in modern society. As the result of all these phenomena, precisely women turn out to be miserable and feel unhappy. This fictitiousness, this lie that a man and a woman can be equal according to our arbitrary measures, without any consideration of their gender and the natural position of each one in their niche—precisely this makes the world so unbalanced, in spite of the laws of nature. The boundary between the sexes must be preserved, and we must always take the nature of each sex into consideration. We have to understand that we must take into consideration the characteristics of the female psychology, the role of a woman in giving birth to and developing the generations. What we are seeing today is precisely the result of our desire to pull or tear a woman out of her natural setting, out of the family and the home, and to bring her to govern human society, to participate against her natural desire in the functioning of various social systems. This is completely not her place. The equality lies in that we must attribute equal significance and give equal opportunities to each sex, but not level them out completely, as if they do not differ in any way.

by Michael Laitman

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Michael P. Totten: Well, we certainly have to. That’s a general broad question, and when we move to specifics, perhaps a common ground for universal human rights that certainly can and should be vigorously pursued. There may be some areas that come into conflict and that requires much more of a deliberative process of discussion and conversation, to find common ground there. But to respect the human being and the rights of everyone to have a minimum of social rights and well-being, it’s something that has a universal meaning to us across all religions and cultures. Where the conflicts may arise because we have had religious conflicts, and cultural conflicts forever, dialogues and multi-logues are absolutely vital. Since, when people share lots of common threads in other ways that helps to nurture discussions in those more painful areas where there may be sharp distinction. But the fact that we have families that come from extremely different religious and cultural background and yet show the love that is possible in bringing up children to lead a positive life is an existence proof that solutions are found. So, we need to bring that kind of consciousness to the community and the national and the global level. Certainly, where conflict is inevitable, we need to find I think an early warning process that prevents us from flaring up into the types of conflagration what we have seen in past century. My brother, Dr. Sam Totten has been involved for the past quarter century of--[audio ends].

by Michael P. Totten

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Mohammed Arkoun: We make always the experience of the inequality of women and of the nearly impossible challenge to change the mentality vis-à-vis the role of the woman in society and of their contribution to change the mentality themselves concerning the construction of a more harmonic society which is more open minded concerning equality in general. The traditional and archaic societes sattle the women with rules which are quiet alarming concerning the future of women in these societes which is equal with the future of the whole societes. Because if a societe doesn't considere the situation of the women all problems of inequality will consist. You have to consider first of all the musselman societes which are numerous all around the world and where exists a large number of citizens who are in favour of a maintenance of the islamic law system and who want the women to stay in a situation completely unsustainable vis-a-vis the position which women should have and vis-à-vis the voting rights women should benefit from in a modern society. I'm talking about the islamic example because of my own large knowledge about this religion but there are also other societys where women smart under a considerable backwandness in equality and we are inclined to forget that even in Europe and in this way in the countries of the Occident, women have to continue fighting for a larger equality.

by Mohammed Arkoun

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Mohau Pheko: I think that this is a very important question that how can society move ahead without women's full participation at the table. It's an extremely challenging table. I think, first of all, we have got to change what we mean and confront what manhood is and confront what womanhood is because I think that there are tremendous distortions about what a man is and what a woman is, but especially what a man is. And the definitions that we have today create a situation where manhood becomes defined with dominance, defined with more power, defined with more privilege, defined with more supremacy and I think that we have got to transform and deconstruct our world in such a way that we are defining our society and the roles that women and men play in a way that brings a balance to the world. How do we do this? We do this by ensuring that both women and men's wisdoms are valued in the same way. The intellect that both women and men bring to the table is valued in the same way that women's creative spirits, women's innovative spirit is valued in the same way. And I think that I would almost advance the notion that we need a feminine principle in the way that we look at power in the world today that we are not looking at questions of power, questions of decision making, questions of economic planning through the eyes of women. And I think that by missing out on that aspect of life, we miss out on such tremendous values that women can and do bring to the table. So, I think that fundamentally, we have to bring these wisdoms and value them and authenticate them and legitimize them in the same way and begin to I think deconstruct and subjugate the source of powers that bring dominance [audio ends].

by Mohau Pheko

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Monira Rahman: Obviously this is the question of women in positions of taking decisions, the political power of women. Otherwise, how it is possible to establish a balance and harmony between an equal rights between men and women? And as I said earlier, it is again the political empowerment of women. Obviously, as few women are in a position of power, and therefore it is difficult for establishing this policy structure and system laws in accordance for women empowerment and equality and equity. The education, economy, politics, everywhere in social development aspects, it is very much important that women are in a position that can take decisions, can lead and in that way the society has a balance and harmony. And obviously it is not just the number of women in power; it is important that values that sanctions equality and equity. It is not a question about even men in power. It is important that the men are owning the values of the gender equity, but obviously it is not possible for men to realize the concerns for women development and gender equality. So it is very important that women are in positions of taking decisions can make the laws, policies and system for this world and can lead the education system…

by Monira Rahman

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Nadja Halilbegovich: I absolutely agree it’s true that women are still at a disadvantage and that we have an imbalance and that they are not equal participants in all areas of society. However, I do think that we are on the right track as women. I think that we’ve have had in the past and currently in the present have women who are strong role models, women who are proving their intelligence, their courage, their capability in all areas that we excel. So, I think we just need to constantly work on creating this balance, men and women working together, working equally, being paid equally and fairly. I think that it also lies in us, women. I think that we need to feel sisterhood amongst each other and amongst ourselves; we need to encourage one another and empower one another. And I certainly have had dozens of role models, women who’ve inspired me in my life and I hope someday that I can be that someone for someone else, my child some day. And I think that is the way to go; just keep walking in our common dream of achieving fairness and equality in the world.

by Nadja Halilbegovich

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Neela Marikkar: Well, the reality is it is very much a man’s world. It is a boy’s club in many, many areas. But, I think it's a challenge that women have to address, and I think that women, ourselves, we have been very silent on this. We have not been out there changing the way that our men folk think of us, and look at us, and value us. I think the challenge is we can influence this, because after all we are mothers, we are wives, we are sisters, we are daughters. So, we should be the ones out there changing this, women, we -- we are the ones who actually perpetuate the myth, by the way we bring up our sons, by the way that we act with our own -- within our families. We accept this role, we don’t want to change it. So, I think that the challenge is with us. We need to go out there, we need to lobby, we need to insist on greater participation in governance, in policy making, in Board rooms, in corporate sector. I think that if we don’t go out there and speak for ourselves, and we don’t do it starting in our own homes, and try to change our views, with our own sons and our own husbands, and others, we are never going to change it. I think the change begins with us. We have to start thinking differently, and with that difference is what we raise our families with, and hopefully they will go out and change the way that they think, and that’s how we start the change.

by Neela Marikkar

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Oliviero Toscani: Social harmony. If we talk about power again, being in power. Yes, probably they are not really in power in corporation. In those positions where – but they lost the power probably in place where actually they have to be powerful actually as a mother in a family. Women lost their power there and probably this is the reason why we are losing in harmony. I don’t think that this is the major reason of the lack of social harmony. Probably we don’t have to put everything on work. But on education, where are those mother that use to educate? Those kids are missing; I mean the role of women in the world education got lost. I guess lost its power. And I think women should take that role, take that role back and do educate their children and educating their children means educating the society. I think this is a very important basic role that women should play. We are missing those mothers.

by Oliviero Toscani

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Oscar Olivera: This is....basically thought from a western, capitalistic perspective, institutional form, that excludes women from any possibility to conduct their lives. A chauvinistic, racist, exclusionary, discriminating society. However, i think that the only alternative is to regain our values, our culture []. I think, if we are able to regain conditions, where the participation of all the members of the comunity isn’t strictly not to question the male sex, the superior, but where also women, children, adolescents are part of this construct of life, well, then we won’t be in a position to ask questions like this one.

by Oscar Olivera

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Paul Knight: Feminine values have been so minimized within our communities. This question, I think, is really goes down to looking at how our society is constructed. One could argue that why saying women’s values or women’s input is minimized within our societies on one hand because they’re not represented in a lot of positions of power. On the other hand in many of these positions of power there’s women involved behind the scenes and so they can get their point across, can get their values into the debate. It’s just a matter of how they’re portrayed. And I think in that respect the issue is the profile and the perception of those that women aren’t having a say when the reality is they quite well may be. They quite well could be getting their voice and their opinions across it’s just done because the scenes. So to say that there’s no balance here I think could be a bit of an issue with our understanding what’s really happening. I’m not saying it doesn’t, that women’s input isn’t minimized within our societies, but I think it’s one of those issues where we really need to focus on what are the interactions around our societies? How can work with insuring that input of people around us is all being put into the mixing bowl, if you like, regardless of agenda, regardless of racial background. It’s that mixing point that needs to be focused on and how you get that voice in there. And I think it really matters whether you’re the one actually saying it. But it’s having the opportunity to have that voice and to throw your hat in the ring, if you like, into a debate. And so I don’t think it’s a matter of the perceived balance that could create greater--

by Paul Knight

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Pauline Tangiora: That is a great question, David, and it’s a challenging question. From my perspective, I find that it is a bit hard to answer. Not having your background in Canada, I can say, I know three wonderful group of women, the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers For Peace, whose 13 of them whose ages add up to over 850 years, a powerful, powerful group of women. There is the Women’s International Meet for Peace and Freedom. They created this organization in 1915 as a protest against war. It is nearly a 100 years since it was inspired, and it is still going strong. In my own country, of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, we have wonderful women leaders who have been going since 1952. Now, when you look from my local base to a world base, I find that we do have women in the world who are in positions of power, who have feminine values, but they are not minimized for those. Yes, we have also women in power who do not have a balance and a harmony in their lives. But that’s in all things in life. And I would not like to say that we have only a few women in power who do not have balance and harmony.

by Pauline Tangiora

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Pico Iyer: I am afraid I take issue with the question. I think feminine values are everywhere, not least in masculine people. Most of us I think have a balance between feminine and masculine. I think The Economist, just two weeks ago, ran an article about how feminine qualities, however you choose to define them, are more and more evident in the workplace. In my own part of the world, South Asia, there have been many feminine leaders, not always with wonderful results. Indira Gandhi brought India to what’s known as the emergency in the country. Whereas born in England, Margaret Thatcher came to power, and I think many of us feel that she introduced one of the harshest and most heartless societies that Britain has known in recent decades. When Benazir Bhutto came to power in Pakistan or Mrs. Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka, I don't think it’s necessarily evident that they brought a compassion or empathy or sensitivity that their male counterparts and successors didn’t. So, I think that’s not totally in terms of men or women. Let’s talk about individuals. When Nelson Mandela or the Dalai Lama comes to power, I don't think we have to say that they are masculine or feminine leaders. I think we just see that they are humans who have developed their capacities to a greater or to lesser extent. And I think as long as we are remaining fixed in these dualities, that male against female or black against white, or Eastern against Western, we have perpetuated the system. And we are limiting it, and we are encouraging the assumption that males are excluded from certain virtues and that women are excluded from certain decisions. And I think we can usefully free ourselves from such categories and see that women have a larger part of men and then men of women.

by Pico Iyer

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Rachid ElDaif: I don't know. I'm not convinced, how should I say, if this is a good question. The power doesn't change if it is man or women or a mix of both who have the power. The power is determined by other things, other factors. I don't know. By money, by social classes by many factors but I don't think that there is a change if women come to power. I don't think so.

by Rachid ElDaif

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Raymond Federman: Well, we already had a question to that effect. They had a role, the place of women in our world, in our society. Basically, it is up to women to assert their power, and they have a certain power and of course, their sensitivity, their intelligence is very often misused, minimized, exploited. There are certain countries and I must say that in America, women has indeed asserted a lot of their position, and it wouldn’t be surprising if very soon a woman which will be elected President of the United States. I am sure she will do a much better job than the cowboy from Texas that we have now. To create a balance, I don’t know if it will ever be possible. Throughout history, women have always been relegated to secondary positions. I, as a writer, who have been teaching creative writing for many years in university, I say that great writers of the future will be women, and it is true that suddenly we see that happening all over the world that some of the great writers, the great novels that are coming out in the world are not just novels, the great works of fiction are those written by women. Woman who had to suffer and unable to serve because of their subserviant position in relation to the male in their country, in their society are now emerging, it does open in this field. I think in the next few decades, we will see that women are going to be equal, at least in a part of the world, that is if religion in certain country does not prevent them from being what they are, have evolved. Women are not servants.

by Raymond Federman

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Robbie Conal: It can’t. Let’s face it guys, it just fucking can’t. The question is whether the human society wants to be in harmony and balance. If that’s an objective of human society, if that has anything to do with what human society is about. If it does and if it is, got to get it out guys. But, I am not so sure that that’s the value system of the most societies on the planet right now. What the hell? How could it hurt to share power with a woman? What kind of power are we talking about anyway? It makes me sad that sexism is hanging on for so long around the planet. It’s fucked up. It makes you feel good anyway. We aren't going to be ravished by a race of Amazons, and personally I can’t wait. I wish -- I am ready right now. Take my power please. I mean I am not the right person. I don’t have any, but it's downright crazy for women not to have equal share of power with men. What’s up with that? That’s a genetic thing -- let me change that -- maybe that’s something that the genome project is good for. Tweak them genes. Are your genes feeling a little tight? Let’s make it tighter, let’s make it tight like that. That's what Louis Armstrong would do. [inaudible] [audio ends].

by Robbie Conal

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Rodrigo Baggio: That is true. But it is very important to see that the feminine participation in the enterprises, in the whole society in general is growing. And it is growing due to a very important richness in this type of practice. And it is also fundamental to perceive that some of the women in positions of power assume a masculine characteristic of power, of cohesion when they are in positions of power. It is just this feminine side, this side of the feminine which not only women have in a very beautiful way, but men should also to let flow this side, this feminine side which stimulates the intuition. Finally it is very important that we can, concerning our attitutes, develop to balance our masculine and feminine side. I really hope that each time more women can develop this posture and win space and conquer space in our society. Women that can be presidents not only of big corporations and big urban organizations, but also of countries. So I see that this is part of the future of the development, of the evolution of our country, the bigger balance also between the feminine and the masuline in our society, leading a more harmonic society in which these two fundamental sides, these fundamental sides which have to reflect themselves in the governments of our countries, of our enterprises and urban organizations, can be reinforced.

by Rodrigo Baggio

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Roland Berger: Well, I know that this issue is on agenda in the world, but, firstly, I should say that there is no clear correlation between the number of women, who bear responsibility, and the harmony that rules in a society. Harmony can also exist in men-ruled societies, which is mostly the case nowadays. However I should say, it’s absolutely unfair und culturally backward if we don’t give women the same chances as men. Due to their specific emotional and human experience and their biological constitution women certainly posess particular abilities which could contribute much into the harmony among people. That’s why, I believe, women should have more influence on the world affairs. We should do everything to give women the same education chances in order it’s possble for them to be involved into organisation of the world. Moreover, men and women should fairly share their resposibility for the society and therewith their children, their families. This way women will also acquire the chances belonging to them and that would contribute to creating harmonious world.

by Roland Berger

Sep 9, 2006 11:20:00 AM cite

Sanar Yurdatapan: Well, it is a fact. Even in my country, the members of the parliament, less women exist today than it was years and years ago. But we should not be pessimistic on this because economic change brings independence in women. Simply, in the beginning years of capitalism, feudals did not like people leave their countries, but capitalists needed workers, more and more workers, who were cheaper. Then the women started working and then the children, bitter years; but it was the beginning of the independence of women when she has her own flow of income. In my country now, many unhappy women being beaten by their husbands; but with many children, they usually say that “How can I leave home because I am not educated; I cannot earn money and with these three children, what can I do?” Even if she was educated and she was able to work and earn some money, of course, this [had been] with some children, but it may come to such an extent that they said, “Enough, I have money; I will get my own life now; I will not suffer anymore.” But then comes the second thing, the mentality. Maybe all of the people [inaudible] “What are you doing? You are leaving your husband and home. That’s your husband, and whatever he does you have to obey him.” And even her own father and mother would not accept her turn back to their home. So, it will take a longer time to change the mentality, but economic change brings the first step and the others will follow this way or that way.

by Sanar Yurdatapan