sI: Bond For Trust

Social Innovation (sI) Bonds For Trust

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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    The truth is that I was thinking about the idea of re-claiming the body. What does this idea mean, and where and why does it stem into existence? We are all given a body. The body is formed with all our inner parts, bones, blood flow, hairs, and flesh. So how do we clothe our flesh, our body? Part of how we choose what we wear is dependant upon who we are as human beings, how we are formulated and shaped through our experience of being human. Of course during our years as babies, and childhood years, we are clothed by our parents, guardians, or care givers. What I am specifically interested in, is the experience that have shaped our outer garments. Let us take the example of being a woman. Many feminists would argue that if a woman desires to reveal her femininity, that she is trying to fit into a world that is shaped through the ideas of masculinity, and male dominance. We could say this is because of a woman's desire to express her femininity. However, what feminists, or  feminist philosophy must also take into consideration is that a woman often desires the look of femininity, simply because she desires the look, or expression through personality or clothing. In others words is being herself, who she wants to be. It is not to please, or gain attention.  It is because this is how she desires to clothe herself.

     I have always placed and situated myself away from feminist philosophy, or identifying as a feminist. Not because I have not read feminist theory, or I don't think that women's topics are important, or valid, or I don't think women have the same rights as men, or that women's issues are not important, because in fact they are. I think that if I said that Womens topics were far from gone, I would actually be a contradiction to myself, because of the barriers that I have had to fight through as a parent, a student academic, and professional. But why do I choose to stand outside the feminist arena?

     I have always believed that any form of extremism is unhealthy. There must be a healthy balance. Many of my readers will probably know of my love for the words homeostasis, or equilibrium, all to articulate this idea of balance. In this case we can relate to the words to the feminism topic. Whilst we say that women's topics are important, we have to take away the extreme, to remember that men's topics are of importance as well. Historically we can think of male patriarchy, or male dominance, but when we think of these categories, we have to also remember that these are specific pockets of the population. When we think of a women's vulnerability, we can actually think of a man's vulnerability, or any gender for that matter. A mans vulnerability is not something we think of as a normative, this is due to the male stereotype of that being of strength, dominance, control, or the bread winner of a household. But we cannot and should not generalize, upon these view points, or stereotypes.

     Many of my readers will know or have read previously of my work in homeless shelters, where I encountered the most vulnerable of men. Men with this deep desire to be needed, loved, and cared for. Whether you choose to agree with me, or disagree with me, there are populations of men that do not fit the ideas of male dominance or masculinity, it is a truth that is too often ignored. We can also bring this point to the level of youth and education. While we must continue to invest in girls, we must also continuously invest in boys, so that these stereotypes are broken down, explored, and discussed.

     Equality can be achieved when we think, and believe that it can and will happen. No system is founded upon dis-trust. Bonds of trust are created, invested in, and maintained. The status-quo is not changed, continuously improved, where there is dis-trust. Bonds of trust must always be put in place. This is what is known as fidelity, it is crucial to the crux of innovations, and social innovation. Because the one's who are steering the innovations and evolutions must be trusted. This steering is not only precious for the bonds that have been created for and through trust, but also for the people, and populations that are being served. 

Dedication: The words of this human being are dedicated to all beings. Own and claim your body, it houses your soul and your spirit. My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on November 30th, 2017.
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