Exploring the Impact of Social Environment on Gender Roles and Societal Dynamics

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Gender roles and societal dynamics are not solely determined by biology but are significantly shaped by nurture, culture, family situation, and the social environment. The dichotomy of nature versus nurture is considered a distraction as the social environment, including family, economics, education, and overall surroundings, plays a crucial role in either supporting or inhibiting innate capacities. Society, through its structure and values, guides individuals towards certain behaviors and norms, influencing their perception of what is deemed normal. Despite the existing dominance in society, fostering a culture of equality and partnership can lead individuals to incline towards a partnership system, highlighting the influence of social dynamics on biological inclinations like empathy and caring, which have evolved over time in various species.

On this episode, Nate is joined by systems scientist Riane Eisler to discuss her decades of work studying ‘domination’ and ‘partnership’ societies throughout history and what it might mean to transition to more sustainable societies in the future. What we value at the individual and family level directly translates to the way we frame our governance systems - societies that emphasize empathy and caring also implement the same types of policies and values. How could we foster the more cooperative side of our humanity across all scales to create empowered communities and balanced decision making? What societies - past and present - lean towards a partnership paradigm and what benefits do their people receive? Is it possible to move away from violence and control oriented systems and into ones that value wide boundaries of empathy and understand the vital nature of care work?

About Riane Eisler

Riane Eisler is the President of the Center for Partnership Systems, which provides practical applications of her work, and Editor in Chief of the online Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies published at the University of Minnesota. Eisler’s innovative whole-systems research offers new perspectives and practical tools for constructing a less violent, more egalitarian, gender-balanced, and sustainable future. She is author of many books, including The Chalice and the Blade, now in its 57th US printing and 27 foreign editions, The Real Wealth of Nations, and Nurturing Our Humanity co-authored with Douglas P. Fry. For more information, see www.rianeeisler.com and www.centerforpartnership.org.

Find out more, and show notes: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/116-riane-eisler

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UUF5XWOxVdY