The Balance of Power

I have a great co-worker who shares interesting things she reads. That is one thing I love about working - the chance to spend time with people who are at least somewhat interested in the things I'm interested in. This morning, she sent me this article to read: The Balance of Power - By David Rothkopf | Foreign Policy
Basically, the point of the article is this: we make a big deal when women are in positions of power - but does this represent real progress for women? Women make up 20% of governing bodies but are 50% of the population! As the author writes: "Because these figures are so familiar to us, so broadly accepted, we end up celebrating the occasional story of progress or individual success as representing far greater gains than are actually being realized." And because I can't say it any better than the author did, this point is made:

...the underrepresentation of women in positions of power is proof not so much that men still dominate the top of the pyramid as it is of a system of the most egregious, widespread, pernicious, destructive pattern of human rights abuses in the history of civilization. There is no genocide against any people that has produced more victims than the number of females who have lost their lives to discrimination against the birth of girl babies (in Pakistan alone, for instance, there is a culturally encouraged "shortage" of an estimated 6 million females), or who have died from the unwillingness of societies to provide the health care women need, or who die as a result of social customs that allow fathers to kill daughters for "shaming" families, husbands to kill wives for adultery, and men to perpetrate other horrific violence against women. That countless millions of women are also regularly raped, beaten, and abused by men only compounds these atrocities.
The systematic, persistent acceptance of women's second-class status is history's greatest shame. And for all our self-congratulations about how far we have come, we live in a world where even in the most advanced countries, deep injustices against women remain. These injustices, of course, have other costs beyond the purely human ones. Nothing would help societies grow more than educating and empowering women economically. Democracy is a sham until the planet's majority population actually achieves equitable representation in deliberative bodies and executive positions of government. And the absence of women in positions of power is also, of course, a guarantee that women's interests will continue to be minimized, ignored, or repressed.

And on a similar topic

Now onto another topic...

this post is probably more like what Jes would post.  I usually stay more towards the light, fluffy subjects but I've been losing some sleep thinking about this.  Women and the Priesthood.  If you don't already know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I was born into the religion and by my own choice, have stayed.

There has been a lot of talk of the role of women in the LDS church.  Women gave prayers for the first time earlier this month in the Semi-annual General Conference the church holds.  And the most interesting of all, "Why don't or can't women hold the Priesthood?"  Let's first start with the prayer issue.

I never noticed that women never prayed in GC.  They prayed in church.  Wasn't that enough?  It was never an issue for me.  My friend, Danielle posted on Facebook this:

I had a great laugh with this.  9 minutes early truly is groundbreaking.  But if you know Danielle, she meant this mostly in jest.  But some people responded very seriously stating that it was "very" important to them that a woman prayed in GC.  Ok.  I get it.  it is groundbreaking.  BUT the woman that prayed at the beginning of the Sunday 2nd session was THE longest prayer ever.  I joked with friends saying "that was the reason women never prayed in GC before because they would be long winded."  ha.  

now onto the podcast.  i finished it this afternoon.  i felt bothered by most everything I heard.  i felt upset.  i felt i needed more answers and needed to hear more women's thoughts on holding the priesthood and gender :inequality" that exists in the LDS church.  let this be known:  i have never felt unequal to a man because he holds the priesthood.  i have never felt put into a box by things i was taught in YW about womanhood and the "role" of a woman.  i personally do not want the responsibility put on a holder of the priesthood.   i know the people debating women and the priesthood will say, "that's fine that you don't want the responsibility but we/i do."  to each their own i say.  

so after feeling slightly frustrated by the podcast, i read some more on "the feminist mormon housewife" and found a article someone recommended entitled "Ruby Slippers on her Feet" by V.H. Cassler who taught political science at BYU for 24 years and currently now at texas A&M.  It helped me understand what these women are feeling but not really validating their reasons for leaving the LDS church.  She made points clear regarding why men and women have different roles in this world and the LDS church.  one point she made was this (and I paraphrase):  that men hold the priesthood as a apprentices on the earth of Heavenly Father and women are apprentices to Heavenly Mother.  so why would a woman want to be an apprentice to become a father?  

now I know some of you readers will not agree with my points or some of you have left the the LDS church. I don't mean to upset you or make you feel judged.  I know everyone has their reasons for leaving but I find this particular reason of gender inequality a little strange.  but that's just my humble opinion.  

~june

(here's the link to the podcast i listened to.)

The one where i reveal my identity...

I know that I made this to sound more exciting that it really is.  My "true" identity" has never made it to this blog.  When jes and I started this blog, it was my intention to keep my face and real name a secret to protect my family and myself.  I really didn't want certain people reading the blog and figuring out that a nasty post was about them.  But then, I decided to delete those posts and move on with my life.  Maybe it's my pregnancy hormones that make me not give a sh**.  Who knows.

My face is no longer a secret . (see post below or click on link)  But I'll still go by June or Trixie.  I've always wanted another name.

Til next time......

june

My first vlog!

(excuse my non-make up face, background noise of children and my rambling.  i'll get better.  I promise)

I'm reviewing here:

Clinique Super City Block 40 SPF $21.00 (clinique.com or your local department store)

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Birchbox Pink $20.00 (birchbox.com)

Another product mentioned but not featured: Kiehls Lip Balm SPF 15 (kiehls.com or local department store)





june

We are back!

We are back to blogger! We gave Wordpress a solid effort, but it was getting in the way of our blogging. So we switched back. You can still get to us though kumquatnjunebug.com or if you subscribed, nothing has changed. And maybe now we will blog more :) And you should totally follow us on Instagram (kumquatnjunebug) Facebook and Pinterest.

Uninspired..

what's new, right?  this pregnancy has sucked my brain completely away.  between growing this baby, homeschooling Soy (he's in 1st grade) and getting things ready for baby (the usual nesting habits, buying a car, looking for a house, etc etc...) i've not really had time to think about blogging.  I read blogs that feel witty and inspired..  fun and intriguing.  those things, I am not feeling.

if anyone has a magic potion for inspiration or a wand I can borrow to get all my day to day tasks done, i'd be eternally grateful and *might* compensate you.  although, i cannot promise the compensation will be really anything.



til next time...

june