We came from our mothers. Every individual and culture is rooted in women. Ancient cultures all across the world were matriarchal, putting mothers and maternal values as the central guiding force of society.
The shift to patriarchy was gradual and violent. The state of the world that we live in, the rampant injustices, can be traced back to the patriarchal values of aggression, dominance, entitlement and objectification. The current culture has adopted these values in its interaction with everyone in the world, be it with women, or nature, or any other oppressed group of people.Patriarchy is at the root of all injustices. We cannot expect patriarchy to solve those injustices. As long as the patriarchal values direct our decisions, there is no hope for any meaningful changes in correcting these injustices.
GLOBAL STATUS OF WOMEN CURRENTLY
Despite women forming fifty percent of the entire world population, their status in decision making positions is lamentable.On average, women make up 43 percent of the agricultural labor force in developing countries. Yet, less than 20 percent of the world's landholders are women. This number is even lower in developing countries. Data has shown that if women were to have the same access to resources as men, they would increase production in this land by 20 percent. (Rural Women and the Millenium Development Goals Factsheet)Despite being half of the world population, women constitute about three quarters of the world’s illiterate population . Women’s education has been linked with a number of other factors, like their wage, family wellbeing, child survival, and life expectancy. (Rural Women and the Millenium Development Goals Factsheet)Women typically work more than men, due to reproductive labor Yet, they earn less than men for the same work. (Rural Women and the Millenium Development Goals Factsheet)
Women hold fewer political positions of power in every country. Evidence from 25 developed and developing countries indicates that countries with higher female parliamentary representation are more likely to set aside protected land areas. (Rural Women and the Millenium Development Goals Factsheet)
Women In Blue Earth Defense
Women have been a major part of all successful resistance movements around the world, excepting the ones based on domination of women. Be it the Sandanista movement that toppled an entire regime, or the Chipko movement that protected a native forest from logging, women have been at the center and oftentimes the initiators of these movements. Yet, once the movement becomes successful, women are erased from its history. Books are rewritten to feature men at the core of those movements and women absent.BED recognizes the risks of tossing women aside once the revolution is won. For this, BED emphasizes on women having autonomy both within the organization and in the external world. In BED, women are placed in formal leadership positions. They share decision making power with the men in important matters of the organization, and hold sole authority in issues related to women.
Our Vision for Women
BED envisions a world without rape and any other form of oppression, where people - both humans and nonhumans - live in harmony with each other in a mutual symbiotic relationship, where life flourishes. A world without the imperialistic, capitalistic tendency to destroy life around us.This is only possible when we bring back the matriarchal values of nurture, care and justice to the center of our culture. This is required at all levels. In an intrapersonal level, it will help us effect a transformation towards seeking our potential. On an interpersonal level, it will improve the relationships we have with those around us. On a cultural level, it will create a society that emphasizes collective good over selfishness and greed.Recognizing these, BED has attempted to incorporate these values at the core of its structure and function through the following steps:Women in BED hold important leadership positions and are a major part of decision making in general matters, and sole decision makers in matters related to women.
We support and promote small grassroots initiatives, especially those that are rooted in their communities. They are more likely to embrace maternal values than big projects following the corporate model.
We express our solidarity to women, both within BED and outside, in their struggles for women rights.
We have a zero tolerance policy for our members and our allies when it comes to violence against women.
For more information about our actions and programs related to this campaign, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
