andrewlittle
02-24-2007, 11:02 AM
This story, at first glance, may have little to do with Soulforce in particular or GLBT issues in general. But, read on, and let me know if you think there's any validity. Bear with me, okay.
I recently read a story about chimpanzees that have adapted to using spears to catch bush-babies. Due to a declining population of its historical food supply, the chimp group has "evolved" a way of catching a different food source. The story can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6387611.stm
One part of the story in particular got my attention:
Female lead
Adult males have long been regarded as the hunters in chimp groups. But the authors of the paper in Current Biology said females, particularly adolescent females, and young chimps in general were seen exhibiting this behaviour more frequently than adult males.
"It's classic in primates that when there is a new innovation, particularly in terms of tool use, the younger generations pick it up very quickly. The last ones to pick up are adults, mainly the males," said Dr Pruetz, who led the National Geographic Society-funded project.
This is because young chimps pick the skill up from their mothers, with whom they spend a lot of their time.
The authors conclude that their findings support a theory that females may have played a similarly important role in the evolution of tool technology among early humans.
Several threads have discussed who our target audience is for change (see Austen's (tpdncr4christ) http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2249 for example).
Broadening the Hypothesis.
Who have been the primary agents of change in most social justice movements? And who affects the attitudes of children the most during growing up? While it is a broad generalization, with myriad exceptions, I would proffer that it is women/mothers in both cases.
With the exception of the women's movements in general, men have had the visible roles in most social activism. But women have been the core of the workers and agents in virtually all areas - especially mothers.
Disagree with me so far, if I am basically wrong.
I am suggesting that the messages of GLBT equality and marriage be fine-tuned to appeal primarily to an audience of females generally, and mothers particularly, in order to move that message through culture.
Am I wrong in wondering if the differences that younger GLBT folks are experiencing with their peers may be the result of changes in the mothers', attitudes as opposed to the fathers', with the attitudes being assumed last (and somewhat unwillingly) by the men. Women, in general anyway, are more likely to try to find ways to enbrace their children (sorry dads, this is a generalization) and come to terms with differences.
Discuss.
I recently read a story about chimpanzees that have adapted to using spears to catch bush-babies. Due to a declining population of its historical food supply, the chimp group has "evolved" a way of catching a different food source. The story can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6387611.stm
One part of the story in particular got my attention:
Female lead
Adult males have long been regarded as the hunters in chimp groups. But the authors of the paper in Current Biology said females, particularly adolescent females, and young chimps in general were seen exhibiting this behaviour more frequently than adult males.
"It's classic in primates that when there is a new innovation, particularly in terms of tool use, the younger generations pick it up very quickly. The last ones to pick up are adults, mainly the males," said Dr Pruetz, who led the National Geographic Society-funded project.
This is because young chimps pick the skill up from their mothers, with whom they spend a lot of their time.
The authors conclude that their findings support a theory that females may have played a similarly important role in the evolution of tool technology among early humans.
Several threads have discussed who our target audience is for change (see Austen's (tpdncr4christ) http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2249 for example).
Broadening the Hypothesis.
Who have been the primary agents of change in most social justice movements? And who affects the attitudes of children the most during growing up? While it is a broad generalization, with myriad exceptions, I would proffer that it is women/mothers in both cases.
With the exception of the women's movements in general, men have had the visible roles in most social activism. But women have been the core of the workers and agents in virtually all areas - especially mothers.
Disagree with me so far, if I am basically wrong.
I am suggesting that the messages of GLBT equality and marriage be fine-tuned to appeal primarily to an audience of females generally, and mothers particularly, in order to move that message through culture.
Am I wrong in wondering if the differences that younger GLBT folks are experiencing with their peers may be the result of changes in the mothers', attitudes as opposed to the fathers', with the attitudes being assumed last (and somewhat unwillingly) by the men. Women, in general anyway, are more likely to try to find ways to enbrace their children (sorry dads, this is a generalization) and come to terms with differences.
Discuss.