Masculine and Feminine as Words

Hello all,

 I've been reading the very fascinating discussions you all have had about masculine and feminine. One topic that seems to come up is realizing that those separations with their cultural baggage are too loaded to use and that other words might be better (I think Sass mentioned some from Wilbur).

 Certainly those terms are dualistic, I agree. Ultimately we are all one, with aspects of each. But I think there is still some value to using the terms. I recently read the article about Integral Spirituality by Wilbur in WIE magazine. He makes some excellent points about the different stages that individuals and cultures need to go through. While the dualistic culture is the dominant culture (he would call it amber/green) in America today, it needs to go through this phase. I think it is helpful for our culture at this stage to define the masculine and the feminine. If the feminine has been buried and lost for so long, it is important that we first understand what it is and how it is different from the masculine. Once we can know and fully appreciate both aspects of our natures, then I think is the time to integrate them and recognize their unity in all. But until that fully happens, are we missing a step in our cultural evolution?

 I think great strides have occurred in helping notice that the feminine has been buried and is now awakening, but I still think we have a long way to go for the culture and community  to understand what that really means and how to appreciate and integrate it into our society. I can get intellectually Ying/Yang, masculine/feminine or whatever terms you want to throw at me, but I don't yet understand what that means in our society. All I know is that feminine forms of communication, leadership and society are still looked down upon. But what exactly do feminine forms of communication, leadership and society look like? Particularly when the rules have been defined mostly by men?

 Thoughts?

 Sian

Re: Masculine and Feminine as Words

Sian,

Yes I think you are right that defining masculine and feminine is a stage through which society needs to move through.  The importance of this definition is certainly strongly argued by many feminist thinkers - (although exactly how to define Woman and the feminine is not something that the different factions can come to a collective agreement on).

But yes, since the feminine has been described as a lesser, degraded thing I think it is important to bring this to the light (as I believe has been and is happening), before moving on. The feminine has in many ways been our collective shadow and it does need to be owned.. and I think that ownership will and is shifting what it is.   And I think this movement, this shift, is also very important to be aware of.  As we look at the feminine, it becomes no longer a shadow. It integrate, evolves, changes.. and that is why I think it is so difficult, in many ways, to pin down what it is , to define it.

 (and I will have to return to part two of your questions :) 

Re: Masculine and Feminine as Words

to follow up on this - an interesting discussion on masculine and feminine in integral theory has erupted over on the INtegral Institute pod.
 link here