We asked speakers at our Amplifying Her Voice Mother’s Day Summit to share their thoughts on the issues most affecting women and mothers, the women who inspire them, and whom they hope to inspire. To kick things off, we’re hearing from Dr. Riane Eisler, president of the Center for Partnership Systems and editor in chief of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies at the University of Minnesota, and author of Nurturing Our Humanity, The Chalice and The Blade, The Real Wealth of Nations, and more. Eisler’s work focuses on human rights, particularly for women and children, and the partnership model for society—a model in which true equality and mutual respect ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.
What inspired you to join Amplifying Her Voice for Mother’s Day? What do you hope to share with the world?
I introduced the term caring economics in my book The Real Wealth of Nations, and support for the work of caring that mothers do is a key part of this.
What most drives and motivates you each day?
The knowledge that we can build a more caring, equitable, and sustainable way of living and making a living.
Who is your role model, and why?
My mother, who displayed what I today call spiritual courage: the courage to stand up against injustice out of love.
What cause, company, group, or movement are you a part of that you would like to share with us?
I am president of the Center for Partnership Systems, and we are launching the “Make Patrnerism Mainstream” movement.
What do you think are some of the most pressing issues facing moms, families, and caregivers today?
The “women’s” work of caring and caregiving has been devalued.
How do you think issues like poverty, violence, racism, oppression, and inequality intersect with motherhood and with being a woman?
These are all parts of a Domination System that devalues women and the “feminine” and promotes in-group versus out-group thinking and acting.
How do you feel being a mother is different now than it was in the past? What do you hope will change in the future?
The work of caring for people, starting at birth, is increasingly recognized as economically valuable, but there is still great resistance to this as well as to having men do this work—which we have to change.
What is the best advice you’ve received?
Do not stop persevering.
What is something you would like to share with the next generation?
A better future is possible, and is in fact deeply rooted in our past, as shown in The Chalice and the Blade and other books.
Who inspired you as a child or young person, and how do you work to inspire the next generation now?
My mother inspired me, and my work empowers and inspires people to join in moving our social, economic, and family systems from domination to partnership.
What do you think is the most important thing for women to keep in mind in terms of caring for themselves?
We deserve to care for ourselves.
What are your views on “work-life balance” for women? How should women handle the obligations of both professional and family life, and what messages does it send to the next generation?
We cannot have “work-life balance” in an economic system that devalues caring work so we have to join together to change this system, which thankfully many of us are doing.
What advice would you like to share with girls and women looking to achieve their dreams and lift up one another?
We can, and must, be leaders in the movement to shift from domination to partnership.
We’re thrilled to have Dr. Eisler as a speaker at our upcoming summit. Keep checking in to hear from more of our speakers, and don’t forget to register for the summit!
