An Elementary Issue in Raising Women, Raising Peace

byDr. P. K Willey

Gandhian Scholar, Independent ResearcherAuthor: Earth Ethics of M.K. Gandhi with Teachings from Holy Mother Amma (2009)

PKWilley@WiseEarthPublishers.com

A talk given at Shridhar University, Pilani, 2013-09-08On occasion of the International Conference on
Peace and Non-Violence in Education

Holy Mother Amma

Women are the power and the very foundation of our existence in the world. When women lose touch with their real selves, the harmony of the world ceases to exist, and destruction sets in. It is therefore crucial that women, everywhere, make every effort to rediscover their fundamental nature, for only then can we save this world.

Holy Mother Amma

There is also a deep connection between the way men destroy Mother Nature and their attitude towards women. Nature should be accorded the same importance in our hearts as our own biological Mothers.

Holy Mother Amma

In general, today's women are living in a world fashioned by and for men. Women have no need of that world; they should establish their own identities, and thus recreate society.

Facts and Current Inquiry

Current Development heading for a crash

Current Education is furthering the same

Low female self-esteem is a key factor in societal violence

John Bowlby, Maternal Deprivation accepted premise between 1950's 1980's

Prominent research in last 35 years have undermined importance of maternal love

False objectivity: male = female

New self-esteem research looks only at physical appearance, ignores character.

See This Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOg1nWJ4T8&list=PL004BA540E55E1D6C

See This Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U&list=PL004BA540E55E1D6C

A Sample Statistic

92% of all girls surveyed globally wished to change their appearance.

Concentration on appearance with reference to unattainable ideal images weakens self-esteem.

Low self-esteem reduces ability to guide the next generation.

Survey Findings
The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Of 4000 participants,
What is preferable to Obesity?15-30% prefer:Leaving marriage

Infertility

Depression

Alcoholism

18% would rather loose 10 years of life

5% would rather loose a limb

4% would rather be blind

Source: Yale University 2006, http://www.respectrx.com/archives/girl_stats_studies/

Survey Findings
The Dove Campaign for Global Studies

92% teenage girls want to change their looksWeight highest ranked issue

3 minutes with a fashion magazine made 72% teenage girls feel depressed, guilty, shameful

70% girls age 15-17 avoid normal activity due to feeling bad about their looksAvoid doctor visits, school, or making opinions

69% girls feel that their mother has been a positive influence on self-esteem and beauty

Sources: (1) The Real Truth about Beauty: A Global Report. Findings of the Global Study on Women, Beauty and Well-Being (September 2004), (2) Beyond Stereotypes: Dove Campaign for Real Beauty Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty Beliefs (2006),
(3) Real Truth About Beauty (2005),
(4) http://www.cleancutmedia.com/articles/girl-self-esteem-image-issues-parents

The Real Truth about Beauty
Research by the Dove Corporation

Only 1 of 3 girls feels confident of a successful careerImplies the loss of 200,000 female professionals and 42,000 female entrepreneurs by 2050 in UK

Almost half consider themselves average, ordinary, plain, unattractive and ugly

Girls in UK see about 6000 images of perfect women every day in TV, ads, magazines, online.Psychological impact is much greater than previously estimated

Source: What is low self-esteem amongst girls and young women costing the UK? (2013)

A Story

The importance of maternal
guidance in childhood development.

(See paper published at www.EarthEthics.org.in)

Holy Mother Amma

Our character will be the cause of both good and evil in the world. Knowing that, you should live cautiously. The actions of human beings are the basis of natures goodness.

Naomi Wolf

A mother who radiates self-love and acceptance
actually vaccinates her daughter
against low self esteem.

Holy Mother Amma

The younger generation, which is meant to blossom and give fragrance to the world, is instead withering away in the bud stage. One generation has already strayed from the path of righteousness. In order to rebuild a healthy and wholesome society, the children must be taught moral and spiritual values. This emphasis should be integrated into the worlds educational systems.

Holy Mother Amma

The foremost dharma of the media is to find and express the beauty in human life and of nature. Only the true and auspicious can lead us to real beauty. The media should not just cater to what people like; they should also aim to do what is good and beneficial for them. We should offer people [ethically] based entertainment and knowledge. Only through them can we behold Truth and beauty.

Solutions

A South->North View in EducationChoose what we take from the globalized culture

Critically research developed societies for humane and happiness indices with an eye towards the outcomes for the young generation..

Communities committed to ethical life and development.

Awaken the moral power of women

Governments must reform media to spread messages of India's Mahatmas

Indian psychology holds that all beings have instincts of hunger, fear, sex and possessiveness, which we share in common with the animal kingdom. Yet, the human being is also endowed with an ethical and moral instinct, which allows us to rise above our primitive nature to behold ourselves as an indivisible part of the Creation, imbued with an immortal life force that is inherently love and truth itself.

Mahatma Gandhi

That is the fundamental conception of Sanathana Dharma which has years of penance and austerity at the back of discovery of this truth. That is why, whilst we have had saints who have worn out their bodies and laid down their lives in order to explore the secrets of the soul, we have none, as in the West, who laid down their lives in exploring the remotest or the highest regions of the Earth.

Thank You!
With Love, in Service to Truth

www.WiseEarthPublishers.com

Questions & Comments?

Let's continue the discussion:PKWilley@WiseEarthPublishers.comSee books by
Dr. Willey at:

Muokkaa otsikon tekstimuotoa napsauttamalla

Muokkaa jsennyksen tekstimuotoa napsauttamallaToinen jsennystasoKolmas jsennystasoNeljs jsennystasoViides jsennystasoKuudes jsennystasoSeitsems jsennystasoKahdeksas jsennystasoYhdekss jsennystaso