THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen
I find this essay extremely interesting. I hope you do, too.
Here is a pertinent quote, from the essay:
".../the idea of "structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of
informal structures, only formal ones."
/
Circa 1970. Context: the women's movement. Quick summary of the main
points: from the essay...
* /During the years in which the women's liberation movement has been
taking shape, a great emphasis has been placed on what are called
leaderless, structureless groups as the main -- if not sole --
organizational form of the movement. /
* /The idea of "structurelessness," however, has moved from a healthy
counter to those tendencies, to becoming a goddess in its own right./
* /Contrary to what we would like to believe, there is no such thing
as a structureless group. /
* /This means that to strive for a structureless group is as useful,
and as deceptive, as to aim at an "objective" news story,
"value-free" social science, or a "free" economy. A "laissez faire"
group is about as realistic as a "laissez faire" society; the idea
becomes a smokescreen for the strong or the lucky to establish
unquestioned hegemony over others. /
* /This hegemony can be so easily established because the idea of
"structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of informal
structures, only formal ones. /
* /For everyone to have the opportunity to be involved in a given
group and to participate in its activities, the structure must be
explicit, not implicit. /
* /It is this informal structure, particularly in Unstructured groups,
which forms the basis for elites./
Just in case you have not yet encountered the full text of this essay,
here it is:
THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen
http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm
Regards,
Daniel
http://www.OpenSpaceAgility.com/about
http://www.DanielMezick.com
203 915 7248
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