[OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness

[Daniel Mezick via OSList]

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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