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THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS<br>
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen<br>
<br>
I find this essay extremely interesting. I hope you do, too. <br>
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Here is a pertinent quote, from the essay:<br>
"...<i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif"><big>the idea of
"structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of
informal structures, only formal ones.<font
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"<br>
<br>
</font></big></font></big></font></big></i> <br>
Circa 1970. Context: the women's movement. Quick summary of the main
points: from the essay...<br>
<br>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big>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. </big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big>The idea of "structurelessness," however,
has moved from a healthy counter to those tendencies, to
becoming a goddess in its own right.</big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big>Contrary to what we would like to
believe, there is no such thing as a structureless
group. </big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big>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. </big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"> <big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif"><big>This hegemony can be so
easily established because the idea of
"structurelessness" does not prevent the formation
of informal structures, only formal ones. </big></font></big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif"> <big><font size="2"
face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><big>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. </big></font></big></font></big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><i><big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"> <big><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif"><big> It is this informal
structure, particularly in Unstructured groups,
which forms the basis for elites.</big></font></big></font></big></i></li>
</ul>
<br>
<br>
Just in case you have not yet encountered the full text of this
essay, here it is: <br>
<br>
THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS<br>
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm">http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm</a><br>
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Regards,<br>
Daniel <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.OpenSpaceAgility.com/about">http://www.OpenSpaceAgility.com/about</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.DanielMezick.com">http://www.DanielMezick.com</a><br>
203 915 7248<br>
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