Cheryl Alexander & Associates, Inc’s Post

Today we focus on women. Happy International Women’s Day, 2024. I fortuitously came upon the video attached which is a poignant reminder of the cost of motherhood. The woman, Angela Davidson is being conferred a degree by her university which she attended in 1960!! While in her final year, she became pregnant and had to drop out. Fast forward - 2024 the University has determined that the inability to support her at that time despite being almost at the end of her degree was an untenable position and on review, made the decision to award her the degree! A piece by the Economist - Cost of Motherhood expounds on the negative declining cost in women’s earning power resulting from motherhood. A study by PWC reveals that there is indeed a ‘motherhood penalty’, meaning, the loss in lifetime earnings experienced by women raising children—characterised by underemployment and slower career progression after returning to work. Mothers experience a 60% drop in earnings compared to fathers in a whopping 10years!! As we celebrate IWD 2024, all leaders and decision makers need to understand the urgent responsibility to assiduously address these inequities. Let’s eliminate any financial penalty associated with motherhood, let’s invest in women, accelerate progress and #inspireinclusion.

I am not an ornithologist, and the last thing I want to do is be accused of avian stereotyping or bias. I don't own binoculars; the only thing that whistles in my home is our kettle. I am writing this post because this video made me think of something I want to share. Each of the three mothers moved me in such a beautiful way. In torrential rain, they naturally and effortlessly protected their children. I loved how at peace everyone looked and how much family love fluttered under Mom's sheltering wings. Imagine yourself as one of those baby birds. What is happening - water pouring on your head, the sky turning dark, new noises and smells and then imagine how they felt enveloped within their mother's wings. As I watched it for the third or fourth time, I thought about what our world would be like if a mother ran every country. (And before you leap on it, I recognize it would never happen and that there are good and bad female leaders. I get all of that.) Fly out of your nest for a moment, and even with some bad mixed in with a lot of good, how different would our world be under this scenario? Would we see a war where sons and daughters could be lost? Would money be spent on weaponry or health care, education and housing? Would the superpowers have an economy that depended heavily on military procurement and deployment? Would we have any religion that placed women in inferior roles due to patriarchal cultural norms and the 'to my advantage' interpretation of religious texts? Would we have a more pragmatic approach to running government and shift our spending from working the bureaucracy to working for the citizens/families? Would you see Leaders in their early 80s and late 70s bragging about their golf game when they are supposed to debate issues and indicate policy on national television? Would we have a rollback of women's rights? What do you think? More of the same or more women's hands on the rudder? And even if this question is too far-reaching to consider, at the very least, take a few seconds to watch this video. Paraphrasing Lay's Chips - I bet you can't watch just once. Share the video. We all need some warmth. https://lnkd.in/gK7AD8A9 And, isn't Mother Nature magical? Did I say mother again? Maybe I am gender biased when it comes to peace. Who knows! #chatterthatmatters #inspiration #love #mothernature #heart Shelagh McGrogan Traci Shepheard Coach Che Marville (She,Her, Hers) Dr. Georgette Zinaty Nina Tangri Tracey Pike Lindsay Ireland Alana Stott, MBE Timea Eva Nagy Payne M.S.M. She/Her Jennifer Ménard-Shand Leah den Bok Teresa Vasilopoulos Beverley Hammond Joline Matika Mandi Taylor Jennifer Howard (Reed) Julie Raheja-Perera Chantal Chiarelli Silvia Pencak, M.A. Jeanne Beker Arlene Dickinson Hon. Leela Aheer ECS Jennifer Hsiung Janine Turner Barbara Boyd(she/her) CM Kamal Dhanoa Kim Pines Kathy Knight Brandie Kelly

🌿✨ Towards Multispecies Inclusivity and Justice – Embracing Indigenous Wisdom for Peaceful Coexistence Across Species ✨🌿 Thank you to all the presenters and participants for your insightful contributions at the #Gender, #Work, and #Organization 2024 conference stream "Towards Multispecies Inclusivity and Justice – Embracing Indigenous Wisdom for Peaceful Coexistence Across Species." Though relatively small in size, the stream was thriving with thought-provoking presentations and vibrant discussions. Together, we explored diverse topics such as organizing at an #animal sanctuary, the sticky relations of #care, speculative fabulation, violence towards animals in professional kitchens, animals in agriculture, and sonar-o-graphy as a method. These critical discussions have left me feeling inspired and energized. Animal Organization Studies will grow as a field, and it is truly heartening to witness the emergence of such important dialogues in Organization Studies. The future is bright with these critical perspectives, and I am happy to be a part of this transformative movement. Together, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and just world for all species. 🌍 #MultispeciesInclusivity #IndigenousWisdom #AnimalRights #AnimalWork #CareWork #SpeculativeFabulation #Agriculture #AnimalSanctuary #CriticalDiscussions #PeacefulCoexistence

🌍 A Call for Common Sense Empowerment 🌍 In a world where diverse movements shape our political, economic, and social landscapes, it's crucial to recognize that no single ideology—be it white supremacy, women empowerment, animal rights, or elitism—offers a foolproof solution for development. The real need of the hour is talent empowerment. True progress hinges on governing radical talents with common sense and wisdom, allowing the right individuals to fill the right roles, regardless of race, gender, age, or species. Whether you’re white, black, or brown, man or woman, young or old, human or animal—harmony is achieved when talent and ability are valued above all else. It's time to rise above our biological and social distinctions and ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to contribute where they excel. Let's make the world right by embracing common sense empowerment for all. #Empowerment #Diversity #CommonSense #TalentMatters #InclusiveGrowth

The patriarchy thrives on dominating not only women and girls but also extends its grasp to #nature and #animals. Rooted in systems of power and control, patriarchal norms perpetuate exploitation across various spheres of life. Women and girls are subjected to systemic discrimination, limited opportunities, and gender-based violence, reinforcing the patriarchal grip on power dynamics. Similarly, nature and animals are often exploited and commodified within patriarchal frameworks, with environmental degradation and species extinction being symptomatic of this exploitative mentality .   Factory farms and the exploitation of animals for testing, consumption, and entertainment, all underscore the insidious nature of patriarchal oppression. These practices reflect a worldview rooted in domination and exploitation, where the interests of privileged humans are prioritized at the expense of the well-being and autonomy of all sentient beings. Factory farms subject animals to inhumane conditions, treating them as mere commodities for profit, while animal testing perpetuates a culture of violence and exploitation in the name of scientific advancement. Similarly, the use of animals for entertainment purposes, such as in circuses and zoos, reinforces a paradigm where animals are objectified and commodified for human amusement. This exploitation not only perpetuates systemic injustices but also perpetuates a hierarchical power dynamic where humans assert control over other species, further entrenching patriarchal norms of dominance and exploitation. Recognizing and challenging these oppressive practices is essential for fostering a more compassionate and equitable relationship with non-human animals and the natural world. Recognizing and challenging these oppressive practices is a feminist cause and a cause worth fighting in the name of challenging the #patriarchy.  #patriarchy #matriarchy #oppression #animals #oppression #endfactoryfarming #womensrights #respectnature https://lnkd.in/gcGVD6YB

🌈 For Pride month, Axios let me write about queer animals! Zoom in: The majority of dolphin sex is between males. Female with female sex is the most common form of sexual intimacy among bonobos. And, in our terms, many penguins could be considered bisexual and sexually non-monogamous. The big picture: The number of species with confirmed substantial queer behavior has been recorded in more than 1,500 animal species in well-regarded scientific journals, according to Nature. Why it matters: Looking at animals strictly through a heteronormative lens has long limited scientific understanding and contributed to the othering of members of the LGBTQ+ community, per science experts. Read more, including insight from science journalists Eliot Schrefer and Rachel E. Gross: https://lnkd.in/gZBPj6r3

This edition of the Yearbook of Women’s History attempts to show how #gender #history can be enriched through the study of animals. It highlights that the inclusion of nonhuman animals in historical work has the potential to revolutionize the ways we think about gender history. This volume is expansive in more than one way. First, it is #global and #transhistorical in its outlook, bringing together perspectives from the Global North and the Global South, and moving from the Middle Ages to the #contemporary world. Even more importantly for its purposes, a range of animals appear in the contributions: from the smallest insects to great apes, and from ‘cute’ kittens to riot dogs and lions. The articles collected here reflect the variety of the animal kingdom and of the creative approaches enabled by animal history. Order now on AUP.nl: https://lnkd.in/ewTkkaBB

Exciting News! 🎉 Join me at the upcoming Puentes event at the University of Michigan where I'll present not one, but TWO impactful projects aimed at empowering and uplifting the Hispanic and Latinx community. Breaking Barriers: Empowering The Hispanic and Latinx Community; Rompiendo barreras: Empoderando a la comunidad hispana y latina. This initiative, crafted by the DEI office within the School of Social Work, comprises a series of workshops designed to equip future social workers with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges faced by our community. From unraveling pervasive stigmas to fostering empathetic understanding, we're committed to creating success stories and advocating for equity and social justice. Project Title: Luz- Light after Darkness; Luz Despues de la Oscuridad. Delving into the often-overlooked challenges faced by system-impacted individuals within the Latinx community, this project sheds light on barriers hindering personal and professional growth. Through storytelling, workshops, and awareness campaigns, we aim to dismantle stigmas and empower individuals to become success stories within their community. #PuentesEvent #Empowerment #LatinxCommunity #FamilismoAward #Inclusion #SocialJustice

Talking about queerness in undergrad biology courses is good for all students!(evidenced by our new peer-reviewed paper in the CBE - Life Sciences Education Journal) We introduced modules that discuss marginalized Animal Behavior science at the intersection of sex, sexuality, and gender to ASU's online Animal Behavior course and developed a survey to test the impact of these changes on students. Main findings: 1. LGBTQ students felt less included in Biology after experiencing and Animal Behavior course without any queer representation, but our new modules eliminated that negative effect. 2. Talking about queerness in animals didn't reduce the sense of belonging of religious students or of any other identity. 3. We improved student comprehension of many core concepts relating to sex, sexuality, and gender in the animal world. (Sub-finding: LGBTQ students entered the class with more complete and less biased understandings of these topics than their non-LGBTQ peers). Check out the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gAu7dR7X

Excerpt: The best theory for those seeking change is people: specifically, networks of people mobilized behind change. The renowned social scientist Duncan Watts has used the metaphor of a forest fire to explain the power of these social networks. A dry leaf, by itself, won’t do much to trigger a fire. But if enough dry leaves cluster in the right spot, together they can spark a fire that transforms the entire system. Ordinary people, connected in a network, are the dry leaves in Watts’ metaphor. If enough of them cluster in the right place, and take action for a cause, they can create the conditions for a “social fire” – a mass movement that changes everything it touches. This is how movements have transformed the political landscape on issues ranging from racial justice to gay rights.  It’s not any sort of network, however, that can create the conditions for a social fire.  The network must be connected. The fire from one dry leaf must be able to jump to the next; if the leaves are disconnected from one another, they cannot start a larger fire. This is what happens when activists try to “go it alone” or divide their attention to too many different campaigns.  The network must be unified. If one leaf burns hot, and the next one is in a freeze, it will stall the network from spreading a social fire. This is what happens when activists fight amongst one another; they stop energy from spreading from one person to the next. (Check out this conversation I had with Vegan Gains, for example, on why we need to stop arguing about Gaza.) And finally, the network must be robust. If a slight breeze can put out the blaze easily, then a social fire will never start. In contrast, when networks survive the efforts to put them out, they often become even stronger from the backlash. A wind that might put out a small blaze can become instrumental to spreading a more robust fire. The same is true of repression of social movements. While weak movements die from repression, robust movements harness repression – such as the criminalization of activism – to make even greater change.