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p1
'''The Tyranny of Structurelessness''' <br>
'''by Jo Freeman aka Joreen'''
 
<div style="float: right; width: 35%;">
'''annotation [https://pad.xpub.nl/p/methods0910group1 pad]''' <br>
'''[https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm| www.jofreeman.com]''' <br><br>
this reading followed the '''protocol of dry annotation''': <br>
# For every paragraph:
## Write short summary in your own words and/or important keywords
# For every section (sub chapter) of the text:
## With the support of 1.1., summarize what you read: what are the key ideas and arguments?
## Make a selection of important terms and concepts that you would like to investigate further (glossary fodder)
#  Always:
## Mark "?" whenever you don't understand
</div>
 
==INTRO==
===chapter:===
:development + status quo: fighting overstructuredness with structurelessness
:stating problem: we dont get anywhere with 'just' consiousness raising', refusing any structure is denying deying necessary tools : misuse of "no tool" tool
:outlook: understand, why structurelessness does not work
 
===p1===
leaderless, structureless modes of collective work became intrinsic value of womens lib movement / ideology
leaderless, structureless modes of collective work became intrinsic value of womens lib movement / ideology
to fight overstructuredness (of society, elitist political left) - engourages participation and discussion, evoke personal insight
to fight overstructuredness (of society, elitist political left) - engourages participation and discussion, evoke personal insight
did more than personal insight ever result from these groups?, is it their purpose to?
did more than personal insight ever result from these groups?, is it their purpose to?


p2
===p2===
structureless groups exhausted work in consciousness raising  
structureless groups exhausted work in consciousness raising  
blindly believeing in structure/ organization as bad/ opressive is denying ourselves tools we need
blindly believeing in structure/ organization as bad/ opressive is denying ourselves tools we need
why does structurelessness not work?
why does structurelessness not work?


chapter:
development + status quo: fighting overstructuredness with structurelessness
stating problem: we dont get anywhere with 'just' consiousness raising', refusing any structure is denying deying necessary tools : misuse of "no tool" tool
outlook: understand, why structurelessness does not work




FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURES
==FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURES==
p3
===chapter:===
all groups are structured
dynamics between structurelessness and power (masks)
 
===p3===
all groups of people are inherently structured (to flexible and varying conditions)
all groups of people are inherently structured (to flexible and varying conditions)
strong/ lucky parties use structurelessness to establish hegemony
strong/ lucky parties use structurelessness to establish hegemony
structurelessness is masking power, only some profit
structurelessness is masking power, only some profit


p4  
===p4===
structures of groups must be explicit to enable participation
structures of groups must be explicit to enable participation
structurelessness gives informal structure dominant control (over groups) = basis for forming elites
structurelessness gives informal structure dominant control (over groups) = basis for forming elites
question is not wheter we have structured or structureless group, only wether we have formally structured one
question is not wheter we have structured or structureless group, only wether we have formally structured one


chapter:
all groups are structured
dynamics between structurelessness and power (masks)


 
==THE NATURE OF ELITISM==
THE NATURE OF ELITISM
===p5===
p5
Any individual alone can never be an elite - an elite is always a group of people, holding power over a lager group of people they are part of
Any individual alone can never be an elite - an elite is always a group of people, holding power over a lager group of people they are part of
a group of friends who participate in the same political activities will become an elite > have informal communication channels outside of regular
a group of friends who participate in the same political activities will become an elite > have informal communication channels outside of regular
Line 42: Line 60:
elites are based on informal patterns that maintain themself
elites are based on informal patterns that maintain themself


p6
===p6===
formal decisionmaking allows everyone participation
formal decision making allows everyone participation
informal structures not necessarily harmful, only when combined to structurelessness which leads to possible consequences:
informal structures not necessarily harmful, only when combined to structurelessness which leads to possible consequences:
- decision making based on person who voices not significance of voice
- decision making based on person who voices not significance of voice
Line 50: Line 68:




THE "STAR" SYSTEM
==THE "STAR" SYSTEM==
p7  
===p7===
womens lib movement does not have spokesperson or established systems for mass group opinion
womens lib movement does not have spokesperson or established systems for mass group opinion
like every moevement this too has 'stars' which are then automatically chosen as representatives and public communicators
like every moevement this too has 'stars' which are then automatically chosen as representatives and public communicators
Line 59: Line 77:




POLITICAL IMPOTENCE
==POLITICAL IMPOTENCE==
p8
===chapter:===
structurelessness renders womens lib movements political impotent and unprepared for the tasks that it has to move on to (from consciousness raising to 'political action')
===p8===
unstructured groups only possibly productive when: task orientied, small and homogenous, high communication, similar skill levels and range
unstructured groups only possibly productive when: task orientied, small and homogenous, high communication, similar skill levels and range
downsides: restricts movement action to local level, small groups bring forth informal relations
downsides: restricts movement action to local level, small groups bring forth informal relations
elitism becomes institutionalized as long as friendship groups are main organizational act
elitism becomes institutionalized as long as friendship groups are main organizational act


p9
===p9===
lack of perspektive (consciousness raising) and ways of getting forward
lack of perspektive (consciousness raising) and ways of getting forward
framework for new informal structures through women joing other movements but staying within womans lib - new elites
framework for new informal structures through women joing other movements but staying within womans lib - new elites
Line 72: Line 92:
formally structure group according to informal power dynamic
formally structure group according to informal power dynamic


p10
===p10===
the more uunstructured a group the less control it has over its own growth, development and action
the more uunstructured a group the less control it has over its own growth, development and action
ideas can still 'diffuse' widely, but does not mean they are implemented
ideas can still 'diffuse' widely, but does not mean they are implemented
Line 81: Line 101:
not fitting ones: discrouraged from participating + fitting: dont want to change status quo
not fitting ones: discrouraged from participating + fitting: dont want to change status quo


p11
===p11===
(in)'effectiveness'
(in)'effectiveness'
find middleground between domination and ineffectiveness
find middleground between domination and ineffectiveness
conscious raising is done, movement must move on to other tasks and therefore get organized
conscious raising is done, movement must move on to other tasks and therefore get organized
chapter:
structurelessness renders womens lib movements political impotent and unprepared for the tasks that it has to move on to (from consciousness raising to 'political action')




PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURING
==PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURING==
===p12===
letting go structurelessness make room to experiment with different structurings, adjustable to situations
letting go structurelessness make room to experiment with different structurings, adjustable to situations
nothing bad about structure per se, just blindyl following it or exessive usage
nothing bad about structure per se, just blindyl following it or exessive usage


7 points for democratic structuring:
7 points for democratic structuring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_structuring
1. Delegation
#Delegation
2. Responsibility
#Responsibility
3. distribution of authority
#distribution of authority
4. rotation of tasks
#rotation of tasks
5. giving tasks along rational criteria
#giving tasks along rational criteria
6. access of information to everyone
#access of information to everyone
7. access to resources for everyone
#access to resources for everyone
 
==follow up readings==
[https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/cathy-levine-the-tyranny-of-tyranny the tyranny of tyranny]
: small groups (multiply strength) as solution against alienating large organizations which Joreen emphasizes for political productivity
: missing definition of 'feminist movement'
: tyranny of tyranny is the problem: consciousness raising is not over, is a process never finished
:: '''Consciousness-raising, as a strategy for revolution'''
: emphasis on large organization building > consciousness raising creates dichotomy between two
: women's culture should stay revolutionary and not become 'just subculture'
: psychological struggle (psychic crippling under capitalism) and political involvement intersect on the level of the small group
:: small groups are not the problem and so structure not the solution
:: elitism can not be solved by structures

Latest revision as of 15:28, 16 October 2024

The Tyranny of Structurelessness
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen

annotation pad
www.jofreeman.com

this reading followed the protocol of dry annotation:

  1. For every paragraph:
    1. Write short summary in your own words and/or important keywords
  2. For every section (sub chapter) of the text:
    1. With the support of 1.1., summarize what you read: what are the key ideas and arguments?
    2. Make a selection of important terms and concepts that you would like to investigate further (glossary fodder)
  3. Always:
    1. Mark "?" whenever you don't understand

INTRO

chapter:

development + status quo: fighting overstructuredness with structurelessness
stating problem: we dont get anywhere with 'just' consiousness raising', refusing any structure is denying deying necessary tools : misuse of "no tool" tool
outlook: understand, why structurelessness does not work

p1

leaderless, structureless modes of collective work became intrinsic value of womens lib movement / ideology to fight overstructuredness (of society, elitist political left) - engourages participation and discussion, evoke personal insight did more than personal insight ever result from these groups?, is it their purpose to?

p2

structureless groups exhausted work in consciousness raising blindly believeing in structure/ organization as bad/ opressive is denying ourselves tools we need why does structurelessness not work?


FORMAL AND INFORMAL STRUCTURES

chapter:

all groups are structured dynamics between structurelessness and power (masks)

p3

all groups of people are inherently structured (to flexible and varying conditions) strong/ lucky parties use structurelessness to establish hegemony structurelessness is masking power, only some profit

p4

structures of groups must be explicit to enable participation structurelessness gives informal structure dominant control (over groups) = basis for forming elites question is not wheter we have structured or structureless group, only wether we have formally structured one


THE NATURE OF ELITISM

p5

Any individual alone can never be an elite - an elite is always a group of people, holding power over a lager group of people they are part of a group of friends who participate in the same political activities will become an elite > have informal communication channels outside of regular elites and informal communiaction is not new dynamic, nor specific to women lack of decision on who should exercises power within groups pushes informal criteria (for acceptance to the group) - marriage/ partnership - academia - age ... elites are based on informal patterns that maintain themself

p6

formal decision making allows everyone participation informal structures not necessarily harmful, only when combined to structurelessness which leads to possible consequences: - decision making based on person who voices not significance of voice - lacking obligation to any responsibility for the larger group, makes them dependent on elites interests


THE "STAR" SYSTEM

p7

womens lib movement does not have spokesperson or established systems for mass group opinion like every moevement this too has 'stars' which are then automatically chosen as representatives and public communicators (chosen by public, only removed by public) star system pushes nonresponsible, individualitstic behaviour that movement "works against"


POLITICAL IMPOTENCE

chapter:

structurelessness renders womens lib movements political impotent and unprepared for the tasks that it has to move on to (from consciousness raising to 'political action')

p8

unstructured groups only possibly productive when: task orientied, small and homogenous, high communication, similar skill levels and range downsides: restricts movement action to local level, small groups bring forth informal relations elitism becomes institutionalized as long as friendship groups are main organizational act

p9

lack of perspektive (consciousness raising) and ways of getting forward framework for new informal structures through women joing other movements but staying within womans lib - new elites new elites vs old elites - how can they maintain power? rationalize (explicit) exclusion formally structure group according to informal power dynamic

p10

the more uunstructured a group the less control it has over its own growth, development and action ideas can still 'diffuse' widely, but does not mean they are implemented problems of unstructuredness are not felt in small scope "friendship" networks but reach to limits: politically ineffective/ unable exclusive discrimminating not fitting ones: discrouraged from participating + fitting: dont want to change status quo

p11

(in)'effectiveness' find middleground between domination and ineffectiveness conscious raising is done, movement must move on to other tasks and therefore get organized


PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURING

p12

letting go structurelessness make room to experiment with different structurings, adjustable to situations nothing bad about structure per se, just blindyl following it or exessive usage

7 points for democratic structuring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_structuring

  1. Delegation
  2. Responsibility
  3. distribution of authority
  4. rotation of tasks
  5. giving tasks along rational criteria
  6. access of information to everyone
  7. access to resources for everyone

follow up readings

the tyranny of tyranny

small groups (multiply strength) as solution against alienating large organizations which Joreen emphasizes for political productivity
missing definition of 'feminist movement'
tyranny of tyranny is the problem: consciousness raising is not over, is a process never finished
Consciousness-raising, as a strategy for revolution
emphasis on large organization building > consciousness raising creates dichotomy between two
women's culture should stay revolutionary and not become 'just subculture'
psychological struggle (psychic crippling under capitalism) and political involvement intersect on the level of the small group
small groups are not the problem and so structure not the solution
elitism can not be solved by structures