Cuadro de texto: THE LOST PARADIGM

Subverting the paradigm of domination requires listening and re-valuing the voices, experiences, perspectives and proposals of women.  Without this shift, humanity will continue denying a lost paradigm, that maintains its presence in invisible and subordinated ways in the experiences of women and communities that resist affirming the paradigm of domination. 

Some feminists contend that the struggle for gender equality is a struggle for justice, because the experiences and perspectives of half of humanity are not well known or even acknowledged, and the paradigm of patriarchal domination continues as a hegemonic force. 

Likewise, feminism maintains that the gender differences between men and women are not natural, but are historically constructed; and that the category of (masculine and feminine) is an invented duality, forced and imposed by the mentality and practice of masculine domination over women and the devaluation of the “feminine” in everything.  Also, the structures and patriarchal dynamics intersect and interact with other forms of discrimination such as those related to ethnicity, language, nationality, sexual orientation, spirituality and religion, disabilities, etc. .

Also according to feminism, patriarchy can be challenged through processes of struggle to modify the social order and patriarchal dynamics in the world, such as by working for social justice, the inclusion of ecological sustainability, and strengthening and making visible women and their perspectives in all areas of life.  

Also important is making visible and re-valuing the lost paradigm that is expressed and lived by women and also men who resist dominating women and others.   Also needed is to analyze and expose intersections among different forms of discrimination, and to develop processes of communication and information that affirm alternative paradigms rather than those of domination. 

In today’s World, new technologies of communication and information are tools of everyday life for a growing portion of human activity.  They also serve to mobilize vast dimensions of human life, even through interactions with other forms of life such as the environment, including the atmosphere, outer space, oceans, etc.. 

Information and communication technologies are neither neutral nor impartial, because they are affected by existing power relations in human interactions, and may even enable creation of new spaces of power.  To use, possess and dominate ICTs can become an exercise in power in the domination paradigm and may even facilitate the abuse of power.  But in other cases, ICTs may be used for democratic and inclusive purposes.  

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Principles of  FIRE - RIF