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does not bring economics into the picture except in passing, that the external male world is very competitive. In a market economy, proper performance requires the rule of law and a good deal of social regulation. This is the whole benefit of democracy to an economy as we find in the United States, capitalism under the rule of law. In many countries where there is corruption and dictatorship, or oligarchy, the economic circumstances are much worse for most people, with much less of a developed middle class. The position of women is also much worse in these situations.
In the US and other Western countries, women can advance by participation in the political process. My idea is that certain women's issues of a moral nature are used to divide women politically so that reactionary political interests can maintain their sway, e.g., abortion, homosexuality, marriage etc.
Politically, women tend to be circumscribed by these so-called moral issues, particularly where religion is used as an ideology for the continued subjugation of women, to keep them in their place.
My idea is that women can benefit greatly by educating men as well as other women about women's issues. Most men are ignorant. At least half of the male population would be sympathetic if properly informed. A large part of the problem for women politically comes from other women, that they do not trust each other, that many still think in traditional terms, like morality.
To some extent, the focus on psychology is the focus on the world within instead of the world without. Can we change the external world just by changing our heads? Certainly, to the extent to which people have problems of a psychological nature, that they spend most of their time on interpersonal stuff, this can be very debilitating, particularly where there is a false conception and a false solution, such as taking drugs to feel better.
So the psychology is important but much more so if it is seen in social terms, as part of a larger social psychology. I consider the trend towards focusing on brain chemistry as somewhat reactionary. This is dealing with symptoms rather than causes. I like Miller's approach because it deals with the larger picture, with social dynamics as well as the effects upon individual psychology. She also promotes an understanding of how a person can improve their own individual psychology by developing a better social consciousness.
Consciousness is important. Miller says that the unconscious is only important to the
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by Thomas Lacey
Notes on Jean Baker Miller's "Toward a New Psychology of Women"
To what extent can a woman have her own center?
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