Voicing Our Sovereignty as Women

By Suzy Adra, CPS Partnership Community

I recently went to see the movie, Mary Queen of Scots. I love historical movies and I figured this would be a treat. Needless to say it was a great movie but as I walked out to my car that night, I could sense a lump in my throat and a feeling of disgust of humanity washed over me, and I knew exactly why it was there. Childhood memories of having to keep my mouth shut, and keeping anything that went against the status quo completely to myself for fear of facing some of what this queen had to face.

Mary, like many other powerful women in history, is an archetype for all women really.?? A powerful woman, with a voice so loud and clear that men and even women felt the need to continuously try and shut down or work against. In the movie she is portrayed as a person who ruled from a core of compassion, never discriminating against anyone; yet all around were malicious activities trying to usurp her power. I know this is an exaggerated example as not everyone is a queen, however, I could see how she is clearly a representation of all women regardless of their ethnic background or social status.

We like to think that in this century we are far off from such male domination. Are we? Look around and be discerning, we are still in the midst of the grip of misogyny and we maybe for some time to come unless we really begin to take action. This is why I am a fan of Riane Eisler. Her message about educating our children and their children in ways that encourage partnership rather than domination really resonates with me.

My story is not that easy to write? I grew up in a domination culture, add to that a twenty year political civil war followed by a seventeen year marriage that I found difficult to remove myself from because of being in the grip of domination culture beliefs.

So many stories I can share, and yet I chose to focus on one thing. Through my research on creativity, I have come to see clearly how the way in which we explore and engage in sex is at the core of who we become later in life. It is time to bring back the understanding that a difference of gender is actually a point for discrimination in both positive and negative ways.

I am in the midst of writing a book about my experience with the hypocrisy of domination culture from two very different extremes: East and West. I hope this book will become a reference to everyone and especially young adults all over the world in clarifying some taboos and misconceptions about sex and sexuality that have been imposed by domination culture. This book will serve as a bridge between the first cornerstone of Partnership: Childhood and Family, and the second cornerstone which Riane writes about: Gender and Social Relations.

We really need a complete reassessment of what we teach our children about life, sex and what it means to be human. In a working Partnership system, all women and young women can feel safe and empowered using their voice, sharing their unique identity and celebrating their vibrant creativity.

Suzy Adra is an artist, certified yoga instructor, certified energy healing practitioner, and certified trauma release practitioner. She facilitates yoga, and creative process workshops that inspire to embrace one’s creative abilities. She holds a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her dissertation is entitled: The States of Presence and Insight in the Painting Process.?Suzy also completed training as a certified Caring Economy Advocate with the Center for Partnership Studies.

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