Network Logic - Index of
Network Logic - Index of
Network Logic - Index of
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Old boys and new girls<br />
An approach that is self-organising<br />
In the same way that equality and diversity initiatives that are<br />
imposed in a top-down manner are unlikely to result in whole system<br />
change, women’s networks cannot be prescribed by managers. The<br />
first corporate networks were created on the initiative <strong>of</strong> individual<br />
women who perceived a need, and succeeded because there was a<br />
groundswell <strong>of</strong> women within the company who shared that view.<br />
The same principle applies to networks outside the workplace, where<br />
the range and scope <strong>of</strong> activities tend to be member-led, <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
evolving through series <strong>of</strong> experiments and listening exercises. This<br />
self-organising quality gives networks their dynamic quality, but it<br />
may also explain why some networks do not survive.<br />
An approach that accommodates diversity<br />
The fragmentation <strong>of</strong> the women’s movement during the 1980s is<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten attributed to the challenge <strong>of</strong> diversity. Women’s identities and<br />
experiences, it was felt by many, were far too complex and diverse to<br />
sustain any notion <strong>of</strong> collective interests, and the search for consensus<br />
thus became an illegitimate political project. Today, women’s<br />
networks <strong>of</strong>fer an alternative model <strong>of</strong> solidarity, which balances the<br />
interests <strong>of</strong> individuals (‘What can I get out <strong>of</strong> this? How can I<br />
develop as a person?’) with the desire for reciprocity, mutual support<br />
and, if appropriate, collective action (‘How can I help others? What<br />
can we achieve together?’). Women’s networks are highly flexible,<br />
allowing members to pick and choose how and when they connect<br />
with each other. Many women are members <strong>of</strong> several networks<br />
simultaneously, or switch from one to another as their needs change.<br />
While networks create shared identities among women, they do not<br />
demand political consensus.<br />
An approach that operates on several levels simultaneously<br />
Gender inequality cannot be tackled by breaking the problem down<br />
into smaller components and treating each one separately. Rather, a<br />
fabric <strong>of</strong> interrelated factors must be addressed at the same time.<br />
Women’s networks operate on at least three levels. First, they meet the<br />
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