Maybe you & "Mother Earth" need a "Would you do that to a man?" pin
But even if we said “Father Earth,” there’s a catch
If you’re tired of misogynistic daily interactions or policies that don’t create an equitable, green world, maybe try gender neutral language. Studies show that countries with more gendered language have more gender inequality and violence. If we all use gendered language, such as saying “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature,” we might keep getting the same results.
Maybe we’d all be happier if we let go of unhelpful gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes prevent people from being their true, happy selves. Maybe we’d save ourselves and our planet more if we called it “Father Earth.” Why? Sadly, there are things some people might do to mothers, women, or girls, but not as much to fathers, men, or boys. But even if we said “Father Earth,” there’s a catch.
Studies show that countries with more gendered language have more gender inequality and violence
Gendered language is associated with the belief that intimate partner violence is justifiable. Also, women have lower levels of educational attainment and less participation in the paid workforce where there is gendered language. And, speakers of gendered languages use stereotypes to describe feminine versus masculine items. For example, “bridge” is feminine in German and masculine in Spanish. German speakers said bridges were delicate and slender, while Spanish speakers used words like strong and dangerous. The good news is that studies show that you might be seen as more competent if you use more gender-neutral language. And women and men viewed German speakers as less sexist when they used gender-neutral language.
Nine out of 10 people were still biased against women in 2023
That study also showed that half of people in 80 countries believe men make better political leaders. 40% believed men are better business executives. And a quarter believed it was justified for men to beat their wives.
Empathetic, flexible people are better leaders
In times of crisis, leaders who dominate and are rigid are not as effective as those whot are empathetic and flexible. Men are more likely to let emotions drive their behavior when anxious, and then be abusive. This included snapping at employees, making unreasonable demands, or behaving in a punitive way.
87% of working women reported being bullied and belittled
In 2023, the first international research project of its kind found that 87% of almost 5,000 working women from all demographics and professions in 103 countries reported being bullied and belittled. The survey found that men in leadership positions were more likely to undermine those women due to their success, and women were more likely to cut down their peers.
So maybe feminizing nature as “Mother Earth” might not lead people to treat our planet as respectfully as they would with men. It also doesn’t help when the media says “strongman leader” but I haven’t seen the media say “strongwoman,” unless they’re referring to a woman bodybuilder.
Studies show that words create images in people’s minds, and words are like spells
In English and some languages, there are more put-downs and curse words that are feminine than masculine. For example, there’s no male equivalent to “motherf**ker.” And that’s just one of the reasons why I don’t say that curse word or “Mother Earth.”
Imagine if everyone welcomed each other’s feminine and masculine sides
Studies show that being your true self can make you happy. If you wonder if people are treated differently when they’re their true selves, watch Paula Stone Williams’ TED talk. As a transgender woman, she was shocked when she was disrespected in everyday interactions in ways she never was when she “lived as a man” (her own words). Maybe you’ve even accidentally respected men more than women or expected more from a woman than a man, such as expecting emotional labor from women.
Maybe we’d all be happier if we let go of unhelpful gender stereotypes
[Content warning: this section mentions violence]
When I fell down online rabbit holes regarding “Why is it called Mother Earth, not Father Earth?,” I landed in a Quora thread. There, I found harmful and factually false comments below that have since been removed. (I share incriminating screenshots below though!) One man wrote, “You can hurt her, vilify her, but still it loves you. That someone has to be mother.” (Note he referred to a woman as “it.”) Another man wrote, “Who holds the reproductive power?...My guess is that if a woman was forced into a pregnancy thru rape versus she willingly decided to have a baby with a man, the child that was conceived with her approval has much better chances of survival then [sic] the one that was created thru rape.”
Newsflash! Rape resulted in 64,565 pregnancies in 14 U.S. states with near-total abortion bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022.) Another misinformed man wrote, “Mother gives birth, take [sic] care of your needs, is forgiving, loving…Father is a hero, but his roles are supportive…to protect, discipline, and show a path for future.”
Gender stereotypes prevent people from being their true, happy selves
For example, studies show men are just as forgiving and nurturing as women. One study found that when money was an incentive, everyone, including men, performed equal amounts of empathy and emotional labor. Another study showed no significant differences between women and men in positive facets of forgiveness. Imagine if women weren’t expected to forgive their abusers. One study suggests that forgiveness may give the perpetrator permission to continue to cause harm. Viewing “Mother Nature” as feminine, forgiving, and nurturing doesn’t help when we need everyone to do what they can to reduce pollution and climate chaos.
Why I don’t say “Mother Nature” or “Mother Earth”
In 1974, people like Sherry Ortner wrote about the negative impact of the feminization of nature. For example, the commodification of women and our environment can be found in terms like “virgin materials,” “fertile land,” and “barren soil,” which is why I don’t use those phrases. And some people expect women and nature to accommodate their desires, which is also why I don’t say “Mother Nature.” I’m really fun at Earth Day parties though, I swear!
Saying “Mother Earth” might also be cultural appropriation. Some cultures, like Indigenous peoples of the Americas, might say “Mother Earth.” I don’t say it because I’m not from those cultures, and I might not understand the full context in which that phrase is used in those cultures.
If we keep saying “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature,” we might get the same results. Everything you do can affect yourself, other living beings, and our air and water. I’ve tried everything I could to protect the health of people, animals, and our planet personally since 1987 and professionally since 1999 through public speaking, journalism, advocacy, policymaking, fundraising, marketing, trauma-informed leadership, and more.
If you want to try something new or wear a pin that says how you feel
If you can right now, close your eyes and imagine how you might feel if you try gender-neutral language like “planet,” welcome all gender expressions, and see all genders as strong. Maybe that could help us save ourselves and our planet more. As someone who helps people be happy, equitable, green, or vegan via dreamwork, energywork, hypnotherapy, and sound therapy, I know if you can imagine it, you can do it. And studies back that up. In the meantime, if you want a 1980s meme pin that says, "Would you do that to a man?”, I made you one.
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