#rufusmay

"We live in a society that is largely built on domineering ways of relating. This privileges the needs of systems and those with status and power.  However, partnership ways of relating based on equality and empathy have always also been present and seem to be growing.  Whilst domineering practices are still strong, gradually ‘power with’ as opposed to ‘power over’ ways of relating are being used more in different parts of society — including education, business and the family home (see Humanizing Healthcare by Melanie Sears, 2010). Systems that privilege domineering relationships involve everyone in the system being socialised to suppress or deny their true feelings and needs.  People in power have to ignore their own need for connection and empathy from others.  Those complying with domineering practices have to ignore their own will and the wisdom that comes from an awareness of ones own qualities and needs. Domineering ways of relating are strong in the mental health system. Health systems are extremely hierarchical and, rather than empathy, the dominant approach to people’s difficulties is based on top-down management practices, which assume experts know what is best for people. When we learn to ignore our own wisdom a culture of dependence is created, where we think we always need other people (or pills) to solve our problems."