The Modern Matriarchy: A Manifesto for Systemic Change

I was inspired to post today because of a great share from  Jacqueline Freeman on LinkedIn. It has prompted me to share our Modern Matriarch Manifesto because a lot of the principles behind the 10 points are very similar to what you might hear from the wise great grandmother who has kept the family together through thick and thin.

The Modern Matriarchy: A Manifesto for Systemic Change

1. Power is Redefined, Not Inverted. We reject the patriarchal model of power as domination ('power-over'). Instead, we embrace power as creation and collaboration ('power-with'). True leadership is facilitation, not control.

2. Champion Radical Intersectionality. Our movement is for all women, explicitly including trans women, women of colour, disabled women, and women of all classes and sexualities. We actively dismantle all intersecting systems of oppression—racism, classism, ableism—as a core tenet of our work. If it is not intersectional, it is not the future.

3. Lead with Empathy, Govern with Wisdom. Logic and emotion are not binaries but partners. We value intuitive wisdom, emotional intelligence, and lived experience as valid and essential forms of data in all decision-making, from the community council to the corporate boardroom.

4. Heal the Collective Wound. We acknowledge the inherited trauma of patriarchy in all genders. We commit to creating spaces for individual and collective healing, encouraging vulnerability and breaking cycles of violence and emotional suppression. Healing is a political act.

5. Value the Work of Care. The labour of raising children, caring for the elderly, maintaining a home, and nurturing a community is the foundational work of society. It must be seen, valued, and economically compensated as such.

6. Honour the Earth as a Stakeholder. We are not owners of the Earth, but its custodians. All decisions must consider their impact on our planet and future generations. We will lead a transition to regenerative, sustainable, and circular economies.

7. Champion Rest as a Right. We dismantle the cult of 'busyness' and burnout culture. We recognise that rest, play, and creativity are essential for human wellbeing and productivity. Work serves life, not the other way around.

8. Justice Must Be Restorative, Not Punitive. We move away from cycles of punishment and retribution. Our focus is on repairing harm, reintegrating individuals, and addressing the root causes of crime and conflict within our communities.

9. Decentralise and Collaborate. We dismantle rigid, top-down hierarchies in favour of decentralised, networked, and collaborative organisations. We empower local communities to make decisions for themselves.

10. Education is Liberation. We will build an education system that teaches critical thinking, emotional literacy, consent, collaboration, and our true, diverse histories, equipping the next generation to build a more just world.

Now you might not agree 100% with all of these - but the point is it's a starting point to help us try to imagine a better future for us all, because let's face it the world is on fire right now.

So we'd love yo hear your thoughts in the comments and have a lively debate and work together to create a world in which we can all thrive.