C Margaret Hall

Social Intelligence and Gender C Margaret Hall

Social Intelligence and Gender guides readers to become more aware of the power and complexities of societies and gender concerns in their everyday lives. Our social intelligence, the sum total of this understanding, shows us how societies and gender are related to families, beliefs, social classes, and cultures, as well as how we can change societies and ourselves. Increasing our social intelligence develops meaning and purpose in our lives, so that we can be critical about our ongoing world views. As we become more socially intelligent, we are freer and more independent from major social influences, as well as more effective in contributing to the common good and social justice. For example, we gain courage to let go of our most contradictory, unproductive gender identities, so that we can choose more authentic gender and societal affiliations, in order to work cooperatively with others to build better societies. Becoming more objective about societies and gender, through increasing our social intelligence, makes us stronger and healthier. Furthermore, because social intelligence and gender concerns are learned, we can pass on this valuable know-how to others, especially to members of the next generations.