The Excitement When Tradition Evolves

I talked to a lesbian once, who said tearfully that legal marriage was what got her family to FINALLY accept her partner. The Supreme Court decision on marriage equality will make a difference to families everywhere.

It also makes me feel even happier about my own wedding-- that I'm participating in a tradition that has room to change and grow. The definition of marriage has changed many times over history, one of the most notable changes being that it stopped being a slave sale finalization... with the woman as property! The legalization of interracial marriage was exciting too.

I think there's been an overall trend to making marriage less about alliances and power relationships and more about love. Gay marriages are inherently free of gendered power dynamics, too. I expect straight people will have a lot to learn from observing these truly equal relationships untainted by patriarchy.

Berrett-Koehler books have redefined company power relationships in a lot of exciting ways over the years.   We’ve been trying to make it more about love and respect and less about command and control.  I find it interesting to see these parallels between organizational change and change at the societal and the family level.