Guiding Principles

The advancement of American Women and their interests implies supporting the family, society and the workplace, since these are indispensable for the well being of all.  That is why Choices Atlanta: Women Balancing Life bases its vision and proposals on the following principles:

 

• Recognition and respect for the inherent dignity of all human beings, which is derived from who they are and not what they have or do.

1. The human person is always a subject and never an object; an end and never a means, for others or for themselves.

2. The human person finds happiness in loving, in freely giving of themselves to help and serve other. Individualism in opposed to this.

3. The quality of human relations achieved, not the degree of autonomy, should be what gauges the advancement of society.

• Promotion of true complimentarily of men and women, recognizing the qualities and perspectives of both sexes in the development of each human being, of the family and of society.

1. We promote not only respect for the equal dignity and rights of men and women, but also a sincere respect and mutual appreciation, and the willingness to work together towards shared ideals.

2. Taking into account the equal dignity and fundamental rights of all persons, both men and women should have equal opportunities and remuneration for work according to their abilities and personal potential, as well as equal access to financial, academic and cultural resources for their family and personal development.

 

• Social appreciation, protection and subsidiary support for the family and for loving cohesion within it. The family must be recognized as the natural and fundamental group unit for society; it plays a primary and indispensable role for the integral development of all of its members as well as for social development in general.

1. The family holds the main responsibility for the care, the protections and the integral development of all its members from the beginning of life until natural death. Education towards an attitude of mutual understanding and support based on love makes communication possible between members of the family in order to share duties at home in the most convenient way for the well being of all the members.

2. Parents should receive the social, cultural, and economic support necessary for them to form their families responsibly, freely deciding together about the number and education of their children according to their moral and religious values without external pressures of any sort.

3. Men and women should be free to dialogue and make choices about work inside or outside the home, or in combination of both, taking into account their responsibilities and needs as members of a family, and with a spirit of mutual understanding and support, rather than of rigid equality in the distribution of household tasks.

 

• Promotion of a greater and more effective appreciation towards the women who freely assume attitudes and responsibilities of generous dedication to others.  Their commitment reminds us that humanity’s greatest wealth is humanity itself personalized in each human being.

1. Motherhood as well as the role of educating at home and in schools, and care of the handicapped, the sick, and the elderly, should be recognized as options that deserve respect and practical support.  Work policies should make it easier for parents, and particularly for mothers, to spend as much time as possible with their family, especially at the beginning of parenthood, given their importance for children’s harmonious development.

2. Women’s contribution in this field includes their possibilities to develop and exercise their qualities in other areas of social, cultural and economic life.

• Integral education (including the academic, technical and professional, cultural, social, ethical, affective, physical and spiritual elements) is the best remedy against poverty and interpersonal conflicts, as well as a key factor for personal and social development.

1. Parents are the first ones responsible for the integral education of their children. Both fathers and the mothers have a specific contribution in this task.  Therefore, both parents should have the respect, the time and the resources to choose, to watch over and to participate in the education of their children, in the home, in schools, and in other social environments.

2. We promote ongoing educational and cultural opportunities for people throughout their lives.

 

• Objective and fair laws, policies, and budgets that protect and promote human dignity and integral development by creating conditions for people to be able to live their lives fully, contributing according to their capabilities.

1. An important part of this is sincere dialogue and committed action in favor of human dignity and the integral development of all members and aspects of society.

"Do your choices reflect your values?"

Guiding Principles:
The  Guiding  Principles  lead  our non-profit organization and are the heart of  who we  are and what we do.  Through  our  workshops  we support  the  values  of the family, society  and the  women  in  the workplace.  The Principles  help women in recognizing the inherent dignity of all human beings.