We Need More Janes and Less Tarzans
What Dr. Jane Goodall taught us about real connection
Like many others, I was deeply saddened to hear about the recent passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, the renowned scientist and activist who devoted her life to advocating for the rights of animals, humans, and the environment.
I also felt worried because Dr. Jane was a beacon of hope in our natural world that too often feels used and abused.
Dr. Jane was a trailblazer in her studies of wild chimpanzees. As a young woman without a College degree, she challenged the narrative of what a scientist looked like.
Later, when she attended Cambridge University, she defied the instructions to stay distant from her research subjects. She understood that building trust with chimpanzees was crucial for making deeper connections and keen observations.
Dr. Jane’s findings show that chimpanzees are highly intelligent and that humans share 98.5% of our DNA with them.
I was inspired by her dedication to speak on behalf of animals and the environment. In her interview with Krista Tippett on the On Being Project, Dr. Jane explained why she shifted from fieldwork to public advocacy.
After visiting caged chimpanzees in laboratories used for research, Jane made it her mission to advocate on their behalf, founding the Jane Goodall Institute.
She sat down with the laboratory scientists to discuss alternatives. Animal rights activists were upset with her for meeting with the laboratory scientists, but she explained that she needed to have a conversation with them to make a real change.
Jane also spoke directly with people involved in the hunting and trading of exotic animals. She came to understand the root causes, such as poverty, colonization, and land loss, that led them to use and abuse animals as well as young women.
Again, she built trust and alliances to defend animal and human rights.
Dr. Jane was naturally soft-spoken and introverted. She shared a memory of feeling very nervous the first time she gave a public speech, when she addressed 5,000 people at the National Geographic Society. She said that on stage, she reminded herself that she was sharing information with the audience. This simple shift in perspective allowed her to travel worldwide, write books, and earn humanitarian awards for over six decades.
In a world where there are too many Tarzans shouting and beating their chests, we need more Janes.
We need more people willing to sit down together and try to see eye-to-eye to protect nature, our world, and ourselves.
Thank you, Dr. Jane Goodall.
You can listen to the full Dr. Jane Goodall interview here:
Stay Calm & Speak On,
Jessica
Yes - we need more Janes and less Tarzans!