Re: jokes (was ethnocentrism and extropianism?)

From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Mon Jun 03 2002 - 20:21:33 MDT


Olga Bourlin wrote:

> From: "Samantha Atkins" <samantha@objectent.com>
>
>>I am a little tired of the tired digs at feminists. I am an old
>>school feminist. As some wit said, "Feminism - the radical
>>notion that women are people!" I believe in full equality for
>>women, as I do for all people of all genders.
>>
>
> ... yes, full equality and full responsibility, as well. The latter is not
> always in evidence, and some women don't seem to mind the fact that men are
> the only ones who have to register for the draft, that divorce courts still

Sure. But no one should be subject to the draft. If enough
people are not interested in defending their country in real
need then that country is doomed anyway.

> favor women (many more examples such as these abound). Why aren't women -
> and men - up in arms about the lack of day care for young children in the
> USA? What I've observed of young women recently is that - even though they
> are way, way ahead of the young women of my day insofar as getting some type
> of career going for themselves - many of them still talk about snagging a
> "rich" guy, having a fairy-tale wedding (a barbaric ritual if there ever was
> one) and having HER parents (do I hear "dowry"?) pay for it. Do the

I don't think daydreams about marrying money are restricted to
women. Nor do I think a discussion of how some women may think
in pretty pre-women's lib and unequal ways says anything but
that the work of women's lib and NOW not being finished yet.

I don't agree there is anything 'barbaric' about a really nice
wedding. Having experienced many of how kinds, I find the
really nice ones don't have to bankrupt anyone but are a lot
more full of live and love imho than the "few friends and a
minister" variety - generally speaking of course.

> "diamond ring" commercials ever intimate that maybe the woman should propose
> to the man, and get HIM a ring? Of course, there are exceptions. But from
> an overview perspective, things look pretty much the same ... and the ritual
> drums keep beating on and on on. I still see a lot of women selling
> themselves off to the highest bidder (all done on a somewhat subconsious
> level, but not always). Surely, a lot of men get the message: get a
> career, make money, snag a babe. Women get the message, too: be a babe,
> and you can marry it. Yes, I am being very general, but the generality is
> out there and evident.

Does that change anything I said? It seems to support there is
plenty of work left for work for equality, women's lib, and for
that matter gender lib generally.

>The most equality (sharing equal responsibilities)
> I've seen consistently has been with homosexual partners (for
the record,
> however, the only gay couples I know presently are male).
>

It works in lesbian relationships too. But frankly I know a lot
of heterosexual relationships that have very significant
equality also.

- samantha



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Nov 02 2002 - 09:14:35 MST