Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!ms.uky.edu From: kaveh@ms.uky.edu (Kaveh Baharestan) Newsgroups: soc.feminism Subject: Re: A Moral Question Message-ID: Date: 14 Oct 90 15:56:21 GMT References: <16098@s.ms.uky.edu> Sender: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Organization: U of Ky, Math. Sciences, Lexington KY Lines: 31 Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Status: R randy@ms.uky.EDU (Randy Appleton) writes: >In my mind, the definition of feminism includes *only* the striving >for equality between the genders. It does *not* include an >anti-nuclear power position, a fight against the porn movies, our >foreign policy towards South Africa, or even nationalized Child Care. hmm... the fight against porn movies may not be on the agenda of most feminists simply because they are dirty or what ever. Porn is basically anti-feminist and promotes the objectification, humiliation, control, and hate of women. There is no pornagrafy that does not promote one or more of these ideas in its viewer-readers. So the fight agianst Porn is the fight for equality. (this does not mean that I believe the church fanatics are correct - as one article i read said, the church and pornographers are codependent.) [What about lesbian pornography? - MHN] As for south africa, IMHO, one group cannot be free if another is opressed. Childcare is one of the keys to gender equallity. It allows both parents to work or do their own thing. It can also be an educating, socialising experience for the child(ren). As for nationalization, we are spending obscene(sp) amounts of money on war, finantial bail outs, arms, space programs etc; but spending for a child care program or fund seems obscene to the law makers and the tax spenders. I don't know about you but my childhood was the single most important, and influencing period of my life. If I had been left in child care that was inadiquate, with attendants with little training, patients, and salary, then I would say that my life would be different. People need to start seeing the importance of their childhoods and their children, and that is a very feminist thought. -kaveh.