Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero-c!nadel
From: William.Turnbow@eng.sun.com (William Turnbow)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: definition of sexism
Message-ID: <12212@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 25 Apr 91 14:33:35 GMT
Sender: news@eng.sun.com
Reply-To: William.Turnbow@eng.sun.com (William Turnbow)
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Lines: 21
Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Status: R
Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org



    I was recently in a workshop in which we were asked to accept some
definitions.  One was for sexism -- and that was discrimination that
was done based on sex and supported by the societal structure in place
(at least that was it to the best of my memory).  Now by this
definition, sexism was something men could do to women but not vice
versa.  Gender oppression was sex discrimination that occurs outside
of the societal structure.  So this workshop leader -- a female, said
that women were worse off because they suffered from both, while men
could only suffer from GO.  Now she was not belittling the fact that
GO could cause much suffering even to the point of killing, but it
doesn't change the fact that women are worse off.

    Has anyone experienced this argument and does anyone agree with
it?  I am trying to understand it, because I am completely in disagreement
with it.  I can't discuss it with the workshop leader since every
attempt to discuss it with her reduces into a bitter speech on my part
about how I can't possibly understand or comprehend since I am part
of the oppressing group.  I am really trying to understand this though
to see if I really so blind that I can't see, or what.

-wat-