Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero-c!nadel From: davidson@cs.unc.edu (Andrew Davidson) Newsgroups: soc.feminism Subject: Re: Why I Am Not a Feminist Message-ID: <3552@borg.cs.unc.edu> Date: 29 Apr 91 17:44:35 GMT References: <672147838@lear.cs.duke.edu> <1991Apr24.130437.1@dev8a.mdcbbs.com> <14551@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> Sender: news@cs.unc.edu Organization: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Lines: 86 Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Status: R Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org In article <14551@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>, lisa ann farmer writes: >In article <1991Apr24.130437.1@dev8a.mdcbbs.com>, >rivero@dev8a.mdcbbs.com writes: >>Ms. Thompson, in saying a white student "simply is" a racist, makes a >>racist remark. When she says a male student "simply is" sexist, she >>makes a sexist remark. There are racists of all colors, and sexists of >>both genders. Pointing to one sex (race) over another for crimes that >>both are equally guilty of is "simply not" fair. > >I went to a seminar by Lillian Roball Rose(or Ross) last fall. I >think that she presented some good ways at looking at sexism, >classism, racism, ableism, etc. In this society(USA) we have a white >male upper-middle class, able group in power. If you are part of what >is in power you are an ??ist. I disagree with this completely. >For example, if you are white _because_ >whites are in power (they make the laws,enforce them etc) you are >racist. I am white because of my genes, not because whites are "in power". :-) But seriously, I just don't follow this logic. "Because whites are in power, all whites are racist." Am I missing something here? You mean to tell me there are *NO* non-racist whites? And what the heck does "in power" mean? What if I claim that you're looking at the world the wrong way, that *women* have the all power that really counts. Does this suddenly make all women sexist? >This means that because you are white there are certain >attitudes that you grow up with, certain ways that you are treated by >the people in power because you are white. OK... >Because you are associated with the group that makes the >(sexist,racist,ableist) laws you are part of the problem. Wrong, and it is exactly this attitude that turns off people like me, who are completely against *ALL* discrimination, not just discrimination against groups who don't have this undefinable quality "power". How can I be part of the problem by my very existence? I would think that my *actions* make me part of the problem or part of the solution. What about a U.S. Congresswoman? She's associated with the group that makes the laws -- heck, she's *part* of the group that makes the laws. Is she part of the problem? Even if she voted against every *ist law that came up for a vote? >That does not however imply that you can not be part of the solution. So why even say that I am part of the problem? Do you really think that white males will want to work with you to eliminate *ism if you scream "It's your fault! You're part of the problem!" and then ask for their help? If we all work *together*, maybe we could make progress. >This does not mean you should feel guilty being white. etc. So why tell whites they are part of the problem? >But everytime you >participate in something that is -ist and you are not part of the >target group and you do not say "this is -ist" then you are not being >part of the solution. What if I *always* say "this is -ist"? Am I still part of the problem? If so, why? If not, why do you insist on telling me I *am* part of the problem? Why not judge people by their actions instead of their sex or the color of their skin (boy, now *THERE'S* a radical thought). >So my main point is you can't be an -ist if you are not in power. Do you really believe this? What a plusgood example of *ist doublethink. My advice is, drop the illogical, sexist, racist rhetoric that just turns off people that would be willing to help if they weren't automatically considered the enemy. Freedom, Drew -- Drew Davidson \\ HELP FULLY INFORM JURORS! TELL YOUR FRIENDS: davidson@cs.unc.edu \\ As a juror, you have the right to vote NOT GUILTY ** LEGALIZE TRUTH ** \\ if you believe the law broken is unjust or wrongly * FULLY INFORM JURORS * \\ applied, regardless of the facts of the case.