Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!aero-c!nadel
From: farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.edu (lisa ann farmer)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: the *isms
Message-ID: <14622@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Date: 1 May 91 02:35:17 GMT
Sender: news@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU
Reply-To: farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.edu (lisa ann farmer)
Organization: Colorado State University
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Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
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Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org


I just remember something else that was emphasized in the seminar. (yea, I am
the one who posted stuff about to be *ist you have to be in power).  

The point was made that it is useless to say that you aren't *ist, because some
time in your life you probably had a *ist thought even if it wasn't conscious.
For example, I have walked around campus at night quite a bit and if I see 
a male I get a little nervous- hold my keys tighter, etc.  But if I see a black
male I am more nervous.  So I admit that I am racist because the power structure
has taught me to think that this black man is more dangerous than a white man.  
I can never say that I am no longer racist because I don't know how deep what
I have been taught goes.  

I think that there is also different levels of awareness that this info from the
seminar hits.  I am thinking of an example of someone who says "I am not sexist,
I have lots of female friends."  or " I am not homophobic, I know lots of gay
people."  Proving that you aren't something is (imo) silly.  I think that the
purpose of the seminar was to question your actions, your speech to see if it
is *ist and to take the time to try and change those things in your life that
are *ist. 

There is a wonderful book by Schaff called Women's Reality which discusses the
White Male System (WMS) that discusses the male power system (some one asked 
what power meant I think.)
Lisa 
farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.edu