Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero-c!nadel
From: NRILEY@BOOTES.UNM.EDU (Natalie Riley Osorio)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: "Woman" or "Girl"?
Message-ID: <1991May13.223727.8721@aero.org>
Date: 10 May 91 07:00:00 GMT
Sender: news@aero.org
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
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Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org



  In reference to the ongoing discussion about gender pronouns and the like,
I'd like to present my situation. In a recent e-mail discussion with a friend,
we were talking about the usage of the titles "woman" and "girl." I admitted
to him that at times I feel uncomfortable being called a "woman" (I'm 20) 
and also in calling other people my age "women" and "men" (although I do).
Furthermore, I don't feel belittled by being called a "girl." He wrote the
following:

> Our society is sexist- wake up and smell the coffee: the pursuit of language
> changes in feminism is symbolic- you wish to be recognized as a woman only
> in so far as you buy into the idea that some change must be made in this
> society. Otherwise society is correct; you are a girl. If you think it and
> believe it then you are, and there is no reason to correct those who are
> wrong in calling you a woman. But most of all there is no reason to take
> away from the efforts of those who deserve that title (or otherwise do NOT
> deserve to be characterized as weak, naive, and stupid.)

  My feeling is that an even bigger problem lies in the stigmatism that
apparently exists in being called a "girl," or for that matter, a "woman"
as opposed to "womyn," etc. These words should not imply one who is " weak,
naive, and stupid " or anything else. It seems to me that part of the reason
these words have derrogatory implications is that people are insisting they
are derrogatory. I am interested in hearing what other people feel about this.

Nat Riley O.
NRILEY@BOOTES.UNM.EDU

"Many other women have kicked higher, balanced longer, or turned faster.
 These are poor substitutes for passion"   Agnes DeMille

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