Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site leopard.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!leopard!akl From: akl@leopard.UUCP (Anita ) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Women are not people?!?!?!? Message-ID: <130@leopard.UUCP> Date: Wed, 20-Feb-85 11:01:44 EST Article-I.D.: leopard.130 Posted: Wed Feb 20 11:01:44 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Feb-85 20:12:31 EST References: <487@digi-g.UUCP> <615@masscomp.UUCP> <591@wlcrjs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Bell Communications Research, NVC, 331 Newman Springs Road, Red Bank, NJ 07701 Lines: 39 > > It is also true that, at least for women and perhaps a > little bit for men, How we dress and conduct ourselves is based > on how our mothers conducted themselves and what our mothers > believed was proper. > > Can anyone else think of something in their personal life which > is similar? I agree! My mother (parents, really) taught me at an early age that "proper" meant girls didn't wear pants to school (I couldn't until 10th grade, and couldn't wear jeans until I was a senior - and then only a pair that was brand-spanking new!) and they conducted themselves with respect. In short, I wasn't allowed to "let my hair down" at all. By the time I was 16, I had already fallen into the trap of believing that this was the only "true" way to live. Looking back, I don't think I would have gone off the deep end and ended up a teen-age runaway, but I wish I had had a bit more freedom. > Once finding something in your life which is similar can you > easily overcome the conditioning you have given yourself? > Well, here it is 10 years later, and I've just begun to figure out what it is that I want to do with myself. To answer your question, IT AIN'T EASY...but it can be done. I am fortunate enough to have several good friends to whom I can talk and vent my frustrations. I am starting to organize my life the way I want it, and not the way everyone else wanted. People can overcome their own conditioning IF THEY WANT TO, and if they are willing to take a few risks. -- * From the musical keyboard of: ** * * Anita K. Laux leopard!akl * * Bell Communications Research **** 331 Newman Springs Road * * Red Bank, NJ 07701 * * ****