Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxn.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihuxn!jmps From: jmps@ihuxn.UUCP (J. M. Sauer) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: what makes you feel feminine/masculine? Message-ID: <1201@ihuxn.UUCP> Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 15:24:55 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxn.1201 Posted: Fri Oct 4 15:24:55 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 5-Oct-85 06:57:54 EDT References: <248@ssc-vax.UUCP> <1944@reed.UUCP> <32@ubc-cs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 31 Jamie's (ubc-cs!andrews) comments about society having a big infuence on what is masculine or feminine is really true. He said that the same things that women said made them feel feminine also made him feel good but he didn't always feel comfortable. It is society that labels these things masculine or feminine. Society does this in a often times arbitrary manner just to allow its members to differentiate more quickly between male and female. This is important to society. In general, almost all the things that have been labelled masculine, women can do openly in our society now. Wearing pants, using the tools to fix things (qouting a response), racine cars, etc.. are open to women and it is alright with society if they feel masculine. Often times it will be said that a women may feel masculine but she never forgets that she is a women and is not trying to be a man, therefore it is accepted. It is not alright in society for a male to do those things that make him feel feminine even if he doesn't want to be a woman. It is not allright to wear a dress or to be emotional. Society is saying this is a weakness in a man ("A man wouldn't be caught dead in a dress"). I think this comes from society being more influenced by male values, but both men and women feel this way. In summary, an individual should do whatever makes them feel good (as long as it doesn't hurt others) whether or not society thinks this is masculine or feminine. The only true masculine or feminine attribute are those physical attributes of being male or female, everything else is cultural including attraction to a MOTOS. I hope Jamie can become comfortable with society's attitudes and that society eventually gives the same freedom in this area to men that it allows women. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com