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From: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison )
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: what makes you feel feminine/masculine?
Message-ID: <5797@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Oct-85 13:35:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: tektroni.5797
Posted: Tue Oct  8 13:35:02 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Oct-85 07:24:55 EDT
References: <248@ssc-vax.UUCP> <1944@reed.UUCP> <32@ubc-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison )
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 28
Summary: 

In article <32@ubc-cs.UUCP> andrews@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jamie Andrews) writes:
>
>     I find this amazing, though not necessarily bad.  Here in 1985,
>on a newsgroup devoted to women's issues, women are still talking
>about pampering themselves, wearing traditionally women's things,
>and being irrationally emotional as the things which make them feel
>feminine.
>

I don't find this amazing at all.   For me, what the women's
movement is about is not only embracing the "masculine role", but 
continuing to value the "feminine role".   It is not enough to
be accorded the freedom and privleges accorded to men; we
need to *value* those aspects of ourselves which are considered
"feminine" (and therefore devalued in the patriarchal society) as 
well.  

I have some sympathy for you, Jamie.  The frustration will only
end, however, when you are able to accept both the feminine and
masculine aspects of your personality.

I feel "masculine" when I'm taking care of things myself:  the flat 
tire on the car, leaky faucets, etc.  I feel "feminine" when I'm
wearing silk, or lace; when I'm very dressed up, etc, but most
especially when I'm rocking a baby to sleep.

Moira Mallison
tektronix!moiram