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From: jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Re: what makes you feel feminin
Message-ID: <706@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Oct-85 03:50:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtech.706
Posted: Tue Oct 22 03:50:13 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Oct-85 01:00:26 EDT
References: <2007@reed.UUCP> <43800014@uiucuxc>
Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA
Lines: 35

> 
>  If you feel secure enough in who you are, you shouldn't feel
>  threatened by enjoying either stereotypically masculine or 
>  feminine things.
> 
>  Donna

I agree with this in principle, but there's something about it that makes
me a little uneasy.  It implies that if the idea of doing something
stereotypically against your gender makes you uncomfortable, you are
insecure; that is, there is something wrong with you.  If the thought of
sewing my own clothes made me uncomfortable (see footnote), that would be
one thing, but I readily admit that the thought of my running around in
a dress repels me.  My point is that stereotypes have different strengths,
and a person shouldn't be ostracized for not wanting to break a strong one.

But at a different level, I feel that a person shouldn't be ostracized even
for not wanting to break a weak stereotype (e.g. a woman not wanting to learn
how to change a tire), especially if the person doesn't have too many of these
"faults".  I don't care whether this does show insecurity.  Most ideals can
be used to oppress or manipulate, including the one of being self-actualized,
secure, and well-balanced.  A person should be allowed to have a few faults,
including the sin of insecurity.  I would even say that faults such as these
should be considered as personality traits if they are few in number, for
without them one could hardly be considered human.

* The thought of sewing my own clothes does make me uncomfortable, but it's
  not because of any sexual stereotype.  Rather, I have the fear that I would
  have to wear the results. :-)
-- 
Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
"Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent..."

{amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff
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