I totally support gender equality, but I think things like these have powerful language attached that suggest:
- men have no idea how to be fair, and
- only women can advance women's issues.
Given what I know of history I have little defence against the first claim, but I am taking issue with the second.
There is lots of research about human development that strongly suggests genetics determine how our reproduction related bits grow (or don't), and I can't help that. There is lots of research about how we relate to our own reproduction related bits and preferences regarding the reproduction related bits of others. Also not much I can do about those preferences.
I do know that if the reproduction related bits have nothing to do with the job you are doing, they should have NOTHING to do with the job you are doing, or the pay you are getting, or the parking spot, or job opportunity, or... well... anything.
I also know that if the preferences and identity regarding reproduction related bits don't involve you (as subject or object), then they DO NOT involve you. If Bob likes Sally, the only two people who should really have a say about that is Bob and Sally. If Betty likes Sally, same deal goes. If all three of them like each other... sure. I don't tell you what to do in your bedroom, and we'll all thank you to do likewise!
In light of that, I'd be surprised if there should be any women's issues at all. They are people issues. Reproduction? That concerns people. Rape? Yeah, don't! And it also concerns all people. Go ahead! Tell me any issue that is exclusively a women's issue. Put one in the comments below and justify to me how it is exclusively a women's issue. I really want to know, because this really bothers me.
I think I heard in a psychology class once, that our brains don't handle negation well. In order to process "don't run" we need to visualize running. The process actually reinforces the action we want to avoid. Positive language that causes us to visualize the desired outcome is ultimately more powerful and more likely to get us there sooner.
But I guess there just isn't enough pizazz in:
Share the Night With Everyone
City for All People Initiative
Status of People Canada
I'm just saying.
3 comments:
No mayonnaise in Ireland. That's what my dad taught me.
In areas with few women to speak up, it is essential (IMHO!) that men speak up for women. And men. And pretty much everyone. One of the reasons that these things are labeled "women's issues" is that traditionally they have been problems that only women have cared about. That is changing (YAY!) and it is becoming obvious that to (for instance) stop rape we must educate men and women that rape is wrong (DUH!), rather than teaching women how not to be raped, which has been the message in previous (prehistoric?) ages.
It's funny that you mention this, as I've recently asked a number of my female colleagues if they consider themselves to be feminists, with their answer often being no. Yet they stand for equality, fairness, and general rights of everyone -- how is that not feminism (at least one form of it).
Clearly the language that we use surrounding all of these issues could use some work, but for the moment I think we're stuck with it.
Menstruation.
This is a women"s issue. It has nothing to do with men.
Don't go giving me bull about reproduction or PMS...
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