From: misdeva@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu (Devjani Mishra)
Subject: Re: Dear Starbuck
Followup-To: alt.feminism
Organization: Yale University
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:04:52 GMT

In article <1dlujuINNor@oregano.csv.warwick.ac.uk>, maufd@csv.warwick.ac.uk
(Mr J S Graley) wrote:
> 
> So the extreme feminist rhetoric serves as a weapon. It makes men feel bad 
> when they read it, and the more ridiculous it is, the better it works. 
> 
> Could this, perhaps, be the reason for 'moderate feminism'? Could it be that 
> by being a moderate feminist and a female, you:
> (1) Aid the extremist so that...
> (2) the extremist can write her nonsense and...
> (3) you can reap the unjust reward?
> And as a male, you simply shield yourself from it by being able to say
> 'that doesnt apply to me, Im a feminist'?
> 

Could it be that my views are the opinions I have come to on my own, after
evaluating issues in what I think is a fair manner, and that I am called
moderate only because I do not hold the most radical views in the spectrum
of Western feminist ideology - while in some countries I might be seen as a
heretic for holding the same views - and that the only reward I'm looking
for is the knowledge that *I tried through my own efforts* to make the
relationship between man and woman a little more just?

> IMHO, A little consideration shown on the part of feminists would be far
> more effective in causing men to realise their own wrongdoings. You don't have
> to give in to be honest, you simply lay your cards on the table. Your 
> 'opponent' is then compelled to do so himself. Not being a woman, I can only
> guess at some issuess that should, perhaps, be raised eg:
> (1) A lot of men get discriminated against by female schooltechers in pri. and
>     sec. education. I would guess 50% of males are serious victims.

Actually, in the US, the reverse is often the case; a study done here last
year shows that a lot of young women get discriminated against by both
female and male schoolteachers, especially in coed setttings.

> (2) The divorce laws in most countries. Need I say more?
> (3) Female's treatment of males in 'social' circumstances. This is the exact
>     equivilent of male's treatment of females in 'the workplace'.

Could you be a little more specific on these two points, especially (3)?
> 
> When I realised the prevailance of these and similar, I immediately noticed
> my own sexist prejudices (and put them to sleep). But feminism still annoys
> me because it encourages these above things in a tit-for-tat way, and so
> makes matters worse.

Unless you specify what it is that you are accusing feminists of
encouraging, I'm inclined to view this "tit-for-tat" argument as nonsense. 


> 
> And, hey, does it _really_ have to be called 'femin'ism?
> 

Well, if there's an Anglo equivalent of the Academie Francaise, maybe we
should petition them.

       /-                   Devjani Mishra, Yale University
      /   /                 misdeva@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu
  ___/  _  _   _  ___       diva@minerva.cs.yale.edu    
 /  /   /   | /  /  /
/__/_  /_   |/  /__/_       "What's right is what's left when everything
                            else is wrong." - Robin Williams