From: muffy%anableps.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.berkeley.EDU (Muffy Barkocy)
Subject: Re: men's issues vs. women's issues
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Organization: Natural Language Incorporated
Date: 30 Jul 92 00:04:39 GMT
	<l6klejINNmu9@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
	<MUFFY.92Jul21122131@remarque.berkeley.edu>
	<l6vd2rINNril@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
	<9207241927.AA25193@mica.berkeley.edu>
	<l74e59INNc2a@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>

In article <l74e59INNc2a@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> rberlin@birdland.Eng.Sun.COM (Rich Berlin) writes:
>In article <9207241927.AA25193@mica.berkeley.edu> muffy@mica.berkeley.EDU (Muffy Barkocy) writes:
>>True.  However, let's say that this particular roommate doesn't seem
>>to care *what* the house looks like and generally only takes care of
>>their room, when they feel like it.  So, I feel that I am the only
>>one working on any of the other parts of the house.
>Yes, it is clear that you do feel that way.  Perhaps you could say
>more about what lead you to and continues to renew your feeling of
>rightness about this conclusion.

In fact, I do not feel that way at all.  Indeed, it would be extremely
unfair to my male friends, all of whom are concerned about the
problems women face.

I have run out of both time and energy for this discussion.  In
particular, I am tired of having my views misinterpreted and being
accused of ignoring men's problems, being sexist, being selfish (where
the person clearly meant it negatively), etc.  All I was attempting to
do was discuss the fact that I do not believe that it is sexist for
feminists to select the issues they wish to work on based on how
directly and negatively those issues affect women.  As it happens, I
do not do this myself, but I think it is a valid method.  I select
issues more haphazardly, as they come to my attention and interest.
It turns out that the issues that come to my attention most quickly
are those which directly affect me; many of these issues are what I
have called "women's issues."

I apologize to those of you who have directed specific questions my
way for exsting this discussion; however, for the most part, I think
you have misunderstood me anyway.

Here's a quote from Bi Any Other Name, which quotes Robin Morgan, in
The Anatomy of Freedom: Feminism, and which says some of what I was
trying to say:

  Some have a difficult time with feminism.  "Why not a human
  liberation movement?" they say.  The answer is that the power
  differences between the sexes, races, and classes are still so
  extreme that invoking humanism, at this time, dangerously denies
  that fact.  "Those in power always speak of humanism," says Robin
  Morgan, "and accuse those who have been made powerless and
  categorized as 'other' of divisiveness.  This is done, however, only
  when the powerless recognize and name their already divided state,
  and begin to articulate their longing -- for union.  The fear is not
  that we are different.  The fear is that we are the same."

Muffy

--

Muffy Barkocy | muffy@mica.berkeley.edu | wi.4636@wizvax.methuen.ma.us
~Little round planet/in a big universe/sometimes it looks blessed/
 sometimes it looks cursed/Depends on what you look at, obviously/
 But even more it depends on the way that you see~ - Bruce Cockburn

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