Newsgroups: alt.feminism
Subject: Re: equality
From: moselecw@elec.canterbury.ac.nz (C.W. Moseley)
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:09:02 +1200
Distribution: world
Organization: Electrical Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

kkidman@vx9000.weber.edu (Kent Kidman) writes:
> nkramesh%harpo.cs.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu writes...
> > bednarek@picard.med.ge.com (Dennis Bednarek Mfg 4-6971) writes: ...
> >|> it there is a differennce between man and woman.  We can try to hide or
> >|> supress these differences but we are only fooling ourselves.
...
> >|> Both sexes are unique and different, and I wouldn't want it any other 
> >|> way.

different, yes. unique, no. IMHO, the differences between individuals
far exceed the differences between the sexes. The strength thing is 
still being thrashed out by various scientists, but one recent report
I read said that it is primarily due to socialisation. Males have more
muscle bulk largely because they are encouraged to exercise a lot more
from a VERY early age (<6 months). Agreed, males find it easier to 
build up muscle bulk, this is due to the generally higher testosterone
levels. So what. I have no desire to look like Schwartznegger, so it
really doesn't affect me that much.

Western societies all enforce very clear gender distinctions, as you would
perhaps know if you ever cross-dress or dress androgynously. People become
upset if they are unsure of your sex, even if the unsexed person is only
an infant. I am personally not very happy with this, and am trying to 
fight it in my life on a personal level.

> > Nature meant each sex to play a different part in society.
who is this `nature' person?? [other postings deal with this]

> >we try to bring this equality into everything and say that "hey, I
> >also want to be treated the same as you..."    [...]
> >and I hate it when one tries to be like the other. Note the word tries..
> >it is different when somebody has naturally grown differently.
how can you tell?? people choose so much of their lifestyle that I doubt
you can ever tell whether someone `naturally' grew like that. Define
`naturally'.

It's not about treating everybody the same, it is about allowing diversity.
I am an engineer, and prefer to be given 'technical' explanations for things
like my computer being fixed, but no way do I think _everybody_ should be
treated to a discourse on the intricacies of high frequency switching
DC power supply failures. Again, each to their own. If some person wants
to live according to the tenets of an archaic religious sect then fine,
just so long as they don't demand that I do the same.

> It is obvious that there are differences between men and women; there are also
> differences among men.  Nobody is saying anyone has to be the same as anyone
> else.  But people deserve equal opportunity.  If a job demands a lot of
> physical strength, then put a strength requirement on it, not a gender
> restriction.  I guess we really do need the Equal Rights Amendment.

definitely. The trick is to differentiate between job requirements and
limits designed to keep certain groups out. Niggers, fags and feminists
are three groups that spring to mind here.

Classic case in point: one company in NZ will not take on female chem.
engineering students over the summer, because the work is `unsuitable'
for women. Why? It's a brewery and there is `promotional' stuff involved.
Hey, some of my best friends drink, and they are quite capable of holding
their own with most of the guys I know.
Newsgroups: alt.feminism