From: ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.polyamory,alt.romance,soc.singles,alt.sex,alt.pagan
Subject: Re: raising children
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 92 08:55:45 EDT
Reply-To: ailanth!ailsa@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy)
Organization: Ailanthus Project

corun@access.digex.com (Corun MacAnndra) writes:

> But men and women DO have distinct roles in society. There are things
> women can do that a man can't, and vice versa.  And there's nothing WR
> with this. It's not BAD. Only our perceptions MAKE it BAD, because we
> caught up in the game of Better-THan-Thou when it's not necessary. Mer
> recognizing differences in people should not imply that those differen
> make a person better or worse than anyone else. It's only supreme ego
> makes a person say they are BETTER than another, when the truth is the
> only different.
>
yes, there is.  and "bad" IS a metter of perception.  if people think
something is bad, then it is bad.

these standard sex roles warp people.  for some, they may be natural,
but what about those of us for whom they are not?  spending your life
having your nearest and dearest accuse you of being a transsexual
because of stupid society gender roles really REALLY sucks...  all
qualities and actions that humans are capable of having/doing are
HUMAN, not male or female, anmd calling them otherwise is unreasonably
limiting.  what makes crying, wanting ot be protected, enjoying being
romatically courted, or caring about one's clothing feminine?  what
makes emotional repression, protectiveness, enjoying courting in a
dramatic way, or being indifferent to clothing masculine?  nothing but
that someone has said so, and others believe it.

> Children need role models, male and female. All children, male and fem
> Nowhere does it say that the men and women sharing the responsibility
> raising children should be married or even involved sexually. That's a
> purported by our supposed Moral Majority (which is neither). I've know
> plenty of single parents, living alone and in multiple partner househo
> (and I don't use the word partner in a sexual connotation, since the s
> of responsibilties represents a partnership), raising some of the most
> amazing children. Children need role models, and those models should p
> the widest set of experiences for the growth of the child.
>
and children's role models are not necessarily the people who are
raising the child.  my role model of how a real woman ought to act was
my sister's best friend's mother, who was (and still is) tall, slim,
professional, and confident.  while my mom was being miserable and
abusive being a housewife, mrs. gardner was being fulfilled and happy
working in Olympia Snowe's office.  (our congressional rep. by the way)

                                                  -ailsa

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                    ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com
                                                        ________
I don't care what consequence it brings,        Silence \      / Action
I have been a fool for lesser things.              =     \    /    =
                                                 Death    \  /    Life
                                                           \/


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