From: jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond)
Subject: Re: Sexist Statement
Date: Sun, 06 Sep 92 04:05:09 GMT
Organization: Dixie Communications Public Access.  The Mouth of the South.

winter@Apple.COM (Patty Winter) writes:

>Stop and think how you'd like it if, like Sharon, you showed up to help put
>up a tower and were asked to cook food for the other workers. Not that 
>feeding the workers isn't important, but why should someone assume just
>because of your appearance that cooking is the most important skill you have
>to offer?

Because MOST women ham ARE more interested in cooking for the guys
than in manhandling a tower guywire.  No different than when I
go with my wife to glass art meetings.  She does stained glass and 
I do fused and slumped glass art.  I am in no way offended when someone 
tells me of the "husband events" or tells me where the guys are
off talking about whatever.  As a matter of fact, I'm honored that someone
was that concerned with my pleasure.

>Or try wandering around an amateur radio convention and having someone
>assume you're looking for the cosmetics demonstration. Or, while you're
>filling up the car at a gas station, having someone notice your callsign
>plates and say, "Oh, is your husband a ham?"

Kinda like when someone looks at one of my fused plates and comments
on how talented my wife is?  What's the big deal. I get a kick out of
telling 'em I (big old burly guy that I am) did that delicate and intricate
work.

>Attitudes like this aren't preventing women from participating in amateur
>radio. (Although there may be more egregious examples I don't know about 
>that are.) But they sure wear one down. 

Only when YOU have the attitude.

>Nobody's censoring you, for heaven's sake. We're just suggesting that
>you try to become aware of ways in which you make unfair assumptions
>about other people's interests and abilities based solely on the fact
>that they're women. Sure, it's difficult and it takes a long time. But
>it takes a lot longer if you don't even try.

Why should the world have to change to adapt to your personal problems?
I think the reason men like me don't have any problem with gender
reversed activities and the mistakes that accompany them is most men
are much more comfortable with their positions in life and are 
emotionally stable.  I can only speculate why some women take such 
offence, never having been one.  I *suspect* the reason is certain
women have a great deal of pent-up self-hate, perhaps hating being
created a woman in the first place, and being unable to take their
rage out on the physically superior men, assault helpless entities 
like innocent words.  Since words cannot strick back, they are 
"safe" targets.

If you get mad when someone asks you to look at cosmetics at a hamfest
or when someone asks if you want to help cook at a ham event or if you
take offence to being refered to as "guy", "gal", "girl" or any other
term of familiar affection, it is YOU who has the emotional problem 
and not the rest of the world.  Girl, heal thyself!

John
-- 
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