On Wed, 19 Apr 1995, Wood Lee wrote:
> >Is Wood Lee serious? "Women simply need to have children...[or] somehow=
end up
> >mal-adjusted...."!! Incredible. Or maybe not. After all, the history =
of
> >men (and male-identified women) pathologizing women as mal-something
> anytime we=20
> >don't conform to male-defined codes of female bahvior is long and bleak.=
I'm
> >not mal-adjusted because I don't have kids; I'm mal-adjusted to statemen=
ts like
> >this, and I intend to _stay_ mal-adjusted!
> >
>=20
> I don't think I indicated in my original post that this is my view.
> Rather, it is a view that I've heard often, FROM WOMEN, not men. (May
> be men hold these views, too, but I just hadn't been interested in
> talking to men about this subject so I haven't found out for myself.)
> I just want to see how possibly more enlightened women would feel about
> such views. And I'm serious about hearing people's view on this. Is
> there a need to feel offended?
>=20
> Too bad I have not kepD'=F3H~Q0~U=DBn<=B00=B1VWI-b/I=F2=FBt my original p=
ost. =20
Otherwise I would reread
> it to see where I may be offensive. May be talking about an offensive
> topic is in itself offensive.
Dear Wood,
I usually make it a rule to take reductionist arguments about human behavio=
r,=20
motivation, etc. and find an equivalent which applies to myself=20
and then ponder how I "feel" about such an argument.
For example, if someone says (as they have quite seriously) that=20
aggression and violence are "male" characteristics and caused by an=20
overload of testosterone -- I ask myself: Now, if they were to argue that=
=20
"gossip" or "emotionalism" are "female" characteristics which are=20
caused=20
by an overload of estrogen -- how would you feel? Would this resonate as=
=20
"true" for you? Is this how you experience *yourself* and are you happy=
=20
with this type of explanation for *your* behavior?
So, let me ask you this:
If someone were to put forth the argument that men are biologically=20
"programmed" to have multiple sexual relationships and are incapable of=20
monogamous long term committments -- that when they are frustrated in=20
fulfilling this "need", they become maladjusted -- How do you respond?
Or, if someone were to argue that all men must participate in violent,=20
combative sports otherwise they become maladjusted and engage in=20
antisocial, violent behavior -- How do you respond?
Jayne
