Re: essentialism

[Leanne Smith]

Mary writes:  >>"Feminine" is a whole different word-having to do 
with traits and 
characteristics that pertain to being female, and THAT gets pretty 
sticky.  So 
much is socially engineered....<<

I agree. Female and male are gender words that relate to biology and 
can't be changed.  Or at least not usually.

Feminine and masculine are words that relate to or are like a woman 
and man.  These are arbitarily choosen, socially accepted definitions 

which can change.  And perhaps need to change in order to express a 
more egalitarian society.  
Leanne Smith
[EMAIL PROTECTED]