Tim wrote >>As you know, a large sector of white men only listens to other white men. That's why it is vital to develop some white men who are willing and capable of teaching feminism, and to include it in a variety of curricula. I believe we must also reject the Republicrats, who are every bit as committed to the patriarchy as the Republican "Party of God," that's why I changed my affiliation to Green. ++Tim, you have valid reasons for wanting to communicate feminism to other men but aren't you setting yourself up as an educated go-between between women who follow eco-feminism and men? In theory, wouldn't it be better for women to take more of a vocal role ? Also, I believe you fail to realise that many men wish to keep the system the way it is. In my country, the ruling party (male dominated of course) have just put into place (or are putting into place) legislation to make it more economically viable to keep women at home and out of the workforce (tax incentives etc). At the same time they have made it very expensive for women re-entering the workforce and professional women to obtain reasonably priced child care and the measures they have taken are forcing child care fees up. The Liberal party (conservatives) in Australia are trying to subjugate women. It just isn't cricket :-) So those of us WOMEN with a little knowledge and friends in the media may have to take this on. I don't have time for this and neither do my friends but we will have to make time. (We are all tied up with survival and other issues). Many women face the problem of being tied up with families, survival and/or paid employment etc. They just don't have the energy or time to get out there and campaign and fight for our rights and for eco-reform. Men (in general) know this and use it to advantage. The few women who do try to to get through the various barriers that face women cannot usually focus on many issues at once. Many men are well aware of that also. The system is greatly stacked against women whichever way they turn. Women can even face opposition from their families who see their involvement in issues of environment etc as time wasting (the old - leave it to someone else - thing). So what do women do who face repression? I have seen women who have had to seperate from their husbands to regain their lives and I have friends who avoid male relationships altogether because they realise that such a relationship will stifle their work. This in itself is rather amazing to me to see (some of these are young dedicated women). I don't see many men commit themselves as much as women to the causes I occassionally take up when they confront me. Anyway, I too am interested to see why men feel they need to be eco-feminists rather than eco-warriors or eco-reformists or some other name. I'm always sceptical of men in general. When they feel the need to intrude into womens space or women's issues , I always ask myself, why are they really doing this? What's in it for them? For men cannot walk in the footsteps of women (yes they may sympathise with women's business) and inevitably, it will be women that have to help and encourage women and bring about change to society in many areas in the long term (if there are some genuine male eco-reformists who sympathise with eco-feminists, then all the better). Kind regards, Marguerite =========================================================================== /`\ /`\ RABBIT INFORMATION SERVICE: _ _ (/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30, Riverton, Western Australia 6148 (.\_/.) )6 6( http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm \6 6/ >{= Y =}< VEGETARIAN PAGE =\ /= /'-^-'\ http://www.geocities/RainForest/4620 /O\ / (_) (_) / \ ( | . | U U ) | |} Pity the human race its illusion of permanence (| |)/ \_/^\_/ w'-'w ===========================================================================
