Although there is some merit to this critique of patriarchal political contol, it's missing something. Although I agree that the concepts of domination and submission are poisonous constructs, by the same token I consider this an oversimplistically bi-polar, and unduly limiting, conception of "gender". Part of what is outmoded is the insistence on putting people in one of two, and only two, boxes. Moreover the characterization of a person as "and his wife Bernadette" is hopelessly stereotyped. Although adding another person called "husband" may attempt to create parity, why not the neutral term "partner", so that the standard does not have to always be heterosexual marriage (or marriage at all)? The word Frenchman also ought to be dropped. Let's simply be people.
Thank you, Lee Hall. > With the French gender parite election in April, let > us think of this April as the month of blooming gender > mutuality - human nature balance month, a critical > time leading up to the balance of nature Day (Earth > Day) on 4/22/2002. Mutuality - 2x2 genders thinking of > each other with love and mutual whole equality and > empowerment instead of the outmoded ways of domination > and submission, can and urgently must start now, with > this April, including Earth Day - and become every day > and month. ... > > Invite the following guests to attend and/or call in: > > Ms. Budson and any man in or outside of the US who > will speak with her about the 50-50 balances in many > marriages, workplaces and organizations in the world > and US, in medical and law schools, and the levels of > gender balance in all modern governments currently > compared to the US. > .... Also invite opponent Jacques > Chirac and his wife Bernadette, as well as female > third running candidate Arlette Laguiller, and black > female candidate Christine Taubira. Also invite Anna > Karamanou women's EU Parliamentarian, and economic EU > official Giscard d'Estaing, another Frenchman, who > needs worldwide attention to discuss his personal > tardiness in bringing gender equity to the EU > convention. > > Finnish President Tarya Halonen and her husband, > Pettya Arajarvi, who is also a Minister in the > Government to discuss marriage and leadership for > human rights and dignity, as well as women and men > speakers of Scandinavian legislatures which are > generally 50-50 or nearly 50-50 male and female. > > Ms. Bailey Hutchinson and the man who nominated > Elzabeth Dole for President about gender balance > leadership to discuss gender, patriarchism, and female > tokenism among conservatives. > > Politically Independent and Unaffiliated Men and > Women,, Including members of third parties such as > Winona Laduke, Ralph Nader, and political scene > commentators like Michael Moore and any of the women > he lists as his choice for President in his currently > best-selling book. > > Sonia Gandhi, Benizar Bhutto, and men who supported > their political careers. > ...
