Until 1995 I thought 'Steve you're a SEXIST was a compliment

[Steve Bildermann]

but now I'm trying hard but that's a damn long list...

These are a list of demands from women that arose from discussions at a recent statewide gender liberation conference held for the activist community.

http://www.tao.ca/~colours/sexismlist.html

[cstaylor]

Loved these:

Don't act as if you can understand our oppression

Realize that sexism runs really deep and always plays itself out

Stand up for women; assume that they're right

Don't ask us to cuddle if we're in a platonic relationship

Admit when you fuck up

[tokyojoe]

Many of these items are programming designed at encouraging the kind of nurturing behavior in men which women require to raise children. There are lots of sociobiological reasons for this, which I won`t get into. The interesting thing is that it puts the blame on men for the problems of sexism. However, it takes two to tango. One of the secret taboos of the feminist movement is that they won`t talk about the subject of competition between women. Women will compete with each other for resources and men in ways that would shock Machiavelli. Why do women dress sexy and show off their bodies? To attract men because they know we like it. Feminists can`t attack such behavior of other women, because it would violate this illusion of unity among women. Instead, they tell men not to sexually objectify women or gawk at them, etc. Well, it isn`t going to work because there will always be women who will encourage such reactions because they can benefit from it.

[cliffy]

Yes Steve that is a long list, but some of the demands to my MALE eye are ill defined or trivial. Only a few are so stated but Gomigirl will, I am sure, will tactfuly flame the living daylights out of me where I may be mistaken .

As a side note I was raised in a single parent situation by a feminist who hated radical feminists, I am still a little bemused by the radical side of feminisim but do believe in equality but that is another thing

[GomiGirl]

That list was terrible! I do not agree with the language that is used at all. Read the list again and remove all referenced to men and women and insert the word "human" or "person" and then it reads better. The list seems to be written with the premise that all women are oppressed and treated badly and all men are wrong. I DO NOT agree with this at all.

The interesting thing is that it puts the blame on men for the problems of sexism.

I have a huge problem with women who male bash. I don't think that _any_ group should bash any other group. I am a "closet" idealist who would love to see a unilaterally empowering society where people are judged on their talents and creativity rather than fall into the same old behavioural ruts because that is the way things are.... However, I _know_ that is never going to happen in the real world... but a girl can dream.

Sure men have always had more power and have exerted it since time began, however, for the most part, women have brought up their boys to try to be strong and powerful etc etc. There have been numerous studies to proove that mothers will treat baby boys very differently to baby girls and so with this sort of imprinting from birth, why do people winge and complain about the inbalance of it all?

I personally think it would be really tough to be a guy and have all that pressure from birth... but then whatever situation you have there is always difficulties - the grass is not greener....

One of the secret taboos of the feminist movement is that they won`t talk about the subject of competition between women. Women will compete with each other for resources and men in ways that would shock Machiavelli. Why do women dress sexy and show off their bodies? To attract men because they know we like it. Feminists can`t attack such behavior of other women, because it would violate this illusion of unity among women. Instead, they tell men not to sexually objectify women or gawk at them, etc. Well, it isn`t going to work because there will always be women who will encourage such reactions because they can benefit from it.

Absolutely some women are scarey and will scratch and crawl over even their friends to get what they want. This is NOT something that every woman does as we are all very very different - the same as all men are unique. Some women will even go after their friends partners boyfriends, just to win and not for any other reason... very sick sad behaviour.

There is a far from a unity between women and I don't think there needs to be. There are many women that I have little or no respect for so just because we have XX chromosomes in common, it doesn't mean that I would blindly support them... I will resepct _people_ worth respecting - male, female, black, white or brindle.

Also, I have no problem with people using whatever personal assets they have to take care of themselves in this big bad ugly world. The world is not colour- or gender-blind and survival of the fittest is still sometimes the case, however, I don't believe that dishonest, unethical behaviour is ever acceptable but self-promotion is always OK. Self promotion (as long as it is not at the expense of anybody else) shows that you have respect for yourself and if you can't respect yourself, how can you expect anyone else to...

This is such a complicated issue - men and women are different - but individuals have talents that need to be embraced... there should be more communication between everybody rather than battles where everybody loses...