International Women's Day

CJ · Post by CJ » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:41 pm

Hi all,

I haven't seen anything on the forum about International Women's Day over the past couple of days. I just want to take this opportunity to reflect on the struggles women still face before they achieve some kind of equal footing with men in this world.

I'm not talking just about rampant female infanticide, here, or acid disfigurement or rubber-hose beatings. No, I'm talking about the fact that, for instance, we live in a culture where women get paid lower wages for the same kind of work men do; women still have to work twice as hard as men in order to access political power (perhaps Ms. Pelosi can give us all reason to hope); women are still equated with domesticity even though running a home is a job for either parent (or, preferably, both); women, much more so than men, are still subjected to excessive private violence; etc., etc.

We should remember this when interacting with the women we men know in our lives. I don't mean treating them "like a lady" (that, believe it or not, is actually part of the problem) but, rather, seeing them as the human beings they are, no more and no less. It's a bit of touchy issue to raise on a forum where men seek to emulate those things about women that are most stereotypically feminine. We must recognize that tenderness, compassion, a nurturing spirit, affection, emotional sense, and the like are a universal heritage in the human race, not just in women. Women are as capable of competitiveness, pugnaciousness, self-determination, competence under pressure, rigorous rationality, and hard-boiled savvy as are many men (well, okay, as are some men, anyway).

To the women in my life, to the women on this forum, to women everywhere, I raise my heart to you and salute you. May you continue to help us help you make this a better world.

Love,
CJ

P.S.
Thanks, Rina! I love you!

Jamie Sue · Post by **Jamie Sue** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:52 pm

I agree with everything that you have said.

We need to pay attendtion to this subject all ways!

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:00 pm

I gotta think about this for a while, as Arnold said, "i'llllll beeee bock!"
Virginia

Stormy(SO) · Post by **Stormy(SO)** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:37 am

Thank you CJ!! You're the best!! As one of those women that has hit the glass ceiling more than once, all I can say is Amen!!

Stormy

Lydia · Post by **Lydia** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:47 am

All Hail to Women !

I am doing my part. I am one of 3 males out of 300 members of a local chapter of UNIFEM. In case you haven't heard of it, it is a UN sponsored organization devoted to advancing the cause of women - especially in 3rd world countries. It ia a remarkable group of dedicated ladies - intelligent and skilled, and I am delighted to be among them.

I must admit I stand out, along with my 2 fellow male members, at their meetings. I have considered going en femme, but decided that might atract even more attention.

Hugs,

Lydia

Terri(SO) · Post by **Terri(SO)** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:32 am

Thanks so much for your post CJ! Nice to see you here today.

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:44 pm

I said I would be back and I have given this quite a bit of thought and First: Men and woman are different!!!!
Second: I have decided that I just don't relish a trip to the woodshed this time, so being "Old School" I choose not to comment beyond that I am woman hear me roar!!!!
Love,
Virginia

Curly(SO) · Post by **Curly(SO)** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:02 am

Yes Virginia, I would agree with you that men and women are different, (I'm not taking you to the woodshed, honestly

) but I think this about being treated equally despite those differences. Women have fought long and hard to get treated equally and on the whole in Western societies we are, though there are still some areas of inequality and unfair treatment. There are still, many places around the world where women are treated unfairly and deserve all the help and support we can give them.

As you say, Virginia

I am woman hear me roar!!!!

I'm with you there! (Admittedly, I roar very quietly

)This is, indeed what many women have done to achieve the equality we have today, and that is what I think about and like to celebrate on International Women's Day. I find it quite shocking that women in the UK only gained equal voting rights to men in 1928...that wasn't so long ago...and the women who courageously fought for those rights deserve remembering and celebrating.

Thank you to CJ and Lydia for your support in promoting equal human rights for women!

love,
Curly.

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:57 am

One thing that irritates me is take, for example, the "Susan" Stanton situation in Florida. The city says as a "guy" for the 14 years he/she was city manager she/he did a great job!!! But he/she, or it would appear any woman, placed in that postion is basically unqualified even with 14 years of experience. Where are the NOW ladies to support this lady? I see the GLBT folks are coming out in full support - are the NOW folks too good to get involved? And how about the ACLU, where are they? They support NAMBL and some other "socially unacceptable" situations; what, are they too good to support "us"?!?
Sorry, just a rant! But it seems those with some political clout seem to pick and choose their fights - guess it's the old adage about whose bull is getting gored!?
Virginia

CJ · Post by CJ » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:23 pm

Hi all,

Virginia,

I hear you and I share some of your frustrations about the poor defense of TG human rights but we must be careful regarding the Florida situation. It's not that they think a woman isn't as appropriate for the job as is a man as that they think a transgendered person isn't as appropriate (which, of course, I think is a crock of crap

).

As Stormy suggested above, women look up and see a goal they cannot reach because of a glass ceiling but, often, as is evident in Florida, CD's and TS's look up and see nothing but a bleak concrete ceiling. We need to be patient and continue looking for a door that will lead us to the stairwell that will give us access to the upper floors.

And all these similes and images are giving me a headache!

Women are led to believe that the goals they seek to achieve are well and truly (and easily) within their reach while things aren't that easy; gender-variant folk, on the other hand, have a whole different set of battles on their hands before they can even think that "movin' on up" will be piece of cake.

But, again, Virginia, no woodshed stuff here; I agree with you. I just don't want to take anything away from the battles women will still need to fight in order to achieve the kind of social justice for themselves we, here, in North America, so often say we value. Lip service is so much more cheaper than concrete action, though. In this regard, I salute people like Lydia and Curly whom I know are directly involved with the betterment of womankind.

Love,
CJ