Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!tektronix!orca!tekecs!jeffw From: jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Sexism Message-ID: <3578@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Mar-84 02:59:31 EST Article-I.D.: tekecs.3578 Posted: Wed Mar 14 02:59:31 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 07:34:47 EST Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 27 >>> I don't see anything wrong with smiling and kind words >>> in the workplace. Will you accuse me (a man) of not >>> being feminist just because I enjoy an occasional >>> smile from a woman co-worker? I take the little >>> pleasures life offers me unexpectedly, even if I can >>> relate their causes to my sexual nature. I think that >>> is not unconsistent with my view of myself as >>> feminist. > It all depends--how do you interact with your male co-workers? > If it's not the same, then you are by definition a sexist. oh, hogwash. Sexism is the belief that one sex is superior to the other in some fundamental way. Enjoying a smile from a woman more than from a man hardly qualifies. Do you think that only virgins can be truly non-sexist? (note: rhetorical question only!) Think about this: I'm going to react (or interact) differently to eating an orange than I am to an apple - but I couldn't for the life of me say which is superior. Difference *by itself* is not evidence of sexism. Those of you who like to make analogies between sexism and racism please note that the preference expressed above is a far cry from the "separate but (ha ha) equal" conditions fostered by segregation. the picky, Jeff Winslow