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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!moiram
From: moiram@tektronix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: crossing streets
Message-ID: <4564@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Dec-84 11:51:36 EST
Article-I.D.: tektroni.4564
Posted: Tue Dec 18 11:51:36 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Dec-84 23:30:37 EST
Reply-To: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison )
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 33


>>jdh@hou5g.UUCP (Julia Harper):
>>But I am suggesting something that you, a man, can do to make the world a
>>nicer place for a woman -- even a woman you don't know.  This suggestion
>>was made in good faith.  I don't think it's difficult, I do think it is
>>a gift that men can give women.  

> jon@boulder.UUCP (Jon Corbet):
>My upbringing in the middle of Wyoming did
>not emphasize treating women as equals; it takes a real effort.  This is an
>effort that I am willing to make, because equal they truly are.  Is it too
>much to ask to be treated as an equal too?  I am not a rapist, and I carry
>no infectious diseases; I don't see why I should have to yield the sidewalk
>to any other person.

Julia's SUGGESTION has nothing to do with whether or not men are being treated
as equals.  She is not asking for a mandate, she is not saying you SHOULD
(argh, how I hate that word) take action, she is not stating that this is 
a parameter which must be fulfilled if you are to be considered a sensitive,
caring man. 

Julia is ASKING (on behalf of all nervous women on the streets after dark)
for a GIFT.  Part of taking responsibility for what we want in life is to
ASK for it.  It does not imply entitlement, or expectation that it this 
request will be granted.  But there may be a few caring souls out there,
who have had their consciousness raised about how women might feel on the
street alone at night, and the next time they find themselves in that sit-
uation choose to give the woman the gift of a little less unease.

The rest of you can do whatever you please.

Moira Mallison
tektronix!moiram