Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site nrcvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!psivax!nrcvax!terry
From: terry@nrcvax.UUCP (Terry Grevstad)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Re: what makes you feel feminine/masculine?
Message-ID: <341@nrcvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Oct-85 18:07:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: nrcvax.341
Posted: Thu Oct 17 18:07:17 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 07:29:55 EDT
References: <248@ssc-vax.UUCP> <1944@reed.UUCP> <32@ubc-cs.UUCP> <479@enmasse.UUCP>
Reply-To: terry@nrcvax.UUCP (Terry Grevstad)
Distribution: net
Organization: Network Research Research Corp.  Oxnard,CA
Lines: 56

nancy@enmasse.UUCP (Nancy Werlin) says:
>
>On some answers to "what makes you feel masculine/feminine?" which included
>tradionally feminine things like wearing taffeta and perfume, 
>and masculine things like chopping wood and fixing cars,
>or write a program that works.  
>
>So I would vote for a cessation of the perfume/wood chopping articles
>in favor of discussing the ambiguities involved in being 
>masculine or feminine.  How do we resolve the stereotypic 
>masculine/feminine cliches to which we so obviously subscribe?
>Does sexual identify depend on these cliches?  The list postings
>imply that it does.  Jamie's posting describes how influenced he is by
>the cliches, and how he feels limited by them (and by his own
>changing values).  I believe Rich Rosen expressed similar feelings.  
>So let's have more of this sort of talk.  What do all of you think?
>

I have a friend who was once asked when she felt feminine.  Her answer
(paraphrased):
  
    I always feel feminine.  I have all the female parts and I
    know I'm female, therefore I feel feminine.

I tend to agree with her.  I am female, and living with myself day in
and day out doesn't allow for forgetting that fact.  The tools that I
use and the things that I do during the day really don't have any
impact on how I feel about myself.  (unless I really screw something
up, and then I feel totally incompetent--a feeling that can be
ascribed to men as well as women)

My husband carries a pocket knife and a screwdriver with him at all
times, in his pockets.  I keep mine in my purse.  I find them to be
handy little items, and they don't care if a man or a woman uses them.
My husband also keeps some chapstick in his pocket.  I keep lipstick
in my purse.  I really can't see much difference here, except I keep
my stuff in a bag, and he keeps his stuff in his pockets.  Frankly,
even though I wear jeans most of the time, I don't like having all
that junk in my pockets.  I'll keep my bag, thank you.

Frankly, I don't understand all this feminine/masculine mystique
business.  When I wear perfume and satin I feel good.  My husband
feels good when he wears cologne and suede.  I think the distinction
for me is between what makes me feel good and what doesn't rather than
what makes me feel feminine or masculine.

-- 
\"\t\f1A\h'+1m'\f4\(mo\h'+1m'\f1the\h'+1m'\f4\(es\t\f1\c
_______________________________________________________________________

                                                       Terry Grevstad
                                         Network Research Corporation
                                                   ihnp4!nrcvax!terry
	                 {sdcsvax,hplabs}!sdcrdcf!psivax!nrcvax!terry
                                            ucbvax!calma!nrcvax!terry