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