[NIFL-WOMENLIT:3203] Re: message from Andrea

From: AWilder106@aol.com
Date: Mon Mar 21 2005 - 15:28:21 EST


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Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:3203] Re: message from Andrea
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Yes, it is vital.

I think only women would realize this and understand the depth of the problem, at an emotional level.


First, it opens the topic up for scrutiny--by topic I mean men's judgment of women's place. If you haven't been there you really can't get it.  Larry Summers is a big name, what he says carries weight.This is why role switching is useful, and why I used the black example.  It kind of pries open the lid of the male unconscious--don't mean to offend the guys on the list--one male unconscious. You see, Summers made a slip, the other examples he cited had to do with conscious choice, eg, Jews in farming, but the female one didn't. I think the guy meant it. Around where I live, I might have said Lebanese in auto repair. Some people who supported Summers's statement I have to say were troglodytes.

Second, there has been a lot of gain in females in science jobs, witness the HSPH letter, which was signed by Jennifer Leaning (reports on human rights, most particularly now from Darfur) among 4 other female signers, I think it was. My guess is that both the male and female members of the faculty at HSPH were outraged--many of these people, like Jennifer, actually do risk their lives--public health, not a field for sissies. When you go through tough times together, there seems to be development of some loyalty.

Third, reading the book I cited helped me understand male/female differences so I can work with the differences.  In a weird way, Sax's book is a brain-based non-sexual version of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

Hey--that is not a cheap book, I don't get a commission, it is scholarly but also somewhat popular.  Check it in the bookstore first.

The issue of Time was March 7.  I saved it, as did one of my professor friends.  Much food for thought there.

Andrea



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