Posted on 04/21/2005 11:30:56 AM PDT by pissant
#1. Recognize that men's and women's views of each other and of themselves have been shaped by sexist conditioning in our society.
#2. Understand that these sexist views will persist and cloud both sexes' thinking about both men and women.
#3. Always remember the true nature of ALL women and ALL men: strong, loving, intelligent, zestful, cooperative, assertive, confident and tender. If you can't see everyone that way then it is due to the sexist conditioning (and other hurts) placed upon you. If you had never received this conditioning, then you could easily see everyone's inherent nature all the time. If any person never received any type of conditioning, then they would always act on these inherent qualities all the time.
#4. Educate yourself on the ways that women have been oppressed. Ask the women in your life what the sexism is like in their life. It is important for women to get to talk about it with you and important for you to hear the hardships of being a woman in this society.
#5. Share the work that has traditionally been considered "women's work". This is largely unpaid work and is not considered as important as "men's work".
#6. Challenge the notion to both men and women that boys are by nature aggressive and violent. Stand firm that it is only hard conditioning that makes anyone act this way. Stand firm that boys are just like girls with the whole range of emotions, compassion, and need for tenderness.
#7. Eliminate homophobia (the fear of being close to someone of the same gender as oneself) with the men in your life. Homophobia perpetuates confusion that closeness and sex are the same thing (they are not the same). It prevents men from having close relationships with each other. Taking turns listening to each other about the hardships we've had being men is a great step in starting closer friendships. Go meet lots of men!
#8. Encourage men (including yourself) to feel and express all natural feelings. Men's largest conditioning comes from being forced to act like we have no feelings (e.g. "Big boys don't cry", "You're acting like a girl/sissy"). This conditioning is what eventually makes men take on all of the inhuman roles we are expected to play in society.
#9. Support women's leadership. One crucial area to eliminating sexism is challenging the notion that men are natural leaders and women are natural followers. This can be confusing for men. But considering all the sexist stereotypes we've been taught about women, this is understandable. That is why remembering women's inherent nature (see #3) and taking turns listening with other men about how we've been conditioned is so important in moving forward and supporting women's leadership.
#10. Model non-sexist behavior everywhere. Tell and show men and women that eliminating sexism is a primary focus in your life. The presence of sexism in society is hurtful to everyone, not just women. It's elimination will enhance every human being's life.
Men Against Racism & Sexism - E-MAIL: mars@ccsi.com - Phone-Fax: 512-326--9686
If I acted like this article suggests, my wife would ditch me in a NY second.
And what the hell is "zestful"?
How gay...
this is from a feminist man organization. They can't be gay too, can they?
Did your scout master tell you about the sleeping bag snake? You have to watch out for them.
I can't see you saying anything like this with any amount of seriousness. :)
I'd just ask you what you'd been drinking! LOL
If you said something like that and meant it, I'd totally understand why your wife would ditch you...I bet she'd think you had been taken over by pod people!
JRBC, where the heck have you been??
is this bozo serious?
Picture it... "A crowded biker bar, all of the long-haired tattooed patrons discussing how their women were oppressed and how it feels to be a woman in society." ROTHLMAO!!!!!
He/she/it sounds serious!
If only the Onion were as funny....
It has something to with soap in the shower.
that explains why when chicks light up like xmas trees when they find out i have a masters degree in engineering.
BWHAHAHAHA!!
They'd have to be sipping extra-hot, double-shot soy lattes with little chocolate shavings on top to really be convincing, though. :)
Mmmmmm....that actually sounds pretty good! (The coffee, I mean, hee hee)
I can do that one, though I think my wife buys Irish Spring for me (Manly, yes. But she likes it too)
Like putting on a fire helmet and going into the burning World Trade Center to rescue victims? Should they have held a tribal drumming session or a poetry slam, instead? ;)
Be sure to sit down while going to the bathroom. Color coordinate your socks and belt. Listen to lots of Elton John. Go shopping with her, and become aware of how to match purses and shoes. Try to channel Alan Alda.
Damn. I gotta go back to school. I only have my BS!
ROFL!
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