Let's see...
1. I don't male-bash, unless I'm kidding around (like I did here earlier) or quoting someone else. I don't really think women are BETTER than men. Just, different. And _equal_.
2. On the same token, I don't really want women to have MORE power or rights than men; just the _same_ rights. (With some other new rights put in that only we _need_; for example, I highly doubt a man would CARE whether or not he has the right to a legal abortion. But that is a legitimate care for a woman. Also, stuff like businesses being made to provide day-care services for their female employees with new babies...that could also work in favour of a single _father_ who just got divorced/widowed.)
3. When it comes to sexual harrassment, I would NEVER make stuff up just to get money or attention. I don't believe in suing for suing's sake alone.
Sexual harrassment, when it's REAL, is quite a serious thing. It's the lower-end form of _rape_, which is in my opinion one of the CREEPIEST and most horrible crimes a person can ever do to another person. It's NOT a joking matter. And if too many women cry "Wolf!" too many times....people may not believe us anymore when the predators of society are REALLY attacking us...
4. I don't know about any other women, but for me, the very _definition_ of a "real man" is one who DOESN'T boast about what a stud he is! (Whether he _is_ one or not is another matter; I just prefer modest, discreet, heck, downright _shy_ men.) Not out of any feminist or PC thing, mind you. I just find boasting itself to be obnoxious and NAUSEATING. When a guy calls himself a stud I roll my eyes and reach for the nearest barf-bag. And THEN I turn my eyes to the _quiet_ little guy sitting by himself in the corner of the room, reading a book...
In closing, while I still believe that women deserve more equality than they are already getting, I don't really wanna turn this into a "FemiNazi" state (as my brother would call it.) I certainly am not a Neo-Marxist or anything like that.
Getting more power "at the expense of men"? Well, SURE, it just about _has_ to be that way for a while, at least, because men had ALL the power! Where else can we get it from, the ether?
But, mind you, I don't wanna go too far the OTHER way. Taking power and money and whatnot "at the expense of men" is acceptable and even _right_, up until the point where it reaches an even 50/50.
THEN I'd stop. That's what seperates me from the weirdo Neo-Marxists--they'd want to go even further.
And now, I REALLY think I better cut out of this thread before I get into serious trouble! It's odd, but even though this thread is _about_ women's rights, as the token female I feel LESS welcome here than I do on the _other_ threads! I'm starting to get a bit freaked. So, I'd better skedaddle before a flame war breaks out and _I_ end up being everyone's favourite target.
Mello
[ August 27, 2001: Message edited by: Mello ]