gon2seed
(and me! - Ed)
I know it's probably terribly bad form to reference yourself in another thread, but this really set me thinking. (No not the bit about the free football but my last post about Sheffield Rugby Union Team!)
It seems from my advanced age position, that we have become rather more relaxed about 'sexism', whatever that means! Certainly in the 80's in the circles I moved in, it was terribly uncool to be considered sexist, indeed perputrators would often be pursued with incredible zeal, for mere slips of the tongue. It was a great taboo, and amongst the Arty types I hung out with
you didn't want to appear to be an unrepentant male chauvinist pig. Of course I had loads of naughty thoughts about all sorts of things, but generally kept them to myself! I must not think about suspenders, I must not think about suspenders!.
I remember a helluva hullabaloo breaking out over the poster that the Uni' Dramatic Arts club used to advertise their production of Caberet. It was a a pair of legs encased in stockings with the tops and suspenders clearly visible. Objectivication of women, cried the anti's, "bloody brilliant" I silently observed; and there is the rub; you see, I wouldn't have made that joke with most of my friends at the time. We seem to have moved somewhat from that entrenched position that used to be held. Greenham Common Woman, no doubt still exists, has she been marginalised, or has she just gone off my radar? I don't know, but it seems to me that the more strident proponents of Women's Lib' have run out of support, or steam, or both. Did they win the war, or did they just get beaten down by us overbearing men?
I still remember my ultra-pc days with fondness, in a funny way you knew where you stood. There were rules, you could learn them and be part of the club; that was nice, and it allowed you to sneer at those who didn't know the rules, or didn't care about them. Never really been much of a rebel, and the ultra-pc approach could be seen as really rather conservative (small c!).
Working in a male dominated, rather macho' profession, the contrast with my other jobs (care work, social work, health care) could not be more stark. But though my language and behaviour has changed, I don't know if my attitudes have, I'd like to think not. I have adapted to the norms of where I am, sometimes I say things of which I am rather ashamed, but I suppose it is all wrapped up in being part of the group, and wanting to be accepted.
I don't know much, (I've knicked that off Plato), but I know that the most important thing is, the way people behave towards, treat, and care about each other. Yes it is important to try not to offend people, and to choose language carefully, but if you don't know the rules how can you be expected to play the game.
I really should go to bed. Apologies for this ramble.
It seems from my advanced age position, that we have become rather more relaxed about 'sexism', whatever that means! Certainly in the 80's in the circles I moved in, it was terribly uncool to be considered sexist, indeed perputrators would often be pursued with incredible zeal, for mere slips of the tongue. It was a great taboo, and amongst the Arty types I hung out with
you didn't want to appear to be an unrepentant male chauvinist pig. Of course I had loads of naughty thoughts about all sorts of things, but generally kept them to myself! I must not think about suspenders, I must not think about suspenders!.I remember a helluva hullabaloo breaking out over the poster that the Uni' Dramatic Arts club used to advertise their production of Caberet. It was a a pair of legs encased in stockings with the tops and suspenders clearly visible. Objectivication of women, cried the anti's, "bloody brilliant" I silently observed; and there is the rub; you see, I wouldn't have made that joke with most of my friends at the time. We seem to have moved somewhat from that entrenched position that used to be held. Greenham Common Woman, no doubt still exists, has she been marginalised, or has she just gone off my radar? I don't know, but it seems to me that the more strident proponents of Women's Lib' have run out of support, or steam, or both. Did they win the war, or did they just get beaten down by us overbearing men?
I still remember my ultra-pc days with fondness, in a funny way you knew where you stood. There were rules, you could learn them and be part of the club; that was nice, and it allowed you to sneer at those who didn't know the rules, or didn't care about them. Never really been much of a rebel, and the ultra-pc approach could be seen as really rather conservative (small c!).
Working in a male dominated, rather macho' profession, the contrast with my other jobs (care work, social work, health care) could not be more stark. But though my language and behaviour has changed, I don't know if my attitudes have, I'd like to think not. I have adapted to the norms of where I am, sometimes I say things of which I am rather ashamed, but I suppose it is all wrapped up in being part of the group, and wanting to be accepted.
I don't know much, (I've knicked that off Plato), but I know that the most important thing is, the way people behave towards, treat, and care about each other. Yes it is important to try not to offend people, and to choose language carefully, but if you don't know the rules how can you be expected to play the game.
I really should go to bed. Apologies for this ramble.
