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ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
Long
ago and very far away in an alternate galaxy, there once was a land of
plenty: plenty of food; plenty of peace and plenty of art, music and games
of all sorts.
It was called YINSTANDIA.
Its inhabitants spoke a language strange to our ears, but we have been able to translate some of their legends.
YINSTANDIANS inhabited a huge fertile valley ringed around by the highest and most dangerous mountain peaks. They were completely self-sufficient. Their clothing was woven from plant fibers; their food gathered from the naturally growing grains and small animals that they enhanced through husbandry.
Their genders were called YIN and YOUT, comparable to our female and male. All government functions, religious and cultural activities were controlled by and engaged in by the YIN. Only YIN were educated, thus only YIN could read, write and vote.
The government and its positions was open only to the YIN who decided the fate of all the YOUT. A religion was created by the YIN that served a Tripartite Deity: The Mother, The Daughter and the Mother Spirit. This religion gave the YOUT no representation save for one very early ancestor. This YOUT, after extensive purification, was called The Holy Dick for assisting the Mother Spirit's creation of The Daughter.
The "Great Offering Teaching Scrolls" (commonly referred to as GOTS) instructed the YOUT to be satisfied with their lot in life, to serve the YIN faithfully and worship the Deity of the YIN.
The language of GOTS, like the language of YINSTANDIA, recognized only one gender -- YIN. This served to further restrict the identity or significance of the YOUT.
GOTS decreed that the YOUT existed to serve the YIN in many ways. They collected the fruits of the fields under the direction of the YIN and presented the produce to them for dispersal to all of the households. YOUT were owned by YIN and used as housekeepers, child-caretakers and for sex -- both recreational and procreational.
The YOUT were afforded no recreational time, per se, but were allowed to gather together to sing and talk as they sewed or spun the fibers collected from the fields. These groups were carefully watched for any sign of attachment that might facilitate a revolt.
As long as they were doing what was required and not acting "uppity," that is, like YIN, they were treated well by the YIN families most of the time. Those YOUT that were treated badly had no recourse under the laws, no rights to posses- sions or easement from pain. A YIN could send a YOUT to the mountains to die alone or order one to be whipped to death.
Because of their dependence on the good auspices of the YIN for their very life and welfare, YOUT learned to please in every way possible. They found herbs and juices in the fields with which to color their cloths and their faces, hopefully to make them more appealing to the YIN. They shaved their bodily hair, smiled all the time and bedecked themselves with ribbons and pretty stones.
Since their clothing was whatever a YIN might have no use for, they became quite facile in creating colorful and unique models of the cumbersome and restrictive attire that they were forced to wear by edict of GOTS.
In contrast, the YIN dressed in the uniform of their gender. All clothing was identical even to the imposed conformity of the sash. This item, worn low at the waist, was used to designate rank, position and degree, or simply YIN group conformity.
Although the YOUT were denied any kind of education, few ever questioned their inferior status. They believed that they were valueless creatures without adequate intelligence to be on par with the YIN.
Whereas the YIN engaged in many sports and activities, these were denied to the YOUT. As a result, the YIN grew confident, strong, assertive and muscular over the generations; while the YOUT were generally small boned, timid, very emotional and frail. The very fragility of their existence caused them to be scheming and untrustworthy. They would eagerly turn on another YOUT to curry favor with a YIN.
This way of life went on for generation after generation, for thousands and thousands of years. Then slowly the tall peaks and mountains of prejudice were worn away as the valley of YINSTANDIA was invaded by CHANGE.
What will the future be like for the YINSTANDIANS? Can parity of the genders ever be realized? Can a gender, brainwashed over centuries, ever give up its privileged, superior and GOD-ENDOWED status?
Can a gender that has existed for eons with a Superior Being's heel on its neck shrug off the programming of centuries, or would it opt to remain dependent and refuse the responsibility demanded by CHANGE? A government can make laws of equal opportunity for education, for sports access and for employment, but it cannot legislate morality. YINSTANDIANS are still going around in circles tied to the wheel of custom. They are as yet unable to make a complete breakaway -- held in thrall to a hub of religious and cultural conditioning.
1999-044
Copyright 1999 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@ConnRiver.net.
G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
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