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WOMANKIND ON THE
BRINK OF TOMORROW
That's an exclusionary
title, isn't it? It makes one gender invisible. Our
"language" has improved somewhat since we hear and see "he"
usually followed, after a pause, by "she" now. Looking
forward, we still must bring more of our language up to PAR. 
Those
in science will find this the hardest, but we MUST all start to insist
on the use of "HUMANKIND" instead of "mankind."
But, you say, it's a generic term and it does not bother you? Well please think of how it affects others. Little girls grow up constantly reminded that they are insignificant and unworthy of inclusion. Little boys grow up constantly reminded that ALL NON-MALES (girls and women) are insignificant and unworthy of inclusion.
Janus seems to be an appropriate muse for this article -- the two faces, one looking ahead and one looking back . If we have the courage to effect change in ourselves we CAN change the way the world perceives us in 2000.
There were, of course, many changes made in the last 100 years. In the U.S., the catalyst was the 19th Amendment, passed in 1920 and women were allowed to vote. But think about this. Although it was the pinnacle of "72 years of the greatest civil rights movement in the history of the world," the woman's movement to equality was way down on the lists of significant occurrences in the 20th Century. MOST WOMEN DIDN'T EVEN MENTION IT when polled by the media.
In the last 1000 years, women (in most of the world*) came on stage mainly in the last 80 years, more or less. A pre-2000 T.V. program told stories of the "1st millennium." Over and over we heard the names of men. We waited patiently, hopefully, for them to get to the 20th Century.
When we finally heard a WOMAN'S name, it was Carrie Chatman Catt. The reporter identified her as the person who got the vote for women and quickly moved on. Period, end of an epoch.
Looking forward, we can learn from New Zealand*. Women there were enfranchised and equal under the law in 1893!
What a thrill it is to look back again at the women who gave us so much last year -- the great soccer team that won the World Cup. Looking forward, we can certainly believe that there will be more girls and women who are inspired to redefine their existence by following these great role models. But we should affirmatively make it a point to JUNK "BARBIE."
The following is from an article by Miranda Kennedy called, "From Porcelain to Plastic." Bet you never knew the history of that dolly used to condition our daughters (and us?) over these many years past. "The rise of 'Barbie' in the collective imagination of girls is an entrepreneurial success story tinged with underlying sexism and racism. Mattel knocked Barbie off from a postwar German PORN doll called Lilli with the same tiny waist, raunchy tits and Aryan blandness. Barbie was introduced on the U.S. market four years after Lilli became a three-dimensional toy for the German ADULT MALE market."
Chilling, isn't it?
We will state at the gitgo that some of woman's most formidable problems are caused by other women -- other women in the workplace who have chosen to play the helpless-female or use sexuality for fun and profit. There are still a lot of females out there giving women, who don't and won't play that kind of game, a hard time and a bad name.
These 19th Century throwbacks also make life very difficult for women managers and supervisors who must spend a great deal of time and effort dealing with such childish behavior. Childish behavior that is emphatically supported by many males in the workplace.
One of them, R. K., angrily wrote GenderGappers a long letter. He called us "twisted," among other things too graphic to mention. Sifting through his diatribe, we found this sentence that represents the belief of many males. "My stand is that sexual harassment is a normal and healthy human behavior." We would ask, normal and healthy for whom? Certainly not for women as case after case has proven.
We want to emphasize, however, that there were some improvements in women supporting other women. Not too long ago, if a woman brought a charge of sexual harassment or discrimination, it was difficult to find a fellow worker who would testify on her behalf. Women are braver now that the law has become more supportive and less punitive. In the future, we can and must improve upon our bonding skills in 2000.
Why bonding? Because we have learned from the last century that we are invisible unless we present A CRITICAL MASS. Because polls taken only last week show a majority of women favor male candidates WHO HAVE INDICATED HOW VERY INVISIBLE WE ARE TO THEM. Quite a few of you referred us to a great column by Joyce Purnick called: "Forget Diversity, Republican Debate Is a Guy Thing" (N.Y. Times) which makes the point that nothing of unique concern to women was mentioned in the Iowa debate by the Republican candidates for president -- except abortion -- which ALL of them opposed.
Looking ahead, if there is one thing we must assure for ourselves it is the right to our own body. It belongs to us, not the POLITICIANS, not the STATE and not the CLERGY.
We wonder when the alpha female will emerge. We never heard about her in the century past. Sure, women are now in executive positions but any time one of them acts in the assertive manner long employed by men, she is STILL labeled, "a bitch." This appellation is pervasive in our society. We should NOT have to defend ourselves from this sort of gender-specific characterization.
Looking ahead, it will be great if we can finally get rid of the gender-stereotypes that have evolved. They have negatively influenced how women and men relate to each other as equal HUMAN BEINGS. We hope in the future more and more women will DEEP SIX that idiot Gray -- Venus/Mars fairy tale -- along with "Barbie," and pick up a XENA ACTION FIGURE for an enlightening role model -- at least pick one up for your daughters.
A friend recently gave us a card game called "Old Bachelor" with an attempt at comforting words. "See, things ARE changing." Hyped as the 90's version of "Old Maid" for players from 4 to adult, the stiff, shiny cards have duplicate silly pictures of women -- doctors, lawyers, farmers etc. and one lone bachelor card.
But it is NOT that simple. The pack is clever and colorful. However, AS LONG AS "OLD MAID" IS PERCEIVED BY OUR CULTURE AS A DISPARAGING TERM AND AN UNNATURAL CONDITION FOR WOMEN, NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED.
2000-001
Copyright 2000 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@together.net.
G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
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