I don't like any type of polarization that becomes extreme, turns to hate and ends up in pitchfork mentalities.
That being said, the last decade has been concerning to say the least on both sides. The nuances are gone. Watching and reading women unable to differentiate between the men who harm and those who do the opposite.
I am avoiding key words so readers will have to infer what I'm writing about.
Spouse is involved with the rights of women and what I can share is what she gives me permission to. One of the things spouse is particularly angry about is that the movement isn't getting anywhere. Women who rise emulate male behavior instead of insisting to be allowed the choice of how feminine and nurturing they want to remain. (Greer recently mentioned something similar). In the Stem sector the women who make it receive little help or mentorship from the women who made it before them.
A perfect example was Serenas win while preggers. Feminist called her "badass". Of course it was an incredible feat, but feminists had no regard or understanding that such extreme exertion might be dangerous. They had already moved on when Serena almost lost her child and her life as a result.
The recent win of Alysa liu also went a little unnoticed, but gives me hope for the future. As she disclosed in the 60 minute interview; at the ripe old age of 16 she quits, goes to college, comes back on her own terms; no more radar gun for speed by her traditional father, no more dieting and she manages her practice. Her father accepted. A healthy looking athlete wins.
My training as a Varsity athlete was mixed gender (we only split at competition). A very progressive great coach addressed us one morning. He made it clear that anyone who didn't eat breakfast before morning training would be off the team.
Woman have allowed and participated in being reduced to their repro organs during demonstrations, when in fact their entire physiology is different. Unless female scientists represent half the population that research will not be done. Very few talk about that while women do better in STem initially, they leave later on. But I did not see a single sign during those demos representing half the population demanding that half the specialist physicians or scientists should be female. They need to be.
When I correct or mention scientists/science there is no interest (that's fine) but do self proclaimed feminist even know who Ilaria Capua (and what was done to her) is? Are the incredible accomplishments of women celebrated by women? Promoted?
IRL a woman asked me to explain psychopaths and sociopaths to her. Then she asked if it was mostly men. According to the irrefutable statistics, yes, I replied. Then why do women do it? Her question made me think. Why indeed? Is it socialization that turns some women into mean girls rather than wing men for eachother the way males do?
Of course I've encountered it in blogs as well, it's disappointing. Conversations that harp on about the misogyny of all men, tearing the normal ones down as well. Going back to precisely what we should be moving away from.
I've seen sudden criticism of Einstein for a few years. I even corrected a comment about facts (despite his century, he promoted women and was a humanist). I ended up with pseudofeminist backlash, from someone who didn't know what she was talking about. Apparently, Maria Popova noticed the same online and she posted this today:
https://www.themarginalian.org/2026/02/28/einstein-curie-letter/
"Don't heed the haters: Albert Einsteins wonderful letter of support to Marie Curie in the midst of Scandal".
I'm in good company.
Someone else who was an exceptional husband, father and genius was Darwin. (who among many other things custombuilt a stair slide so he could hear his children laugh while working) The preeminent Darwin scholar is a female Harvard historian Janet Browne.
Food for thought.
*claps* Just discovered her, and this reminds me to ask my daughter (& son) if they've heard of Alysia Lui.
ReplyDeleteCodex: Dr. Ilaria Capua or Goldmedalist Liu?
DeleteMy own father was of the idea that women are only good for housekeeping and childbearing, go to school until old enough to leave then work for a while until someone wants to marry you, then you have babies. That's how I was raised and that's what I did. My sons learned differently. Son-in-law and grandson-in-law were raised to see and treat women as equals by their respective families and that legacy will be carried down to future generations. I am proud of all of them. On a personal level I certainly don't agree with those women who would tear down all men regardless, simply because they are male.
ReplyDeleteCodex: It hurts women and society in the end, when they exclude or endup excluding others.
DeleteI'm sorry you had no choice. Where you fulfilled?
My father could be very traditional but also admired highly capable people irrespective of gender. How many kids did you have?
In my professional life mixed always worked better. Women approached problems in a more thorough way.
Yes; I discovered I was happiest when raising children and managing a household.
Deletefour children, two girls two boys, now have six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
DeleteCodex: It worked out for you in the end.
DeleteGender Roles bother me, I'm glad I was Raised by Parents that didn't give my Brother or I any Gender Roles at all and encouraged us to just be good Humans at whatever we were best at. I think a lot of biases are Learned and instilled, if not Taught them, they are foreign concepts to those who never had those kinds of biases handed down generationally. I do have a Gratefulness that I had some excellent Female Mentors as well as excellent Male Mentors, but I agree, it's still not a level playing field in most fields of important work and it would be better if it were. If those who would be best at whatever is is were not excluded due to such things as Gender, Race, Sexuality and such... there would be so much more the World could and would be offered.
ReplyDeleteCodex: Gender roles are a societal construct. They shouldn't exist. It's really bad in Stem. It's exactly what you said picking gender over exceptional ability ends up in less innovation and many diseases that aren't diagnosed or treated at all.
DeleteIt bothers me that in many cases women are hired (included) just to satisfy someone's idea of equality, when there are men who might be better suited to the job and of course the opposite applies too, men being hired to "even the numbers"
ReplyDeleteCodex: Statistically it's 70/30 even with a quota. The point is to give women a choice.
DeleteGender stereotyping is so ingrained in us that we don't recognize it, far too often. An example: you'll regularly hear forceful women described as "strong" -- as if this strength in women is exceptional -- but you'll never hear a male described that way because (I assume) it's assumed that men are naturally strong-minded, while women are (supposedly) normally less so. We don't notice we're seeing women through this sexist veil. -Kate
ReplyDeleteCodex: Hello Kate
DeleteI have to think about the word you picked, but I've seen assertive to describe males, bossy for women. I try not to get hung up on adjectives because there are much bigger problems. I'm not sure what context you're using it in.
Codex: @Kate Women are being aged out of diagnostics at 65 (mammos, pap etc). This is recent. But a male can still get a prostate diagnostic at 80.
ReplyDeleteWow. This statement ignites. *claps*
DeleteCodex: Before anyone misconstrues. Both should get at least an ultrasound annually, regardless of age. Health care is changing that.
DeleteIn Australia I still get reminders that my mammogram is due and I am over 70!
Delete