recycling

Mary Bryson (brys who-is-at unixg.ubc.ca)
Tue, 18 Jun 1996 12:11:51 -0800

I remember vividly y/our last exit off the xfamily stage,
and of course also the bitter tasting joke/cookie that the two of you
threw into the arena: You saw many males ritually dancing around a
mutilated victim (i.e. a theme of cultural studies interest), talking
to one another about their socio-syncratic intercourse "on", "about",
and "around" this subject, being oblivious to the hurts and violences
thereby done to others, who are at different positions with regard
to the same subject, possibly even being a member of it/her/those.

Since the image of 'gang rape' has coalesced (and alas separated
us) the discussion, it is my hope to help bring about healing and
understanding by sharing, with all of us on xmca but especially my
fellow males, the tiniest of senses as to what rape could be like.

The specific issue is socially
"engendered" :-)) inequalities involving gender differences. Is it
really of indifference to XMCA members? Is so, why is this
old dog barking up the wrong tree.

I have also been puzzeled about the silence on gender issues. For quite a
while ago I sent a question to xmca about research/researchers on gender ...
The message also contained a comment on
another matter which people responded to but on the gender part I still
haven't got an answer - why???

Mike's challenge to address gender is well-taken. I'm afraid I
haven't read the article in question, but I want to share a few
things nonetheless...

I have no doubt that your forthcoming articles and
books with findings will be illuminating. I am concerned however with
conceptualization (and interpretation) of gender in line with the
Hallmark Cards example... To me that is perverted vision, sorry and with
much respect.

For me it DOESN'T matter what color or culture the teacher came
from. I do not believe tha*t the teacher's intimate knowledge of local
community or children's home culture makes good teacher and good teaching.

There was an affirmative action officer, but we were
all male, Anglo-cultural, and otherwise 'unmarked' dominant types

I have read the Bryson and de Castell piece and I confess that I
am perplexed by it.

Here I want to discuss some of my half-baked ideas on the issue...

It is always tough to
deal with one's limitations!

the
_very private_ discussion I have had with other white males who feel
a certain sense of despair...

one of the main reasons was
department looking for a minority or woman candidate. In one case, I was
told before job interview that I don't have any
chance. I also heard
stories from other people (mainly women) who witnessed hiring discimination
of white males as insiders in their universities.

>Frankly, if I were in competition with a person of color for a
>position in education, it would raise for me a crisis of conscience.

First of all, I'd like to ask Judy why she should be in a crisis of conscience.
Second, I'd be not in a crisis of conscience just because I were in
competition with a person of color for a position in education ... it does
not matter if she/he is a
minority).

I still either do not understand Judy's crisis of conscience or disagree
with it.

I am limited in thinking about these issues from my own perspectives,
but I for one have ...

it seems to me that purpose and availability (access) are more salient
than gender.

I believe, to be a
feminist, you do not need feel, think, or behave as a woman or even to be
aware of all women's concerns. For me, to be a feminist means to include my
and other people's relationship with women in, what I consider, my integrity
with the world. This means that my or other people's sexist behavior will
hurt me. And I don't need even know all the time how sexist behavior is
defined -- I trust in my fellow men and women to point me at it.

What seems to me a wiser
strategy ... is to
identify what one wants to DO ... and then look for
impediments. Far more interesting to me, at least...

>>>Mary and Suzanne's article in MCA is what brought me to xmca and I was hoping
for more discussion of the issues involved...