battleground

Occasionally i will be in a situation where i am talking with another man and he starts down this road of anti-woman comments. Not hateful, but the worst kind of subversion, under the guise of "knowing their true nature," or an offhand joke.

Once engaged, i hesitate to press my opposition too strongly, as i know some views come experience, but they will just make cliche statements born of stereotypical characterization. i heard an advertisement the other day that involved a husband and wife conversing about their amazing grill, and then he whispers under his breath that he wishes that she looks as good as the grill after so many years of marriage.

i detest this view in particular, that woman "let themselves go" after being married, that they become these nagging, demanding spouses who make their husbands lives miserable.

And then there is a local talk show host who every night manages to infuriate me, usually when using an effeminate tone to illustrate what he sees as weakness. Recently, while commenting on the invention of a ring that women wear to show pride in being single, unmarried, he went off on a diatribe about how women are being raised to ignore their femininity, their attractiveness- the message was clear: strength in a woman equals masculinity.

What's the quote? "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

There was a time when i was too feminist in my nature, and i have learned to relax and appreciate the differences between the sexes. Still, presented with certain views of women, i bristle about how much crap is believed.