Paul Walter,

Capitalism's only goal is growth and profit. The only "effects of advertising and merchandising" that are of value to capitalism are the ones that sell the merchandise.

Any position that elevates women,and their idea of their own value in our society, will have to be achieved despite capitalism, not in concert with it.

Pelican's suggestion (with which I agree) was more in the line of stepping of the conveyor belt and making a bid for a little independence, which, in my opinion, means not depending so much on the system and living according to one's own values as much as one can.

Sam Jandwich as always you make some well considered points. My small objection was not so much to the 'barriers' comment as to the 'contribution' comment which is much harder to define particularly considering cultural differences.

It amounts to others subscribing what determines one's contribution (to society?) in the context of a profit focussed, growth and resource diminishing mindset. The same is witnessed in many a socialistic or Communist state about who determines contribution. It is not a Left/Right issue.

Paul
It does not necessarily take a cabal of misogynists as you rightly referred to the more subtle (and some not so subtle) cultural influences that affect both men and women in different societies. How to balance the tenets of capitalism with morality or other social aspects of community is a bigger issue beyond my intellectual capabilities or means.

It is difficult to discuss the idea of feminism within the cultural context in a generalised or stereotypical way given the vast differences. Certainly by comparison women in the West have little to complain about and I reckon a humanist approach is preferable to the dividing lines of feminism or masculinism. But that is speaking from a comfortable middle class Western view.

Poirot your interpretation was spot on. It does not mean divorcing oneself entirely from the rest of the world just a little thinking beyond what is fed to us as the norm and sticking to one's values.