hocuspocus "I totally agree that there are a lot of inequities in patriarchal perceptions of female gender issues."

Then you are not just a feminist, you are one of the feminists who refuses to take responsibility for her own choices. Have a look at Palin, regardless of your particular opinion of her, she stands tall as a woman who has grasped opportunities with open hands. She is successful and she is obviously willing to be responsible for outcomes of the choices she has made.

What prevents you or others from doing the same? Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe we make our own limits in life? Maybe for some it is safer not to climb out of their little self-made ruts and it is good to have someone else to blame.

It is easily demonstrated that women exert most of the influence upon young women (and older women for that matter) and there is no use faking it that the old bogeyman the patriarchy is behind it all. Have a look at the womens magazines on the shelves of your local newsagency, if men wrote or edited the articles there would be feminists like you piling them up in the street and setting bonfires to dance around.

You are right about people being tired of the gender wars and it is so yesterday.

Oh wise pelican! Now I remember why I am at the age of 41 studying teaching - because it is only through our children that there is any hope of change. Not through propaganda of any political/social persuasion, but by encouraging children to open their hearts and eyes and ears. By becoming 'global citizens' and questioning current practices about life in general, and issues like this in particular.

As a parent too, I try to open my sons' eyes to social injustices, and though it may achieve little, any move forward is at least the opposite of backwards.

I think I was just feeling tired before, because I'm not usually so negative!

Thankyou for the gentle kick up the pants, and point taken.

P.S.- why pelican?

I don't consider it to be 'highjacking' the thread, in a discussion on the abuse of human rights in China, to raise the equally disturbing issue of the abuse of animal rights in that same country.

I agree, labelling the Chinese as 'barbarians' isn't conducive to establishing the dialogue needed to help effect change, but the heinous acts of animal cruelty depicted in the links Dickie provided in her first post are certainly barbaric. I for one appreciate her efforts in informing us as she has.

Sorry, wrong thread!

Hi hocuspocus

Apologies if I was "kicking you up the bum" even if it was ever so gently. :)

I agree with you, youth is very precious and good on you for going into the profession of teaching - not always an easy role but a rewarding one I would think.

I am the same with my children, we can only lay the foundation to create empathetic and caring adults of the future and, with some support, the rest is up to them.

PS: "Why pelican?" I like the birds hence the name.

Women Acting Like Men... Women as gate keepers at local, regional and state national levels, women following the ways ... very often of aggressive men... We, all need to do better.

While it is known I respect many individuals, who are also men... it is these men who very mostly agree with the argument I am promoting here. Just look at the bagging... the cultures - drinking - fighting - bullies... the people who act-out other peoples values rather than their own... people who fail to discuss the issues -problem solve,

As we know... in many ways women have capacity and can do well if not better than men... (well... ) hence the breakdown; women' blind leading the blind (like Barbie dolls) taking on the many forms of anti-social behaviours... it is nasty.... Unitl women become more conscious of themselves, we only repeat the sad history ... NO EQUALITY... DISLOCATED_Broken FAMILIES_DISCRIMINATION_and a mentality of WAR...our thoughtlessness... costs a quality of life... now and generations to come...

Talking about women issues in Australia is still too difficult. ... we slam women who speak out unless they are "protected" by a circle of males... some power base - it is culturally SICK.

See " Making Women Count: A History of the Women's Electoral Lobby by Marian Sawer. Marian's concern is the "health" of our Australian Democracy.... find link below...

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/

Also if the Government(s) (especially local) of Australia need to do more to support women in Politics... ESPECIALLY AT GROUND LEVELS... It starts here... Women out spoken too often get chewed up like lambs... the stronger their assertion the sharper the methods used to be-knee them of socio-economic resources... their mobility in life... dehumanizing... , expose this practice.

All women need to get up and become more mindful .. Child care... The right of our children... the future of the world is as much a womens political agenda as it is for men. We as women need to stop dis-empowering eachother... the worse are gate-keepers (acting like out-dated Fem-a-crats), our actions as women could do with a most serious address.

http://www.miacat.com/
.