It was great to meet many of you. Will do it again, fo' sho'...

It could be an abject failure too, and cause nothing but hurt. We'll be in groups of, say, 10. That means we can be prepared to speak 10% of the time and to actively listen to others - learning; gathering information - 90% of the time.

This is gonna be intense! :)

Mark I don't think it has anything to do with all that at all, in fact it may be the opposite. You have missed the whole point of individuals entirely. I'm sure you and I have different "characteristics" that would have nothing to do with gender in any way. there should be a man-ism if there is a femin-ism / I bet male nurses - childcare workers and others in traditional female roles face prejudice and stereotyping as well..

Arm women of the world!

spectrum that is causing confusion for some and contention for others. I still dont see how the idea has a concrete set of parameters.

I dont see how we can talk about "feminism" without making references to "Manism". To me "feminism" only exists in-relation-to "manism". It is defined interms of "Maleness", assuming some characteristics and rejecting others. Each gender has a set of characteristics that seperate the two and before the species goes about changing itself, perhaps it should first know itself and its variations. There is a spectrum to sexuality and identity through such terms, and it is the overlap of the

Leanne, we can try altering behavior of the masses, starting with deep reform of education and health authorities. Fact is: when each of us is born, in the next cot is a person - make it same gender - with unequal status and set of opportunities. From that point inequality remains or grows. I see a choice : engage in a Quixotic quest to equalize male/female status or improve our world practically and with more effect.

Robin, you've expressed my own view, so eloquently.

Patriarchy, matriarchy, and identification with the oppressor are not the only choices. Nice debate here sorry I can't make the event.

Ahead of this Meet-Up - for me this subject is one of the most important discussions and thank you to John for holding it. It is a subject that I consider central to the development of a proper society. Women have been core influences in my life from childhood. Where males have failed in their responsibilities or decisions it has been a mother, grandmother, sisters, nannies and supporters in professional endeavors that have been there. How could I NOT be a feminist? I would be betraying myself.

Good article posted by you Leanne. It raises lots of issues that to me illuminates a society such as we live in. I'd like to state that if a woman chooses to play a traditional role - she can indeed be a feminist - and if she is and decides to have children, odds are that she will raise strong individuals.

steve the topic is feminism .. unless the diffrences you mention are ment to point out one being superior, they have nothing to do with equality.
I like this http://www.education.com/reference/article/similarities-d... - and equal doesnt = exactly the same in everyway or that women are now men . What if a woman in the way david joe describes is truly happy to play the traditional role ..is she still a feminist then?

Your spelling is specious

Albert, it is those that have been taught to think for themselves and recogniize that they deserve to be happy that cannot be pushed. And it is that, which makes the individual free.

Steve - I disapprove of calling Mankind a "species". We are human beings. And teaching the same principlas to both girls and boys WOULD result in a better world.

Leanne you hit the nail on the head!!

Albert, you think my 'built differently' means ostensibly different. What I meant was more expansive : patterns in thought and behavior. And we're in a mess as a species by the fact that without restraint, we're fast destroying Earth and - give us a bit more time - ourselves. We may improve by individually being more introspective but the power to change things is found once born-unlike* people are able to cooperate. (*unlike economically, spiritually but important in this forum : sexually)

Yes Leanne and Robin, power struggles aside, "people" are keeping humanity in an abyss regarding sex. There would be no abyss if people, took the time, not to be... "PUSHED" by the "Stigmas", brought on by traditional political/educational avenues. We may be living in the freest society, but who is truly free? So Mark...If we're not a slave to the law, we're a slave to an ideology.

Absolutely! Built differently! O.K. Is this the source that makes a person make a gender change, the force that extends from dressing up, role playing - to physical mutilation/"surgery"? Yes Steve, our mess as a species attaches to so many stigmas. Let me guess where they came from... Your comment of celebrating gender .vs. "identical": no one is identical, but so many focus on their "ME" !!