Jeez, you go away for a weekend and the furniture gets rearranged...Anyway, I got what I was looking for from this thread. I definitely have a better understanding how and why people feel the way they do.
I put a fair amount of energy into the early parts of this thread so I'm not sure how much more I want to spend on catching up. If I vanish, don't be surprised. Thanks everyone for your opinions, especially those who could disagree civility.
King (all the hell hail, by the way) - I'm disappointed.
Why are you attaching a label to yourself? Doesn't that seem rather silly? Don't you see yourself as 22 bazillion times more complex and unique and interesting than a simplistic label such as "feminist"?
Up until now, I've never understood anti-label mentality. Labels are useful. They are shorthand when longhand won't do. But it turns out people will read more into your words if you label yourself "inappropriately". Had I expressed my ideas without the using "feminist" I probably wouldn't have reaped as much disappointment, been called a bigot, or been accused of secretly hating men. It's possible some people will never respect me again.
Live and learn.
Why are you trotting out "money" and "power" as the only two items worth seeking for everyone? That's it? Look at the "Mr. Skinny" thread in Community. All that tribute to Skinny - and nowhere did I see anyone marvel at the amount of money or power he'd accrued. Go through life seeking only money and power and drop the idea of friends or likability. When you have money and power and you die? The power goes out. The money goes to others. What's left? Zipperino.
Know thine audience. I discussed money and power because they are easier to quantify. I can quote statistics on CEO gender ratios but there is no metric unit for likability. In this forum, how for do you think I'd get trying to convince peope that women, on average, are "less liked"?
This seems a little odd from you, King, and I'm wondering if you are posting this just to reap reactions. A school project? Research paper, perhaps?
Sorry to further disappoint you. I am being honest.
I'll admit surprise and disappointment on my end too, Conspi. It seems I've lost some of your respect for espousing what I consider to be rather bland ideas in this thread:
1. Gender stereotypes damage everyone.
2. On average, women are measurably deficient in money and power when compared to men. (This in no way negates or diminishes the suffering of men in other areas like child custody.)
3. Everyone should fight to stop gender-based inequality.
No one has disagreed with me on 1 or 3. Some reasonable people questioned the accuracy of #2. I gave examples of how gender ratios are out of balance in government, business, and the media and then went away for the weekend. I am still willing to discuss the topic.
Sadly, most of the criticism was indirect. Several people people suggested I had a secret agenda, masked my hatred for men, and was only trying to get laid. There really isn't anything I can say to counter that sort of attack because I cannot prove a negative. I can only restate that I am hiding nothing.