Phemanderac wrote on May 26
th, 2015 at 6:34pm:
Firstly, I am fairly sure I have always identified as male (at least in RL I have always certainly done so). That said, I cannot gaurantee that I "ticked a box" when I first joined the forum - however, at some point I must have done so.
As to the "power imbalance" stuff.
Yep, there has always been power imbalances, in fact, that is or at least appears to be part of nature as well. However, we humans have added in a new dimension that, presumably (thanks to our somewhat unique frontal cortex) we can quite deliberately exploit, abuse or enhance said imbalance. Hence I made the clear point about "power and control" - this is a somewhat human condition whereby those with power exert (abuse/exploit) that perception of power to exercise control over other individuals.
To say this has always happened would certainly be correct, however, it would not be a defense of the position.
So, once again, we are back at the power imbalance aren't we. It is simply not a rigorous enough idea to say "this has always been so and, consequently, there is no real problem" which is what you have basically said CW in effect. Not a very critically thought out position.
That is further why I suggest the debate is actually about freedom and not one of equality. Yet, we cannot, and should not condone, justify, support or excuse any abuse of power imbalances that, by ongoing abuse, limits the freedoms of others.
Exactly that. But freedom can only come when people are treated equally.
I find it interesting that i am called abusive for calling someone an idiot (who was clearly being one). I see much worse on this forum that goes uncalled but when a woman says it, it takes on a whole new definition. Culture Warrior was far more unpleasant to Emma than i was to him ... and he obviously gave no consideration at all to anything i said. I call him on it and we immediately have 3 posters jump in .. two declaring that it is "the feminist way" .. the other with her own bizarre axe to grind.
There cannot be freedom whilst some people are treated differently by virtue of something they have no control over. This holds true for race and age and all sorts of other human conditions.
Culture Warrior's refusal to consider the existence of the patriarchy as a defining force in our society speaks volumes for those who are content to hold the balance of power. They refuse to treat me equally, and deride me for it.