I've always found this rather perplexing. As far as I remember <grin> it takes TWO people to engage in a sexual act. Why is it the female's reputation that will be scandalized? Why is it just the female that will be brought to shame? Why is it the FEMALE that has to guard against advances by males? Don't males have control of their will,too? Aren't they the stronger sex? These are the people that are supposed to be the head of the household and the guardians of the spirituality of their families? I never understood that. Why should *I* be responsible for the bad behavior of a male? If I get raped, it's MY fault cuz I wore revealing clothing? What about all those guys that go without shirts? Don't they have control of their own lust and emotions? Why should a woman be classified as a slut, and get a bad rep, while a man does the same and they are a STUD? Is it because women have not held men up to a higher standard?
I must have been born a feminist. It never made sense to me that I had to clean up after four brothers, while they were allowed to run wild, make messes, do what they wanted. They never did ANYTHING aorund the house. I was 15 years old and I was their mother, their mentor, their maid, everything. That made me madder than hell. I was changing diapers at 7 years old, and being told that they wre the princes. Yet, they were the most badly behaved princes *I* ever heard of! When they wanted something, they got it. Not only because they were future JW MS's, DO's, CO's, PO's, but because we were Greek and lived in the same sort of society. I resented that.
I resented being at the Hall. The brothers were condescending, and patronizing. The sisters were just nothing more than breeders and something to be put up with. They had no minds of their own, they were just something to be put up with. Lots of sisters put up with this crap. I didn't. I got out. However, I did notice this same behavior this weekend in Dallas, and it really bothered me. It happened at one of the parties in Room 222.
Now, don't get me wrong. Most of the people at the Dallas apostofest were truly loving, kind, compassionate, and included *all* the people. It was so great. I think there were a great number of former elders, brothers, etc. that really had thought about all this, and tried to look at the females in a different light, as individuals and as capable people. But I did notice one exchange that really bothered me.
Two guys were involved in an intense conversation. There were two of us females there during this conversation. We were both listening in on the conversation, and I think they knew we were. However, when there was a lull in the conversation, one of the females commented. The guys both looked at her with a blank stare, and then proceeded to carry on a conversation as though she had never commented, never acknowledging her comments. She was insulted and I felt bad for her. She, being full of righteous outrage, commented on their response. Good for her. They acknowledged it, but not before they had confirmed with me that htey had done this! Yes... they did do that. They just ignored her comments and kept on with their own conversaton, even though they had engaged her opnion before.
Just another example that it takes a LONG time for people to get out of the mind set.
CG
