argusdame  +  82080 Fri, 18 Mar 05 09:07 AM Is there such a thing as equality of men and women? just asking. argusdame Joined on Thu, Mar 17 2005 New Member 06

	abbie1948  +  84528 Mon, 28 Mar 05 12:08 PM The meaning of predjudice is a pre-formed opinion. As you obviously have strong beliefs as to the relative place in society of men and women, then by definition you have a pre-formed opinion, and thus have a prejudice. Just a little observation. abbie1948 Joined on Thu, Mar 24 2005 England Senior Member 2,657 Hope that helps. Abbie

	AnneC  +  86378 Sun, 03 Apr 05 08:48 PM I don't think there is equality between men and women right now (probably only men think that). I do think that a lot of people have a wrong picture of what equality is, at least in my country (Holland). Many people seem to think that women have to catch up with men somehow and that equality is reached when women are doing what men are already doing (e.g. when as many women as men will have a technical job). This seems to be based on the assumption that men and women are essentially the same. I don't think this is true; there are differences between men and women and there is nothing wrong with that. Maybe women are in general better at parenting than men and maybe male brains and bodies are better equipped for things like construction work? Is it then equality when women stop being stay-at-home moms and start working in construction? Of course they should be able to, but to me there can only be equality when men and women are seen as of equal value. We shouldn't try to get women out of 'womansjobs', we should value those jobs more. There should of course be equal oppurtunity for men and women, it is not my opinion that women belong in the kitchen or something like that. I´m simply saying that the current perspective on equality is male-biased, i.e. it values 'typical male things' more than 'typical womens things' AnneC Joined on Fri, Apr 1 2005 New Member 39 Constructions

	abbie1948  +  86451 Mon, 04 Apr 05 01:13 AM Well said, Anne. We should all be valued for the contribution we make, regardless of sex, gender, race or any other irrelevant factor. I totally agree with you that men set the finishing line, which women seem to have accepted, that women can only be equal when they do the same job as a man. that of course is nonsense. As an example, women in the medical profession are often 'penalised' because they take time off to look after children. is there any real reason why parenting can't be shared equally, or are we to be stuck forever with the 'male hunter-gather syndrome'? abbie1948 Genders

	jazz  +  87035 Tue, 05 Apr 05 06:14 PM HI all That is right Anne, I don't think that the pure equality is justice for a woman, as you mentioned up, Is that justice?!, when a woman use her body in a hard work like a "building.......etc. jazz Joined on Sat, Mar 26 2005 Junior Member 89 u will can, if u believe that u can!

	abbie1948  +  87042 Tue, 05 Apr 05 06:59 PM I think real equality is true equality of opportunity, so that each one of us has the opportunity to achieve our full potential. And I couldn't agree with you more about stay-at-home mums - they are regarded as "not working" when in fact they work all the time, looking after the house, the kids, their partner, etc. & it is a true 24 hour a day job. However, real eqaulity will be achieved when we hold the same attitude towards stay-at-home dads, and not think them either strange or - (and how patronising is this to women) somehow wonderful because they do a "woman's job!" The example I gave re: female doctors is that they are actively penalised for taking time out to have children, even though their skills may be as valuable or more valuable than their male colleagues. Men and women are simply not the same - it is a biological fact (and I'm not just speaking of the obvious! the physiological difference go deep, affecting physical make-up and cerebral function; it's true that men and women do think in different ways. But all these differences are natures way of making a complete functioning unit out of 2 component parst, and in this case, the whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts. abbie1948