Comments | randomblade: Talk to me. Does this make sense as an idea, or is it really offensive?

randomblade

Talk to me. Does this make sense as an idea, or is it really offensive?

Jul 12, 2009 15:09

Disclaimer : This is all just an exploration of thought, wordplay, meaning. I've tried to put it in a bit of a frame of my own experience and ambivalence about value and difference. I hope my poking around with 'equality' is not offensive to anyone, but if it is, I'd love to hear why and to discuss it. I'm not sure what I think and I think I'm open ( Read more... )

Comments 6

aunty_del July 12 2009, 07:49:15 UTC

I think there's quite a bit of room between how you define 'equal' and your father's (IMHO old-fashioned) view of gender roles - that gap is where I put myself. Yes I wholeheartedly agree that there are biological differences physically and mentally, but that's no excuse for labelling tasks "men's" and "women's"; my 11 year old nephew, for example, will help his father with renovations (eg take a sledgehammer to the bathroom) then help his mum with a batch of biscuits. If a person wants to take up a career that's a good one to do part-time while caring for children then he or she should be free to do so ( ... )

randomblade July 12 2009, 17:51:40 UTC

thanks. Nicely put.

earis July 12 2009, 14:33:05 UTC

From a semantic point of view (a subject in which I am an amateur), I would argue that equity, not equality, is the word that has the more limiting connotations, the one that acts as an equals sign. From a subtextual point of view, I agree that that the 'equality ideal' is a form of erasure, because the implied meaning of equality is not anyone can do anything they want, but (in a gendered example) a woman can do anything a man can do, ie, if she puts her mind to it (and doesn't get knocked up) a woman can be just as good as a man ( ... )

randomblade July 12 2009, 17:54:12 UTC

Excellent, thankyou! This is very well articulated and interesting. Definitely something for me to think about. Yes, de Beauvoir was one of the things that sparked my thinksplosion... I still need to get my head around her more, though.

thebluefairy July 13 2009, 14:10:22 UTC

Part of the problem with 'discrimination' is that it is actually often shorthand for 'discrimation based on irrelevant factors'. People will always have to discriminate (between job candidates, for example), but the goal is that they do so only based on what is relevant, and usually gender, race, family status (by which I mean, relationships, kids etc) etc just aren't relevant ( ... )

randomblade July 13 2009, 18:22:31 UTC

Yes. Nicely put. I agree.