(Untitled)

[tyrven]

The BBC has posted a shocking article suggesting that boys would rather learn about destructive technologies (like explosives) while girls would rather study things like the human body and healthcare (unbelievable!). And in response, some are apparently calling for segregation of classes according to gender sex

Comments

[lormagins]

wHATEver. I was independently reading up on explosives via the internet (ooo! compuserve!) when i was like, 11. and i have indepedently taken the initiative in learning to shoot a gun, and i've always been involved in so-called "boyish" activites alongside "girly" shit. my boyfriend is a better cook than i am and i'm better at farm-style and outdoors-type work than he is.

[tyrven]

Well, and that's exactly it -- divides should be dictated by interest or skill or disposition. That may correlate to gender for ninety percent of a culture, but that doesn't mean that we should reinforce and cater to those gender differences through systemic segregation.

[lormagins]

exactly. i know of a number of women in particular who, in highschool, were discouraged from certain classes (such as advanced maths and science) specific to certain fields and encouraged for others and it was completely gender-biased.

this is why we need an ERA.

[tyrven]

Yeah, for sure. I had the same issue when I chose to take choir instead of woodshop. And, gender issues aside, it's also just part of the status quo of the establishment. I had trouble when I wanted to pursue science AND art; there was a constant encouragement to specialize. A decade later I understand why; I can make a strong argument for the need to specialize (especially given the scale of our society). At the same time, it wasn't the right decision for me and I wouldn't be where I am at today if I had.

[hermosaurus]

that's a rugged picture of you.

[audiguy]

I say to just let the student choose.

That way guys like me can separate the cool chicks from the lame girly, girl ones.

I take it that katie likes to blow shit up.

[tyrven]

Ha! I've used a similar argument for issues like political correctness. Discouraging racial or sexual slurs just makes it a bit more difficult to distinguish the biggots from everyone else. (Not that we aren't all racist or sexist to some extent, but obviously there are extremes).

[herbaliser]

this is clearly only valid for people with janked teeth. Britain is irrelevant.

[tyrven]

See, historically THAT was a good case for segregation. Let's move all of the people with good teeth to America, and keep all of the dental rejects at home.

[lormagins]

unfortunately we didn't do so - there's just as many snaggle-toothed freaks here as there are over there.

[tyrven]

We just don't let them into higher office.

[monoecious]

(psst: bbc is the british brodcasting corportion, bcc is bellevue brooklyn community college. hahaha.)

[tyrven]

bellevue brooklyn hah! Nice. Hey are you at the same address you were at last time I asked? I have a package I keep neglecting to send off.

[monoecious]

490OceanPkwy #17
Brooklyn, NY 11218

[monoecious]

oh nice going, you changed the bbc/bcc typo, so now everyone who reads my comment is gonna think it's STUpid.