Actually Miko, those are not the kinds of comments I was referring to. I have no objection to comments on a woman's attractiveness, or even raunchier speculation. As you said, its natural. So long as the woman does not have to put up with hearing it if she doesn't want to its not a problem.
The kind of comments I refer to are the ones that are demeaning blanket statements. Comments what women do, or think, or are capable of as though they are all the same. And I find them a problem not because the men making them are not "thinking proper thoughts" but because its rampant prejudice. The idea that anyone can look at another person and assume they know something about them is the root of racism, sexism, nationalism and all the other "isms" that plague our species. And it matters not whether its a guy looking at a well-built blonde, a Greek looking at a Turk, an American goodole boy looking at a 16 year old black kid in Gangsta get-up, or that same 16 year old kid looking at YOU. If they assume they know something about the person they are looking at, they are pre-judging, and its dangerous - even when they assume good things
To me, that's what this sensitivity training is supposed to be about. The fact that its badly done, done for many of the wrong reasons, usually insulting, and largely ineffective does not mean its intent is not valuable. Unfortunately it tries to do for adults something their parents should have done for them as children.
But that's another story.
- Yoj
[ 08-15-2001: Message edited by: Yoj ]
