[Dianna1395]

It isn't the clothes per se, it's the message they send. The message you're sending threatens the privileged status of being male.

One friend who were bold enough to voice his objections to my decision to transition genders (and who was smart enough to interpret his feelings) questioned why I wanted to give up something so valuable as being a man in our society. "Why humiliate yourself in this way?"

This devaluation of femininity still runs rampant in our culture, even among many feminists.

Clara

Yes - who actually has the privileged status?
The man, who must work?
Or the woman, who can decide to stay home?

The men who die in war? Or the women left behind? (Historically, both sucked, TBH.)

The men working the coal mines, oil rigs, sewers, manufacturing plants...? Or the women, working in air-conditioned buildings (by choice) facing that "glass ceiling"?


+++

“No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one.”

Simone de Beauvoir


The genius of any slave system is found in the dynamics which isolate slaves from each other, obscure the reality of a common condition, and make united rebellion against the oppressor inconceivable.
(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/andrea_dworkin.html#V8UqtFmvySc7sm2P.99)

Ever hear the expression, "Team Woman"?

Why is it that the "gentler sex" so often assumes the WORST aspects of man, and claims it is "freedom"? Working 40-80 hours a week (and I'm white-collar!) is not "freeing," nor is it even SATISFYING. There is no "job satisfaction" when you're treated like a criminal (the reason I see so clearly the politics of our country right now, the guns are pointed inwards in my professional life, too.)

We seek to become HIGHER creatures - we worship the feminine, try to emulate the better aspects. Being gentle, considerate, kind, nurturing.
But so many "women" today deserve none of that adulation. They curse like sailors, drink like sailors, have MORE tattoos than sailors, and have more notches on their lipstick case than Cassanova had on his bedpost. And this is an improvement?
This is the WORST of the feminine let loose, given license - no restraint on ANYTHING.

I'm a bit jaded, I admit - but woman is the one who decides if a man is worthwhile. Most laws are directed at protecting women - and now are predatory against men (especially family court.) And labor-saving devices? Men still do a great deal of manual labor. But the vacuum cleaner, the ice box (fridge, now), the washer and dryer and dishwasher? Compared to automated factories (no more job), or to chainsaws, drill presses, sawzall, etc? Power tools don't automate the tasks.

I can't pull up the blog post from here ("adult content"), but - the MALE status isn't the privileged one. In fact, though women still live longer... Their life expectancy has DECREASED. (Men's supposedly have increased; I'd like to see the infant mortality comparison there.)
Women's life expectancy is now closer to men's. It went down. And at the same time, we hear about how their satisfaction in life is WAY down....

I think we were sold a bill of goods, honestly. This community may well see that women have qualities to emulate - but it occurs to me, that second quote, by Dwrokin, works when applied to men, too.

What "man" can hit a woman with a clear conscience?
When do men band together to "oppress" women?
- Don't men disagree with each other, while women tend to support one another...? Hmmm.... which is isolated?

Etc.

Let's at least be honest about things. Equality of opportunity is good.
Equality of outcome is a fraud at best (Doctors earn as much as nurses earn as much as the McDonald's fry guy?)
Not everyone can be successful. And women have the opportunity to control men with their sexuality. Men have enforced the "old rules" - like never hit a girl - to benefit whom? In days like this, when so many women hit the gym, and many of whom compete with the men? (Example: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/ - forget going to someplace like t-nation.com, no need.)

Hell, we face ridicule (and possibly violence) for wearing the "wrong" clothes.
What more proof do you need?
+++

The principles are visible. We just need to look. (And hopefully we keep the best aspects of both, despite the society's attempt to make us all emotional, emotive, fops.)