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Conference quark::mennotes-v1

Title:Topics Pertaining to Men
Notice:Archived V1 - Current file is QUARK::MENNOTES
Moderator:QUARK::LIONEL
Created:Fri Nov 07 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 26 1993
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:867
Total number of notes:32923

604.0. "Environmentalism" by GEMVAX::HICKSCOURANT () Wed Jun 19 1991 13:44

I've looked through this conference for a note on environmental issues
and have found none. I have, however, noticed that the state of our
habitat gets mentioned occasionally as a peripheral topic.

Role modeling is a major part of adulthood, and we all do it,
regardless of how much thought we invest in its practice.

Among environmental activists, the majority of organizers/supporters
seem to be women, and the majority of those who perform the physical
work involved seem to be men.

The physical work is seldom "heavy," and the organizational work is
seldom more or less complicated than rudimentary sales or marketing
chores.

Perhaps I should have posted this under
"Sexism is alive and well in...,"
but I thought it deserved its own topic.

Our environment and the damage we've done know nothing of the
"patriarchy" so often discussed elsewhere, nor do the energy and
commitment needed to slow the demise of our habitat.

One could easily get the impression that "women nurture, and men
rescue." This seems wrong to me. I suspect it would seem wrong to a
lot of you as well.

Is environmentalism just another example of how insidiously artificial
gender differentiation plays out in the adult world?


John H-C 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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604.1BIGUN::SIMPSONMyopically Enhanced PersonWed Jun 19 1991 14:1224
    re .0
    
>One could easily get the impression that "women nurture, and men
>rescue." This seems wrong to me. I suspect it would seem wrong to a
>lot of you as well.
    
    It's not surprising that the elemental attributes should show
    themselves among a group of people in large part dedicated to a return
    to simpler, more traditional values.
    
    I assume you are unfamiliar with Jung, because the words you use are
    almost exactly his, yet you show surprise.  He argued forcefully that
    the essential feminine quality is nurturing and relatedness (Eros/Luna)
    while the essential male attribute is intellect and logic (Logos/Sol).
    
    The wilfully ignorant instantly and deliberately misread the good
    doctor such that he appears to to be arguing that this rigid sexism
    means than only men have brains while women bring up the babies. 
    Nothing could be further from the truth, since the guiding projection
    of the psyche in the male is the feminine animus, the correspondent for
    women is the male anima.  As a psychologist, Dr Jung is concerned with
    how we integrate these complentary aspects of our psyche to achieve
    complete adulthood.  What you are seeing is the living expression of
    these people's life-psyche.
604.2VINO::XIAIn my beginning is my end.Wed Jun 19 1991 14:555
    Environmental study is a serious scientific discipline, not a trifle
    ground to fight sex battles.  Mother earth couldn't care less about
    us, let alone our petty gender issues.
    
    Eugene 
604.3BIGUN::SIMPSONMyopically Enhanced PersonWed Jun 19 1991 15:006
    re .2
    
>    ground to fight sex battles.  Mother earth couldn't care less about
                                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    Are you aware of the implications of what you just said?
604.4Mother earth does NOT love you.VINO::XIAIn my beginning is my end.Wed Jun 19 1991 15:046
    re .3,
    
    Oh yes, I do.  I am always careful about the images I convey in my
    notes.
    
    Eugene
604.5things seem different to meCVG::THOMPSONSemper GumbyWed Jun 19 1991 18:529
>Among environmental activists, the majority of organizers/supporters
>seem to be women, 

    Interesting difference in perception. I have never had this perception.
    In fact the opposite is true. I've wondered why so many of the
    organizers are men and so few women. Your view is different. I don't
    know why though. 

    			Alfred