Conference quark::mennotes-v1

 The human race? ;^)

    
    Without the Women's Right Movement we would still be in the dark ages
    as to valuing individual diversity in the human population.  Yes racism
    still exists, sexism still exists, but I believe to a lesser degree
    than in the past three decades.  There are more enlightened members of
    society that have become sensitized to the value of each individual. 
    The clashes seen today are more apparent due to increased tension
    amoung those who are holding fast to old ideals.  The media also has
    better coverage (i.e. they hear more stories through better technology)
    and jumps at the chance to cash in on a story.  As each minority makes
    headway it makes the barriers less difficult for other minorities. 
    Things won't change overnight but slowly society is reacting.  So yes,
    Women have opened doors for themselves but at the same time have opened
    the door for many others to make progress - progress in the arena that
    men, women, black, white, etc.  are all human.  We all need food,
    water, shelter, etc. - we are equal in all these respects.  So why
    should one be treated differently due to some minor physical,
    pigmental, or personality difference?
    
    Ken
    

    The following contains a great deal of speculation on my part, but 
    IMNSHO it is as good an explanation as any.  Would probably make
    a good thesis for a PhD in Anthropology.  If you use it, give me
    a footnote will ya :^)?

    The rise of the first known civilization, the "nation" of Summer
    in Mesopotamia, now southern Iraq, and the first invention
    of beer seem to be almost simultaneous.  Now the question can be
    asked "Did civilization give rise to the invention of beer, or did
    the invention of beer give man the reason/incentive to stop running
    around hunting animals to bash and settle down to creating the 
    raw materials needed to make more beer"? 

    From what I recall of my Anthropology 101, in hunter-gatherer societies,
    the tasks of "women's work", farming and cooking, went to the women
    while the men ran around looking for animals to deprive of their hides.
    
    Given this speculation, the argument can be made that it was very likely 
    a woman who invented beer which was the spark that gave rise to 
    "civilization".

    fred(;^});

    I actually was subjected to a lecture, by a friend who has become a
    brewer, over the History of the World, as a byproduct of beer
    consumption. All major historical events could be traced back to beer,
    somehow, as the original causitve force.
    
    I thought he was off his rocker, but as we were sampling some of his
    very fine home-made at the time, I tolerated the discussion. %^).
    
    As to what contribution women have made to the human race???
    
    Men, of course.
    
    %^)
    

    Well, actually its through women's constant nagging of their men to 
    provide things for them that resulted in men's contribution to society. 

    Women's nagging = men's contribution,...i.e. washing machines, toasters
    etc.

    Without this process, men would of been content to live neked in caves 
    and eat raw animal flesh.

     Jim

    For what it's worth ...
    
    Women's contributions to society have gone largely ignored.
    
    I'm sure there were many, women are not dumb, they're just different.

    At the risk of being pounded by the feminist group, I still think
    that the biggest contribution of women to society is motherhood.
    Not just the giving birth, but the care and instruction of children.
    If we fail at most of the "away-from-family" tasks the consequences
    will not be nearly as great as failing to produce the next generation
    that will be able to utilize those accomplishments.  The human race
    survived for thousands of years without "modern society", but will
    not survive if we loose our "humanity".

    fred();

| -< lace curtains >-


	Laura, that was a woman? ;-)



Glen

    I believe the contributions by women are:
    
    1. Motherhood
    2. Concept of home
    3. The inspiration for men to produce art, literature, sculpture,
       law, government, architecture, etc.
    
    Brigham Young said:  "Educate a man and you educate one person. 
    Educate a woman and you educate a generation." 
    
    My 2 cents
    
    Paul 

    
    I'm not so sure that men can take majority credit for art. I think
    there is a lot of "functional" art in the world which we love to look
    at and admire which has been made by both genders.
    
    Similarly on the "philosophy" issue mentioned in your other note, we
    have "wives tales"... I think women have developed a lot of philosophy
    that may go largely unrecognized. Similarly, I wonder about "religion".
    I think women have been VERY active in religion over the millennia, and
    in fact, that's one of the areas in which we KNOW women have been
    forcibly silenced.  
    
    And last: when it comes to architecture, while men have done the
    outside, I think women have done the inside in a lot of instances.
    Interior decoration is as much of a contribution as "exterior
    decoration" as architecture.

>    And last: when it comes to architecture, while men have done the
>    outside, I think women have done the inside in a lot of instances.

 Interior decoration is NOT architecture. We now resume the ongoing discussion.
:-)

    re" .10, motherhood, home, inspiration for civilization
    
    Modern society has shown that none of these is sex-specific (except the
    biological fact of bearing a child).  In the past, rare men and women
    or rare societies have shown they could act in these areas contrary to
    the overwhelming norm. Now we see that a man need not be extraordinary
    to be the center of the home and child-rearing, and a woman need not be 
    extraordinary to be a stateman or an architect.  Unusual, still,
    perhaps, but not extraordinary.
    
    Kit 

			Napkin rings.

    antique quilts :-)
    

Just to expand a little on 860.59

There are forms of cooperation beyond teamwork

	work gatherings - people doing the same kind of work, still doing it 
	separately, but doing it in the same place and time

	affective groups - people who get together because they like each
	other, and spend time sharing feelings rather than doing a task

	among others

In many cultures, these forms of cooperation are mostly the contribution 
of women.  

Again, if you like speculative anthropology, you can imagine that women have
contributed these kinds of cooperation.

In any case, I am glad that our culture has these forms of cooperation.  I am
also glad that our culture is losing the rigid idea that only men can form 
teams and only women can share feelings.

	The following is reprinted without permission. 
    I offer no personal comment on this. I'll leave that to all of you...
    
    
    
* In 1989, a Union Bridge, Md., high school permitted a
female student, Tawana Hammond, 17, to try out for its
football team under the pressure of a federal statute
that bars school discrimination on the basis of gender. 
On her first scrimmage, Tawana, a running back, was
tackled and suffered massive internal injuries.  In
October 1992, she filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against
the county board of education for its alleged failure
to inform her of how dangerous football is. [Washington
Post, 10-29-92] 

    
    I don't know why you think that belongs under this topic.

    1) It is not related to the base note topic.
    2) It is not related to this conference theme, though I dare say
    the same goes for the base note.
    
    				Steve

    
    Steve, the ONLY reason why this basenote exists is to try and prevent
    major ratholing of the male topic. I wish I didn't have to have this
    note, but it seemed safer than seeing the male topic go downhill fast.
    (At least it went downhill slower than usual!)

>    It is a precedent setting court decision regarding women. 
>    Anything that impacts the legal system impacts society.

The way I read it, somebody filed a suit.  There's been no court decision.
People file frivolous suits all the time.

    re .23, so what does this issue have to do with women's contributions
    to society?  
    
    Lorna
    

    re .23, are you trying to suggest that just because this one particular
    woman may be a jerk, that women, in general, have made no contributions
    to society?  
    
    And as far as this particular women's situation goes, there is always
    the possibility that she may feel that the men deliberately hurt her as
    a way of showing that they don't want women playing football with them. 
    I have no way of knowing, but it did occur to me that it might be the
    case.
    
    Lorna