Another Response to Class (soc)

Toward the end of class today, discussion got a little heated. The statement was made (or something to the same effect) that "women and men are inherently different; inherently unequal." I understand that the comment was meant to describe natural/biological differences in men and women, however there are a few issues I have with the declaration. First, I think that writing something off as "biological difference" is something we should examine more closely. Doctors used to tell women that they should not think, write, read, or exert themselves or their minds excessively because it would cause damage to the ovaries and disrupt their "natural" purpose. Things that were once considered obviously biological, we now look at with a more critical eye, and in some cases find the theory so ridiculous that we chuckle.

I also feel that after this class assuming something is biological would be a little more difficult to do. As Miller writes in her article on Domination/Subordination "Subordinates, then, know much more about the dominants than vice versa. The have to. They become highly attuned to the dominants, able to predict their reactions of pleasure and displeasure. Here, I think, is where the long story of 'feminine intuition' and 'feminine wiles' begins. It seems clear that these 'mysterious' gifts are in fact skills, developed through long practice, in reading many small signals, both verbal and nonverbal." (Miller 113). With this quotation in mind, even if you do not buy it, it calls to question just how biological typical feminine attributes are. Like all stereotypes, this is founded in a grain of truth, that women usually have the role of nurturer. However, that does not mean that women are biologically encoded with the "nurture," "wily," or "intuitive," genes. Maybe, as Miller argues, women have developed some of these qualities out of necessity. A woman (not necessarily of today) may need to read her husband well because her survival is based on how well she pleases him. I would argue (as do many) that women have been, and still are to some extent, in positions of inferiority. I would also argue that these differences are more social/cultural/ societal, in essence socially constructed, than biological.

Finally, I want to address the issue of "equality." Biological and "natural" differences were cited as reasons why women and man are inherently unequal. This is the same argument that has been made about women, different races, different classes, and people of different abilities. By treating it as though a position of less importance is natural for these groups, it makes it alright to dehumanize them; to mistreat them. It is a dangerous argument because there is no fixing it. You cannot change biology and nature (in theory), these are things that are established. Also, just because differences exist does not mean that one must be superior and one inferior. For example, hands and feet are different. They are at different points on the body and serve different purposes, but does that mean feet or hands are better? There are societal nuances to each, but I do not think you could call one better. Alright, even if you do not follow this argument, my point is that different does not mean unequal. Just because there are different roles, abilities, tendencies, or assigned jobs does not mean there is a natural hierarchy that cannot be dispelled. I believe that men are important, valuable, and human. I believe that women are important, valuable, and human. In this way, there is natural equality. When you get tangled in the question of "which is better?" trouble arises. The human race consists of different colors, genders, sexes, classes, levels of intelligence, abilities, cultures, and on and on. One person is not more valuable than another. Only through social construction is greater importance created (President of more value than the custodian, for example. The President was not born superior to the custodian, rather gained a position that is respected and treated as superior.).

In value, women and men are the same. Say that men and women are different, I can deal with that statement, but to say that men and women are not equal implies that one is worth more. Do you believe that? I don’t.