Some people say that gender is entirely a male construct…I don’t know if I agree or disagree, or even fully comprehend that, but I do think that both sexes need to be comfortable with natural emotions and displays of such emotions and sexualities and displays of both through dress and demeanor, etc.

I second the need to educate and not be ashamed! And we also need to not fear disagreeing with each other once we do educate ourselves and form opinions. Out of some disagreements can arise a call to action, which is the necessary next step after education and discussion. Thanks for this comment!

(I’d like to point out here as an aside that, after rereading some of my older posts, I find it interesting that I used to write these essays for people who were unaware of a feminist perspective on choice issues; but now, after spending time with some radical feminists, I find myself writing these essays with them in mind, defending my “lesser” feminism that holds women partially responsible for our decreasingly subordinate position.)

Agreed. The way I see it is that, while I wouldn’t agree a couple decades ago, enough time has passed since monumental achievements in women’s liberation that, while we may not be done, we have an increasing personal responsibility to not only make sure we do all we can to rise from a subordinate position, but also to avoid dumbing ourselves down and policing “gender” on others, as well. We (the collective we) need to educate ourselves and not be ashamed of that education. I’m pretty obsessive about this particular issue…