Date: Wed, 09 Nov 1994 15:28:05 EST
From: tgs-AT-cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Subject: Re: patriarchs and dead patriarchy (Justin-Tom)



> 
> Tom
> 
	Tom, are you writing just to the men on the list? Are you trying 
just to give a self-parody? Justin has already argued that from the fact 
that men exploit women it doesnt follow that men cannot decide to give up 
this privilege: just that, as patriarchs, women cant count on your good 
will to do so without being utopian.  Which is why women, like the working 
class, need to organize autonomously and not trust lefty men, or 
capitalists, to have our 
interests at heart.  Your need to bond with Justin against the threat of 
a socialist-feminist perspective that suggests that in some ways men are 
in a social position that is analogous to that of capitalists re the 
workers indicates a defensive take on the issue that isnt helpful to 
creating mutually respectful alliances across the gender divide to fight 
for an end to all forms of domination, whether gender, class or racial. 

	Maybe the problem is that you have too simplistic a notion of 
what politics can be about:  you think it is fueled merely by material 
self-interests and not by a  desire to bring about a more 
harmonious egalitarian social order in which everyone stands to benefit 
at another level. 

	Anyway, a dual or tri systems analysis of the problem does not 
necessarily lead to a dog eat dog identity politics.  If you would get 
the chip off your shoulder and give it the barest, if I could trust you 
to think seriously about this problem and not see ME as the possible 
destroyer of class unity, we MIGHT just might be able to make a political 
alliance to fight capitalism, sexism and racism as forms of social 
exploitation and domination.

	Ann Ferguson
	aferguso-AT-uci.edu


Ann,

I find this positively offensive. I do not ascribe "sexist" motivations to you; why do
you do so with my arguments?

The mere fact that I disagree with you and Justin does not constitute sexism.
It would be very convenient for you if it did, and there are many PC LIBERALS
out there who do indeed both swallow and push illogic like this.  But
I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that.  Try to convince me
a little more, bait me a little less.


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