Show f r HEY CULLIGAN MAN I seem to detect an undercurrent rent of male chauvinism in your column I know your generation was brought up with a picture of femininity which featured dainty dainty dainty dain dain- ty headed empty-headed little cutes with big bosoms and miniscule brains Well VeIl those days are long past Today's woman wants to tobe tobe tobe be recognized as a three dimensional dimensional dimensional dimen dimen- person freed from the re restraints restraints restraints re- re of Victorian prudery We Ve want more than just equality equality equality equal equal- ity with men we want recognition tion as individuals who are capable capable capable cap cap- able and independent Spare us your worn out chivalry Instead of holding doors open hold your minds open instead of taking off your hat when we approach take takeoff takeoff takeoff off your blinders dont don't dont don't give us a seat give us a place Apron strings and bra straps are ties with the past a past in which women have nave been variously classed as farm china vases sex objects and dispensers of apple pie So knock off the sion and chivalry and think of us as peers Ms Lib Dear Libby You can always tell the activists activists activists in any movement by the degree of sensitivity which they exhibit to anything which they consider as an affront to the goals of their movement You read an where there was none because even a weak movement counter t seems strong to someone caught in a tide I am in ALMOST agreement with the demands of of the women's women's women's wo wo- wo- wo mens men's liberation movement equal pay for equal work no closed professions or trades including including including in in- politics help for the working mother and equality under under under un un- der the law For these aims I am ready to man the barricades BUT As in many otherwise justifiable causes there is an element element element ele ele- ele- ele ment of self In the case of the fern fem libbers it is the on the feminization de-feminization of women Women have not been treated unfairly because they were feminine but because they were dependent In all mammals the period of development of the unborn gives them a greater chance for survival but it makes the female at least in the final stages dependent on the male for survival during this longer period of mental and physical development Protection from external enemies has allowed the mammals including man to advance advance advance ad ad- vance over ove larger and more numerous numerous numerous num num- erous species Since the advent of modern modem birth control methods and pediatrics pediatrics pediatrics women have been relatively free from dependence on men even during pregnancy For the first time in the history of the species the basic role of women has been altered How do women use this new found liberty The Archie Bunkers have one answer and the women's liberation liberation liberation libera libera- tion leaders have another Women have brought about this by using the advantages advantages advantages ad ad- vantages which their femininity gave them but there is a danger in climbing down from the ped- ped astal and up on the soapbox Are you really elevating yourself or ordo ordo ordo do you only seem to be higher because you have lowered everyone everyone everyone every every- one else Does a soldier who at last tastes the fruits of won hard-won victory victory victory vic vic- vic vic- tory disarm himself completely complete Does the cook who has in producing a long sought delicacy throw throwaway away the recipe and ingredients No Then why should women who are finally reaching a long sough sought after after t-after goal renounce the methods and advantages which have taken them this far Dont Don't knock chivalry in in countries countries countries coun coun- tries where it never existed women are still slaves Dont Don't knock apron strings and apple pie where else did men learn that a person could be a woman and still have wisdom and strength Remember that the day that men and women no longer see one another as attractive opposites opposites opposites sites will not come very long before the day when there willbe will willbe willbe be neither man or woman to see anything |