[net.women] Male/Female Traits

ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (02/01/84)

I can think of only one trait that is exclusively male, and only one
that is exclusively female (I refer here to human males and
females).

Male:  siring a child (includes producing sperm, etc)

Female: bearing a child (includes the menstrual cycle, etc)

(there have been documented instances of men nursing children)

As far as I'm concerned, though there may be sex-linked TENDENCIES
toward certain traits (agressivness, nurturing, etc.)  no traits but
the above two are EXCLUSIVE property of either sex.  

Ariel Shattan
..!tektronix!orca!ariels

p.s.  For some decent music from a male feminist, try Peter Alsop's
Asleep at the Helm.

features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (02/06/84)

Well put, Ariel.

When you get right down to it, in terms of occupational classification,
the only thing that really is "men only" is being a sperm donor,
and (generally, in the normal order of things) the thing that is "women
only" is being a wet nurse.  The rest *could* be done by any qualified
individual.

Mary Ann Zeszutko  AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL