kfk@ccieng2.UUCP (12/16/83)
From ihuxq!ken: Clearly, the term "girl" when referring to a woman IS offensive. A girl is a young, but more importantly, POWERLESS woman. To call a woman "girl" is to say "you are powerless, as you ought to be." & analogously for calling a Black man "boy". It sure is gentlemanly of some big, brave, macho studs on the net not to mind being called "boy". But then men don't have to mind-- we have all the power in this society. Men who want to work toward a more egalitarian society will have to stop hiding behind their dictionaries. And that's the truth, Jack. ---------- No, it is not clear, and I doubt it's the truth. I'm not a big, brave, macho stud, but I still haven't got any parti- cular complaint about being called "boy." I don't think it's being gentlemanly; I just am not concerned about such trivial things. If it becomes clear that it is intended to be offensive, then I might be upset. Generally, though, those who would use it as an insult aren't worth the energy it takes to be upset with them. Karl Kleinpaste ...![ [seismo, allegra]!rochester!ritcv, rlgvax]!ccieng5!ccieng2[!:]kfk