ggr@pyuxbb.UUCP (09/20/83)
/***** whuxh:pr.presstp / mhwpd!prnews / 11:10 am Sep 19, 1983*/ HIGH-TECH WILL HURT WOMEN, N.Y. Times, 9/19, p.A19. It has become a national credo: Economic salvation lies in high-tech -computers, microelectronics, satellite communications and robotics. Corporate leaders affirm it, politicians promote it, the media popularize it. But for wage-earning women - nearly half the workforce - technological innovation means diminished requirements for skills, reduced opportunities for mobility, the loss of jobs and greater vulnerability to union-busting. /* ---------- */
mason@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Mason) (09/21/83)
B*L*S**T! High tech will hurt traditional "blue collar" womens jobs
(secretary etc.) in the same way it will hurt "blue collar" mens jobs
(assembly line worker etc.) (I use these solely in their traditional positions).
In the high tech world of the future, the problem is that most traditional jobs
will not exist, and that unless we are very careful, we may be forced to treat
men and women equally! because there will be no requirements for the strength
that has traditionally allowed us to say that many jobs were "too physically
demanding" for women. The only hope is if we can amplify this concept that
women "can't" (or even "Shouldn't" if we're pressed...but seldom works as well)
program. Maybe then we can get them back in the kitchen, barefoot, and pregnant!!!!
I personally hope that with the upheaval coming in the job market that we
(if we work hard enough) may be able to move toward real equality.
(The quote from the NYT just confirms that the only valuable thing in the
newspapers is the comix...and I've been pretty grossed out by the sexism in
several of them recently...especially how they may affect the perceptions
of fertile young minds) (like mine?)
I have my asbestos all set for the inevitable flames from them that
don't laff....
-- Gandalf's flunky Hobbit -- Dave Mason, U. Toronto CSRG,
{cornell,watmath,ihnp4,floyd,allegra,utzoo,uw-beaver}!utcsrgv!mason
or {decvax,linus,lsuc,research}!utzoo!utcsrgv!mason (UUCP)