Sexists thrive on DU

[pennylane100]

15. I have no problem with anyone pointing out what they see as derogatory or sexist remarks.

I have a problem when they expect me to agree with them if it does not violate my own personal code of conduct.

As for women growing inured to derogatory messages, I see the opposite as being true. Women were from the time of Eve, were always the subject of derision. It was the birth of feminism that shone the light on this particular subject. If you read about the acts of abuse that are committed to women in many patriarchal societies, many of the abuses are committed by women. They were raised to believe that such behavior was the norm. My own sweet mother was raised in a generation where there very different standards for women than for men. She explained to me that women covering their hair in church was done because uncovered women's hair was a distraction for the men (OK this was a very long time ago). When I suggested that maybe the men had the problem and they should be the ones to deal with it, I think I suggested blinkers like those horses used in racing. She just smiled, thinking that it was just me being me, but I did stop covering my head at a very early age and before most of the female congregation.

It is certainly true that as a society, the US has a long way to go to stamp out sexism. But I do see the community at DU as mostly free of sexism and it has to be really blatant to upset me. It would be hard for me to imagine any image of Ann Coulter, no matter how gross that I would find offensive.