EDEQUITY Dialogue on Single-Sex Education and Title IX
PEGGY WEEKS (peggy_w@nde4.nde.state.ne.us)
Tue, 21 Apr 1998 15:54:30 -0500
I have been reading some of these messages with growing dismay.
Let's focus on single sex education. Let's not get into who is hurt most
by sexism. Sexism is a two-dged sword that cuts both males and
females. The point is that everyone, directly or indirectly, suffers from its
effects. We have an opportunity to talk about what could be true
education in a child-student- centered design for education. Let's focus
on that. I must say that I am a feminist. I do not hate males- or boys. I
have spent my career as a woman, wife, mother and feminist with no
hesitation when it comes to calling sexism when I see it. I have seen my
son caught in a society that, at its core, wants him as cannon fodder for
the wars of either militarism or capitalism. I have lived the experience as
a woman in a culture where one of the greatest insults one can hurl at
another is to call out, "You S.O.B." or "You m-f'er." These are insults
and hate-phrases against the mother of the recipient. Still, I refuse to
somehow play into the hands of folks who insist that their
need/harm/hurt is greater. Why can we not get beyond that and to
solutions? Let's talk about what is good for kids.
Peggy Weeks
<peggy-w@nde4.nde.state.ne.us>