Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxss.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!mhuxl!mhuxm!pyuxww!pyuxss!sebb From: sebb@pyuxss.UUCP (S Badian) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Male/Female Roles Message-ID: <255@pyuxss.UUCP> Date: Mon, 30-Jan-84 09:45:08 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxss.255 Posted: Mon Jan 30 09:45:08 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 11:17:26 EST Organization: Central Services Org., Piscataway N.J. Lines: 28 In the original article on this subject, it was stated that aggressiveness is essential in order to be a good musician. And it has been said that aggressiveness is essential for success in many other fields. Since women are not naturally aggressiveness they cannot be a successful as men. But is it aggression or is it confidence? This exact same question came up in a skiing magazine. Many people believe men ski better than women because men ski more aggressively. But most ski instructors maintain that it is confidence that makes a truly fine skier. I think that this sort of thinking should carry over into other fields because it gets rid of the male/female question. Confidence is something you gain, not something you are born with. Women tend to be less confident because they find themselves in unknown and hostile territory more and more. If you're just learning the ropes, how confident can you be? What if we do prove that men are more talented in math, the arts, whatever? This only applies to the very high end--the genius level. How does this apply to the rest of us average people? Are we going to say "Because men are more talented, they should get more education and bigger breaks than women?" I sure hope not. It may prove to be interesting as a fact, but as far as society is concerned it cannot add to the quality of life of either sex. People are not the same(be darn boring if they were) but that does not mean they are not equal. Sharon Badian