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VIEWPOINT

By Mary Murrey

The growing interest in the phenomenon of "male disco shows", "male beauty pageants" and "menwatcher" organizations by women and the media is disturbing and deserves critical attention by feminists for several basic reasons: 1) these activities deludc women into thinking they reflect achievements of equality; 2) they draw attention away from the fundamental issues of the oppression of women and the goals of the women's movement, and 3) they indirectly perpetuate and reinforce the dehumanization of women into manipulative objects.

Obviously the basic reason for existence of any of these organizations or productions is to make money. Capitalists are quick to make use of the growing cry of discontent from American women and channel it into a profitable market. Although men become the apparent commodity, it is actually the illusion of equality which women run to buy. By enticing women to participate in these traditional male roles and behaviors (exploitation), they become protected from attack essentially by saying, "You are doing it too so it cannot be sexist”. Thus the sacred male institutions (beauty pageants, strip shows, etc.) and behaviors remain alive, well and profitable.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this phenomenon is that some women are being deluded into believing that the battle has been won, that the availability of male discos indicates real strides toward our equality of eradication of patriarchy. Of course, this notion is as ludicrous as the Virginia Slims commercial which suggests that the ability of women to smoke indicates equality. Pathetically enough, this illusion of equality is the prime product sold to women. For one brief moment, women are the dominators, the exploiters; they pay not so much for the opportunity to view a man's body as to live this fantasy, this grand illusion. When the show is over they return to the same second-rate position, to the same sexist society as before. Nothing has been changed.

Secondly, with women imitating male behavior, men can maintain the impression that most women

Menopause (continued from page 6)

medical and psychological care for women who desire and need such care. We must demand that further research be done on ERT so that we may make educated and responsible decisions regarding its use. We have a right to learn about alternative and more natural remedies. We must demand that society rearrange its priorities and its thinking on women and on aging. Our value is self-determined by how we feel about ourselves, our bodies and about each other. We can learn from one another how to deal positively with the changes, both physical and psychological,

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enjoy being whistled at, leered at, rated, or any of the other instrusions of privacy a man might wish to bestow on a woman. I have listened to a woman who owns and promotes her manwatching organization on television and have heard the responses of the men in the audience. The dominant theme which emerged was that it was about time that women realize the compliments they were receiving and start paying them back. Men need to become aware that this kind of behavior is unacceptable for anyone because it implies an unequal, dominant/subordinate relationship and reduces a person to an object. A man who imposes his opinion of a woman's body on her has automatically assumed he knows what she wants, or, even worse, he does not care.

It is in this way that sexually suggestive comments or behaviors imposed on a woman become symbolic rape. Both symbolic and physical rape lie on the same continuum-the continuum of reducing a person into a manipulated object. Both actions necessarily view a woman as an object which can be used to fulfill desires, whether these desires are to "compliment" her or to force sex on her. This is not to say that a man who imposes his comments on a woman will necessarily be able to move along the continuum to physical rape, but nevertheless, the basic step has been taken the woman has been raped of her individuality and human dignity.

Another issue inherent in the use of intrusive and uninvited comments to a woman (and also present in physical rape) is the assumed power of superiority and domination over the woman. For example, it is unlikely a man would make any kind of sexual comment or intrusion on a woman he genuinely viewed as an equal or superior.

In summary, we must become aware of the true, but often disguised meanings behind male discos, menwatcher organizations and the like. They trivialize the wants and demands of feminists in the eyes of the public, delude and pacify women into believing their positions in our society have truly changed, and support and defend the "rights" of men to reduce women to objects that can be sold and used.

that affect us during menopause as well as throughout our lifetime.

Note: We realize we have neither raised nor answered all the questions regarding menopause. Hopefully, we have stimulated women to further explore this issue on their own and with other women. The following reading materials are recommended as a place to begin: