Reverend Vincent replied, "men who, shall we say, are well be- yond the prime of their life. That they still gain such benefit and are so enthusiastic about the Femina concept has long con- vinced me that there is much more involved than mere physi- cal expression. It goes far be- yond what one at first experi- ences superficially. You're aware of this even now, aren't you?"

I had to admit this was so. Much of what had at first puzzel- ed me and made me apprehensive had now ceased to concern me. It was as if I had been led through a mysterious door-way into another expression of thought; another way of life, familiar, and yet so strange, so interestingly strange.

I could now appreciate it in a way that would have been im- possible had I not approached it as I did. John and Mary were leading us past a table in the long dining hall that was well stocked with sandwiches and salads. Mary and Beth were kidding and jok- ing with John; warning him about his diet, and his figure. I looked around at the unusually happy faces of other couples who were on the other side of the long table; and particularly I noticed the delicate manner in which the men manipulated their silverware and the gentleness with which they selected food.

Some were indistinguishable as men; others I was more sure of because of their size, their height or now and then, in their manner of speech or their voice. But their behavior it was striking how much it was influenced by the role they were portraying tonight.

At the far end of the table I paused while a very tall and abso- lutely beautiful person asked me whether I wanted coffee or iced tea. "My name is Elizabeth, are you new here?"

"Yes," I replied, unable to think of this stunning person in terms of anything but femininity though I knew it was a man. "My name is Regina," I said comfor- tably.

"You must come again, soon," Elizabeth replied, "we have a wonderful time as you can see."

I moved away smiling and assuring Elizabeth that I would come again. And as I joined John and the two women at a table my mind went immediately to wondering if, when Beth and I again visisted John and Mary, if we would not indeed attend another meeting.

When Reverend Vincent had made the rounds, chatting with the various couples, and groups of couples, and came fin- ally to our table, he, like Eliza- beth, extended an invitation to attend the meetings anytime we were in Los Angeles. "And you know, of course, that there are Femina chapters in several of the larger cities around the country,” he said.

"In St. Louis?" Beth asked, with her eyes flashing enthusias- tically at mine.

"No," Reverend Vincent re- plied, "but there is one in Chica- go that's not too far from St. Louis."

―

"I have the address," John said, "I'll give it to them when we get home." Then directing his attention more at me John said, "or would you ever try this again Regina?"

"Regina?" Beth cried out, "oh, that's marvelous.'

Hearing Beth employ the femme name John had christen- ed me with made me immediate- ly uncomfortable, but as quickly I felt the true enthusiasm that was in her tone. And that quick- ly, we were all laughing and jok- ing about it. I said that I would indeed try it again. "Only not right away," I remarked, quali- fying my agreement, "I think it's going to be some time be- fore I can get re-adjusted after being poured into these clothes."

"He's complaining," Beth laughed, "I'm the one who has to wear a girdle - you talk about being poured into something.'

"Well, in Femina terms, Regina is still quite young," Rev- erend Vincent said, said, smiling broadly, "give her time, you'll be helping her into one, especi- ally," he said, leaning over the table and pointing to my plate, "if she doesn't take it easy with those rich sandwiches."

We all laughed merrily at the humor in Reverend Vincent's

tone but I was struck as well by the fact that Beth had complain- ed for years about having to wear a girdle and yet tonight for the first time I could appreciate her feelings.

John was considering this, too. He said, "Reverend Vincent, I believe Richard is finally begin- ning to understand women a lot better.

Reverend Vincent nodded and said, "Oh, of course, he real- izes that meaningful communica- tion between men and women cannot be accomplished except through the dramatic Femina ap- proach. As Regina the emotional side of Richard is not under such harsh restrictions; a whole level of repressed attitudes and inter- ests are free and can be express- ed."

"Is this part of what you were driving at in your talk?" Beth asked, "about gender being different from sex?"

Reverend Vincent's expres- sion became more serious as he answered, "Exactly. And I'm in- terested that you asked about this because women don't have as much difficulty with opposite gender role expression in our so- ciety. It's the male who can't ex- press interests and traits that we have come to regard as feminine.'

"But if you talk about gen- der," I said, "instead of sex, it becomes more clear. The Femina philosophy is concerned with gender, right?"

"Correct," Reverend Vin- cent replied, his eyes lighting up enthusiastically, "and this is something that can be the sub- ject of some of your thinking as you go back to St. Louis and your congregation. Try to see the vast distinction between gender and all that it incorporates, and mere sex, which is primarily con- cerned with the areas of repro- duction. Another way to say it is to note that female is a sexual term; feminine is a gender word.'

"John explained it very well," Mary offered, "when he said you are born either male or female, but you have to learn to be masculine or feminine."

"Yes, this is all part of it," Reverend Vincent replied, "the attitudes, traits and interests that become to be associated with