Academic communities need to be pliable and resilient enough to absorb what
someone, somewhere will consider "obnoxious" behavior (since behavior is
discourse). However, academic institutions are held to a different set of
expectations (including federal and state laws in the US as well as the
criteria of regional accrediting bodies). Thus Boston College apparently
considered itself compelled to retire Mary Daly because of those legal
commitments.
Tom Long
Dr. Thomas L. Long, Ph.D.
English Department
Thomas Nelson Community College
PO Box 9407
Hampton, Virginia 23670 USA
Chairperson, VCCS Regional Centers for Teaching Excellence/Tidewater
757.825.3663 (voice)
757.825.3842 (fax)
http://users.visi.net/~longt
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kathy schlossmacher [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 8:57 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: mary daly debate
>
> I am a little confused over the debate. Mary Daly has made it very clear
> in her writings how she feels about men and why she chooses to create
> women only space. Sometimes I think her actions are a sign of the
> oppressed emulating the oppressor, but in reality I see those as
> insignificant.
>
> Her theology was one of the first to academically critique patrarchal
> religous systems, and those critiques are still very valid. Her
> philosophy is her own and sometimes borders on the outragious for some,
> but most of it is academically valid and sound.
>
> As for her behavior, to be perfectly candid is it her choice. I may not
> choose to reject men in that way. I may think that her words to that
> gentleman, were not very nice and even the wrong thing to do, but I think
> that is more about personal choice than anything else.
>
> As to the validity of the stories of her rejection of men, they are true,
> I have heard of many people who witnessed that behavior while hearing her
> speak. I think it also important to remember that in looking at the time
> in which she was first writing and seeking academic work and degrees,
> there was alot more sexism out there. Possibly she feels very justified in
> her anger toward men. I guess my feeling is that this is Mary Daly, this
> is what she does.
>
> I do not believe it invalidates her work or in turn validates her work
> because she definitively dislikes men
>
> Kathy
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