Dear Jan
yes - Jack and Jenny are mules and usefuls.
The other more modern version of the tomboy (boy/boy) example is the
girlie-girl taunt used against girlish men.
But then many men like tomboys - they just don't like tom-men. The
tolerance for gender ambivalence/ambiguity/indifference etc. is greater
with pre-pubescents. This is also true for objects - we tolerate
gendered objects according to rules that remain rather mysterious - some
objects don't seem to matter in terms of gender - they can be sleek,
slim, curvey, erect, in and out all at the same time - there is a
polymorphous aspect to intimate things like women's razors that doesn't
seem to worry men - go figure.
all the best
keith
OZ newcastle
>>> Jan Coker <[log in to unmask]> 12/17/04 2:03 PM >>>
Keith,
Well, well, that about sums it up doesn't it. May I be bold and immodest
and
suggest that doesn't leave women and girls much room to move if the
definition
of a girl who climbs trees is the worst kind of boy.
Aren't Jack and Jenny mules?
Jan
Jan Coker
C3-10 Underdale
University of South Australia
+61 8 8302 6919
fax +61 8 8302 6239
Relativity teaches us the connection between the different descriptions
of one
and the same reality
Albert Einstein
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