Drea

Once again -- the ability to do physical labour does not warrant a high paycheque. I make more than the guy digging ditches. Why? Because, although I don't do physical work, I use my brain all day. No kidding. I grew up on a ranch. My two brothers did the haying, etc. What did I do? Feed the horses, drive the tractor etc. I never built a stook in my life -- the hay bales were too heavy. But guess what? My stepfather paid me the same wages as the boys -- I drove the tractor while they were on the back stacking the hay. Equal pay for equal work IMO. We all got the hay in -- just because I didn't lift a bale doesn't mean my job (driving the tractor) was worth less. Golds is a meat market. Men go to see hot women, women go to see hot men. Not my kinda place at my age and maritial status Why did you bring up a gym then, if that's not what you meant? Ok I'll invite you down to Curves... come and try out the equipment -- but be ready with your chequebook, cause surely a big man like you would break the machines. How condescending of you.

Physical work does not necessarily merit higher pay. There may be other areas where the smaller officer has more to offer; ie brainwork, public appearances, training, etc. As for smaller females doing the work of men... of course a smaller frame (whether it be male or female -- Think Niles on Fraiser) will not be able to lift the same amounts. I wouldn't be able to do it. Most of the women I know that have ever gone into a male dominated profession that required brute strength are generally not petite women. You wouldn't want a guy like Niles working on your crew either. But that doesn't make him not worthy of equality. Because women don't want men looking at them when they are all sweating and grunting during a workout. Just like a group of middle aged men would be somewhat uncomfortable if they had to show their fat bellies to a group of babes. There are men's gyms. Sure the odd women will go to Gold's, for instance, but the majority are men. Women's gym equipment (for us regular gals who go to places like Curves) are not built for men. You wouldn't enjoy the workout anyway.

And back in 1955 girls were "all grown up" by 15 -- they had the capacity to make the most important decision of their lives? I would never advocate lowering the voting and drinking age. We have enough problems with teens drinking and driving already.

That was sooooo funny! Yer killin' me Betsy

I seriously think it can either be one of those: a choice or a biological difference. Being a choice could stem from various factors and experiences. And it being a choice could vary in duration. I've seen some gay friends...and have also seen young men turn into gays and then, turn back into men again. You mean some of their penises fell off and then were reattached -- they were men, were not men, then were men again. A man is a human being with a penis and balls -- regardless of what he likes to do with them.

Max would be about 40 or so….? Back in the days when his mother (the 15 year old) got married it was very common for a much older man to marry a very young girl. My mother got married at age 15 too. Dad is 11 years older than her. IMO, 16 is the correct age of consent. Svend is just pointing out the very obvious hipocracy of the right wing -- if it was ok for a 15 year old in 1955 why is it not ok in 2006? Hint: if it bleeds it breeds. The only choice poor young girls had back then was to get married. And better to marry an older man who could earn a decent living, no? Makes me laugh -- they all want to revert to 1950's mentality (aka "tradition") but are unable to see how ridiculous life really was back then.

Because, historically, business has been conducted on the golf course, at the squash court or other domains that have been "exclusively" male. Do you know what the word golf means? Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. Now why on earth would women be excluded from this game? Because back in the day, men didn’t want us to "worry our pretty little heads" about business or politics. Today, gentlemen, not only are we women welcome on the golf course, we are in the boardrooms (and not as secretaries) -- more and more of us are becoming CEOs and the like. No longer are we content to be in the background, behind the scenes. Women want and deserve all the power, drive and success that in the past have exclusively been the domain of men; if that means meeting the men on the golf course or in the sauna to discuss business, so be it.

But I put the cool little icon guy in my post -- certainly wasn't meant to come across as "chippy" But you agree that the pendulum has swung to the left. Not all the way left or I'd be sitting at home collecting my welly cheque instead of here at work. You agree that the pendulum was further over the the right from the 1920's. Yes, the 20's are when real equality, real reasoning and logic started to become the norm. So we agree that the pendulum has swung from *not all the way to the right* to *not all the way to the left*. Thank goodness eh!

I try to imagine no sexual predators and wonder if there is a better way to identify them before they become what they are. When men no longer feel the need to "overpower" women and children (ie when we are all finally equals in men's minds), sexual predation will stop. Most sexual predators don't do it for the sex. They do it for the power. What is more powerful than making someone submit to you? What is more degrading than forced sex? It's all about the imbalance of precieved power between the genders.

Old people like me remember young girls dying of clotheshanger abortions in warehouses. Old people remember young girls who said no and meant it, young men who wouldn't use date rape drugs, and a time when kiddie porn did not exist. Old people remember when us women were taught to "Lie back and think of England". Old people remember "she dressed like a slut so she asked for it". Old people remember when the pendulum was all the way over to the right, not the centre. Thankfully, cooler heads have prevailed over the past couple of generations.

Western ideologies? What exactly does that mean to you Leafless? Please explain so that we can understand where you are coming from? My ideas of "western ideologies": Freedom of speech (including "I hate Jews" or "I hate fags" -- can't have one without the other) Freedom of religion (worship tin cans if that floats yer boat) Freedom from religion (religious ideology does not belong anywhere but at home and in "religious houses" ie churches) There of course, are many more freedoms that we simply take for granted, but these are the most important IMO.

Nobody supports terrorists. What are you talking about. Islamic radical ideologies are supported on this very site by people like Black dog, Liam, Jerry Hatrick, jdobbin and others. Are you saying you don't read these guys post? Just because a person does not agree with what Bush is doing in Iraq and with regard to homeland security in the face of "terrorist" attacks does not mean that they support or agree with what those who would "harm" America (they sure can spout words can't they!) are saying. Black Dog is probably the most levelheaded poster here. He is certainly not a "supporter of radical Islamic ideologies". Actually I highly doubt if any poster here on MLW supports the actions of radicals, whatever their stripe. As I've said before -- the fanatical rightwing does not tolerate dissent -- hence "They should be banned for their opinion!"

We soooo need a culture forum.... Young women being tricked into kissing chimps.... funny but really nothing to do with "the difference between Females and Males".

same here in BC. My son is all handsome in his cadet uniform this morning -- he'll be on parade today. IMO all young people should have to participate in one way or another -- to assure no one ever forgets. My heart goes out to all veterans young and old.

Your more than likely right. We needed a deal -- any deal and Emerson's was the best we could do. The USA acting like a big bully is not the fault of the cons nor the libs.

Personally I think Emerson was the only person who would've been able to broker a deal -- whether he be in the Liberal camp or the Conservative camp. Some kind of deal needed to be made regardless of the controlling party. As someone has already pointed out the deal is exactly the same as the deal that was pending under the Liberals. Yet the cons think it was their idea Emerson crossed the floor, I might add, not because he was a Conservative but because he would be non-effectual in the opposition and his deal would've been shoved by the wayside. He does not care what party he works for because it makes no difference whatsoever. He made his deal just as he would have if the Libs had won and he stayed a Lib. If you've got a star quarterback do you keep him on the losing team? Hell no! He gets traded to the winning team I wonder if he'll cross back over when the Libs win this time

"Bashing"? Criticism is now bashing? Offering dissenting views is now bashing? If I criticize a person for a behaviour for example, am I "bashing" him? Is a teacher who criticizes a student "bashing" the student? An employer, is he "bashing" his employee when he offers criticism? What I see is the hard Harper supporters see any criticism as dissent. And in the rightwing sphere, dissent is not tolerated.

Saw it on Global news. Argus, you are THE example of an antiquated backwards-thinking male Go cry in your beer... Life has moved on -- attitudes like yours are no longer accepted in our society. Grow up and get over it.

Such as?.... I just cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would be against ssm. ("God says so" is not a valid argument) It's not like every heterosexual will all of a sudden become gay.

... jerry... with this thread... what kind of response did you expect? Whaderyu three?

Wasn't very long ago (one generation?) that "western" women felt the same shame, didn't know where to turn for help, etc. that these women are feeling now. I for one, am very glad the entire community is getting together to address the problem. Perhaps part of it is "arranged" marriages? 20 years ago my mom worked with this one beautiful Indian girl, she was in her early twenties and was sooo worried because some older man from India was coming to be her husband. She ran away. I have no idea what became of her.

Exactly jbg. What is a single mother of 2 doing having another pregnancy? IMO if a woman is on social assistance, she should be on contraceptives. Funny, her back pain didn't stop her from having a romp in the hay but she "can't work". Pffft. My sister has scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and she works. She raised 6 children, btw.

And who's fault is that salesman? Who is killing these black men? Hordes of white women? No -- other black men. Blame it on the gangsta culture that has evolved in our society... Anyway, this has nothing to do with the thread, which is women's equality and the lack thereof across the world. Next you'll tell us that circumcision is the same as fgm. I agree Melanie, fgm is the worst crime against women that could ever be perpetrated. And it happens even in this country. Why is it done? To prevent women from "straying", to prevent them from enjoying sex. It's a disgusting practice that needs to be erradicated.

What are you people on about.... Canadian women are being beaten by their Canadian husbands. The community is getting together to discuss the problem and seek solutions. What exactly, is the issue with reporting this? From the link this is the only "Indian" story I saw.

I'd just hire somebody Many "city" men would be unwilling to climb into the septic tank too. Darn girly men (just kiddin')