[LMB] Battle of the Sexes (was Predators vs. Protectors)

[Elizabeth Holden]

--- Marna Nightingale <marna at marna.ca> wrote, re
recent discussions:

> I'm not even sure it's especially
> negative. 

It may be a case of 'easy for me to say' because I was
not in the middle of any of the acrimony or
accusations of sexism/feminism/whatever, so my temper
was not frayed, but I enjoyed the discussion, which
brought out some interesting points and clarified my
mind on a few different issues. 

> One of the common complaints about this
> list is that we never discuss anything really 
> chewy or difficult anymore, so...

It was interesting.  There's a lot of be said for
'interesting'.

> I do find the male characters you mention admirable
> (though as much for the ways they COMBAT their 
> own protective urges when appropriate as for 
> the ways they express them)

Life is an ongoing, unfolding social experiment, and I
think the Bujold novels do a really good job of
illustrating where our minds are at this point in
time.

> but at the same time there is Cordelia, 
> Ista, Drou, Taura ... who are all also intensely
> protective of the people around them.

Absolutely. And learning how to deal with it.

I wonder if Bel's people ever have problems like this.

namaste,
Elizabeth