Biological aptitude

It is indeed unfortunate that "M.A. Graduate" (Salient April 3) should feel it inadvisable to submit his name; it is a sad comment on the intolerance of this society, and presumably his resultant insecurity. For it is noteworthy that no-where in his letter does he say he is a homosexual; he only implies that he is a temperamentally 'female' man, thereby missing the point. This is a difference between a male who acts in a way thought of as 'feminine' because it is feminine, and a male who acts in this way because he want to irrespective of cultural pressures. Sexual roles are stereotyped from birth, certain things demanded of each sex. It is inevitable that some people should have the ability to see above this socially conditioned morass and realise that there is, in fact, very little which is innately "feminine" or "masculine". For instance, women are generally less competent mechanics than men. This is cited as proof of biological aptitude, or lack of it. But how many girls were given a Meccano set, or encouraged to learn about technical things? There may be other features, but the only really "feminine" thing I know of is motherhood—and a lot of that can be shared.

So when M.A. Graduate wishes to apply for jobs which we are conditioned to think of as female, he has come to some higher understanding, When he is able to accept this without being ashamed of it, and realise that he is quite "normal" (excepting that he has been able to resist more of his conditioning than usual), then he will have progressed even further.

Ian Pilott