>So, only things that people talk about "in the real world" are not dead ends? You are a fool.

Okay, let me put it THIS way - even within the academy alot of academics are pulling back from Postmodernism/Poststructuralism as an intellectual dead end. And I'm not just talking about revanchist retrenchments by holdouts like Harold Bloom. Sorry, that I'm such a fool.

>Good for you - so what are you complaining about in the first place?

>Um, you saying "What problems do Western Men have? Easy. We're busy working on the world's real problems AND supporting our families while all you angry, spoiled Western women whine about how "oppressed" you are."

How am I wrong? I said you were complaining and here you are complaining about it. I didn't say that women WEREN'T supporting families or working on the world's problems - all I said is that men were doing the same things and NOT COMPLAINING about it. You want equality - then stop complaining and enjoy your successses.

> Women's studies was pioneered by Western women because Western women, even now, have the most access to academia, in terms of studying and leadership.

Well duh. That's part and parcel of what I was saying.

> Your second contention, that the overhwleming focus of their research and scholarship is on the problems of western women is just plain wrong, and shows that you're talking out of your ass.

Um, and you would know this how? I thought you "never took a woman's studies class in your life"? Who's talking out of their ass now?

>Let me rephrase: are western men more spoiled than western women, considering they don't face sexism?

Nope. Middle and upper class Westerners are all equally spoiled in my opinion.

>And how is women's experience not "the other"?

This is the crux of my argument: women don't come from a seperate culture in the West. And I think that any attempt to spin women's experiences into an actual "culture" are fucking ridiculous and divisive.

>Where did I concede that? And what does the white, western middle class have to do with entitlement and women's studies? could you elaborate?

You concede it every time that you make the argument that Western men are spoiled. And actually, I regret using the words "white and middle class" - I think it would have been more accurate to say "Western, Educated classes". Does that explain things a bit better?

>How is that a response?

It wasn't. It was a concession and a joke. But honestly, I don't think that you can compare women's studies with curing cancer. It's kind of absurd.

>No? Why not?

Because those other subjects aren't an intellectual dead end like Postmodernism & Poststructuralism.

>Says the man who wrote "We [men] are busy working on the world's real problems AND supporting our families while all you angry, spoiled Western women whine about how "oppressed" you are."" LOL

You still don't know when you're being wound up, do you?

Have you ever heard ANYONE talk about postmodernism or poststructuralism outside of the academy or media criticism? In the real world, nobody gives a shit. THAT is a dead end.

>I have to second Green eyes: You say a lot of random stuff, and then never back it up. It makes you look bad.

Shall I start footnoting my message board posts from now on? Please.

>Really? women's labor force participation in the US is 60%. What are the jobs those women are doing? Do you think they're not solving "real" problems and supporting their families? And how are the two incompatible (talking about oppression, and having a job that solves "real" problems and supports your family)?

Good for you - so what are you complaining about in the first place?

>And your basis for saying this is...? Meh, I know it's unlikely you will answer that.

My basis for saying this is simple: Women's studies was pioneered by Western women - and the overwhelming focus of their research and scholarship is on the problems of Western women for the simple reason that they have better proximity and more access to data in the developed world.

>Here are some other questions you didn't answer:

>Are westerm men less spoiled than western women?

No. But we don't go around whining about how oppressed we are while simultaneously enjoying and trading on that privelege.

>How is African-American culture a "foreign culture"?

It isn't. That's why I put the word "foreign" in quotes in my original post. I would have used "the other" but that sounded too damn pretentious. Your point is moot.

>What place of entitlement does Women's Studies come from?

Same one that you already conceded "spoiled" Western Men come from - the White, Western Middle Class.

>Is cancer research an inferior cause because most people who die in the world die of other diseases?

No. But interesting example - find a cure for cancer yet? LOL

>So, just out of curiosity, if you were in charge, would you abolish, or severely curtail enrollment in, the following academic departments: Philosophy? English literature? Any kind of literature? Any kind of language (esp non spoken languages)? Art History? Drawing? History?

No. I would, however, stress reading skills - please note that in my original post I stressed Postmodern/ Poststructuralist studies - which have proven themselves to be an academic dead end, Just like women's studies.

PS: Durian Joe - Do you always base such sweeping generalizations about people's personalities on their message board posts? How sad.

... Lovely to chat, but I have to run off to one of my weekly patriarchy meetings to discuss new strategies for keeping the womenfolk down... LOL

Trade school would be a helluva lot more useful than 99.9% of all postmodern/poststructuralist cultural theory. At least people who went to trade school don't end up working at Wendy's when they graduate. LOL