Re: Masculine and Feminine as Words

Sian,

Yes I think you are right that defining masculine and feminine is a stage through which society needs to move through.  The importance of this definition is certainly strongly argued by many feminist thinkers - (although exactly how to define Woman and the feminine is not something that the different factions can come to a collective agreement on).

But yes, since the feminine has been described as a lesser, degraded thing I think it is important to bring this to the light (as I believe has been and is happening), before moving on. The feminine has in many ways been our collective shadow and it does need to be owned.. and I think that ownership will and is shifting what it is.   And I think this movement, this shift, is also very important to be aware of.  As we look at the feminine, it becomes no longer a shadow. It integrate, evolves, changes.. and that is why I think it is so difficult, in many ways, to pin down what it is , to define it.

 (and I will have to return to part two of your questions :)