Originally Posted by
eldargal
Holding a door open is good manners, nothing sexist about good manners. It is a sign of respect, not an act of passive-agressive domination. It really infuriates me that this has become an issue. It goes back what I was hinted at in the OP, when it comes down to it the worst enemy of feminism is feminists..
If it ever becomes verbal, just say as much 'I held open the door as it was polite and respectful, nothing more or less'. It is also efficient if you reach the door a step ahead and it open towards you, opening it, stepping through and closing it on whoever was on the other side would be quite rude. Hell I've held doors open for boys under those circumstances. Never had one accuse me of diminishing his masculinity.
Definitely a feminist, Grenadier.
Women in combat is actually the thing I have the most problem with myself. My view on the matter changes back and forth periodically. I think one day it will be considered normal and fine but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept it yet, let alone society at large. I read some reports years ago in Iraq about some Marine units having their morale destroyed when some of the female marines were killed. The way they were described it sounded like they had become sort of surrogate mothers to the whole unit and when they were killed (their boat thing hit a mine) the rest of the unit felt emasculated in addition to the regular grief and anger. Not the thing youwant to happen to your elite units in the middle of a war.