A few days or so ago, LA posted a link to a blog written by a feminist who has Asperger Syndrome. And honestly, I think I am going to have to rant on this one. Feel free to offer your opinion back as you see fit, however, I think several things on this, which is why it’s taken me some to reply to it. I had to work out an articulate response instead of spluttering nonsensical statements. The biggest problem I have with writing a reply however, is not that I am spluttering angry about, because it’s been a bit since I read the article, but because this is one of those situations where not only will the writer not be swayed by what I have to say, but because I FULLY believe and agree with Stuart Chase’s “For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.” And in this position, I recognize that I am on both sides, but I am not sure that she will. Read the other entry first before you read on here.

[insert several rounds of the Jeopardy Theme here]

I do recognize that the Blogist in question is referring to the standard gender roles in this situation, however, think about it (and yes I know that situations vary) but how many times did you turn to your mother for support in any given situation? Is the larger percent of women dominated by Maternal Instincts for their child or not? What lesson do you think they (the child) will learn from the constantly reiterated fact of “When it hurts I turn to mom”. Admittedly, men as a whole need to be more proactive in taking care of their child’s emotional needs, but that DOESN’T mean they cant or shouldn’t turn to the mother for the same support. As a single parent, and a man, who the hell does she think my sons go to when THEY need it?

Honestly, I think it’s this kind of crap that is absolutely part of the problem between the genders, and not the solution. I think the author of the entry is still blinded by her own dysfunction. The author states that she is incapable of feeling these things, due to her disability. Guess what? Not everyone else in the world is! I think the person who wrote this is incapable of knowing or understand because she doesn’t have the capacity to feel those things. I think this is a case of someone being upset about the limitations of their disability, not a true issue between genders.

It’s NOT about gender, it’s about PEOPLE. In a situation where I need support, I turn to someone I think is GOING to be supportive and caring and my rock. I would turn to my wife, girlfriend, mate, whatever to find that. And, as I am a heterosexual, then YES, I expect her to be that. Caring and sympathetic. God, Buddha, Yahweh, Allah, The Purple Rock From Mars, Nature (insertyourwhateverhere) made two genders in every mammalian species on this planet, not one, so I can’t understand why everyone wants to be the same gender. I expect snuggling, caring, softness, and support in my “moment of anguish” BECAUSE you have a vagina. And NOT because you have a vagina. Because I am heterosexual and I want that in my partner, but If I was gay, I would STILL want that in my partner. And hey… guess what?? In my partner’s moment of anguish… guess where I would expect HER to find the same thing? If you said another woman…. ENNNNNNNNNNH YOU FAIL! I would expect her to come to ME! A GUY! Because that’s how relationships work. In my current no-so situation, I turn to my friends for support. I call up someone and cry on their shoulder about my issues, and hey guess, what? At the moment, my closest friend happens to be… a woman. Turning to people for support, and expecting sympathy and empathy is a natural human reaction, and expecting it from them is NOT a gender thing, it’s a people thing.

People with Asperger’s are incapable of that reaction according to her, and I think the blogger is waay off base about this. As a person with ADD, I do not EVER expect people to be able to keep up with my conversational changes, and I always expect to be asked to stick to the topic at hand. Should I start a ADDPeople’s movement which advocates Chaos as the norm and Structure as the bad thing? Or should I accept that with my disability comes certain adjustments that I have to make to society? Shouldn’t everyone else with a disability be required to do the same thing? In the past I have posted objections about others with disabilities. I challenge the original poster to accept her disability as her own, and not society’s. Which is what (in my opinion) she has done.

Herm… I’m pretty hot about this….

Can I get a yea or nay? And opinions??? TY!