Column unintentionally reflects sexist attitudes, ignores options

The opinion column by Mr. Travis Lee on October 18, 2007 was inappropriate, incorrect and sexist, especially given that it was printed on the day of Take Back the Night, which is meant to honor and remember battered and sexually abused women. Or, as Mr. Lee would say, “battered women freed from heinous patriarchal oppression who still (need) sperm manufactured in testicles if (they) want to have a kid.”

Now, Mr. Lee, I think you’ll find that most women are aware of the fact that they need to be “thrusted” by a “penis” in order to procreate. What you may not have realized is that a woman has to carry this sperm-created “kid” inside her uterus, go through painful and dangerous labor, and then take care of it for the next eighteen years, at least. It’s logical to think that men are as involved as women in the birthing process, but since, in 2005, 32 percent of all births were to single mothers, it seems like perhaps this life-theory is outdated.

Mr. Lee, you might also want to keep in mind this new fangled concept called In vitro fertilization. Yes, sperm is required for a child to be conceived. However, men are not. So, Mr. Lee, that “girl” (How come none of the “men” in your article are “boys”?) you referred to is correct. You are not.

To address your first sentence — “Selfish, sexist women have monopolized the abortion decision” — I would like to inform you that women cannot be sexist. I do recognize that men are given societal expectations and requirements that seem to be a result of sexism, but you should keep in mind that the people who make sexism exist in the first place are men and you can’t actually oppress yourself. Women don’t oppress men. Men oppress women and men.

As to your correct observation that there are more women than men in college, the “glass ceiling” is a concept that perhaps you should Google. I’ll leave that one up to you.

I know that you will not change your opinion toward feminists or women in general, and I can recognize that you probably didn’t intend to sound as sexist as you did. But perception is everything and your opinion column perfectly reflects the attitude that a lot of men, empowered by sexism, seem to be turning toward — that a man’s sperm entitles him to power over a woman’s body.

Mari K. Bland

Senior in journalism and electronic media