[GoneGirl]

Thanks little sis (Lisa).

I was also the progeny of a family of strong women, and the only boy in a family of seven. I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood which had few outstanding male role models. There were many families in which the woman married down instead of up because she was not a Hollywood beauty, and then had to struggle to survive against sporadic incomes, alcoholism, large families, spousal abuse, as well as, ignorance and prejudice.

I looked up to many of these women and relied on their generosity and counsel all through my childhood. I won't say that my environment had the most influence in determining my gender identity, but I can't believe it didn't have some effect. Ironically, I think it may have prompted me to cling to my assigned gender identity even more as I attempted to prove that a man could be as strong and responsible as a woman. That attitude stayed with me into adulthood. It made me an excellent father and husband (so I've been told; except for my sexual inadequacies ).

In this time of rising esteem and opportunity for women in western culture, I fear for the future of boys and men in our society. Testosterone is not in great demand in our world today. Take a look at the Athena Doctrine and tell me if you agree that feminine values are ascendant today while masculine values are in decline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drUbt-iFlP8

Clara