i’ve realized, for a gender that praises equality and acceptance, women can be quite doggedly exclusive. in my women studies class (that’s right, i’m in one of those classes), the sole male student sits there dubiously, surrounded mainly by feminists of the hairy, mannish kind. the discussions my professor initiates don’t seem to do much in easing his discomfort. for example: “tell me a time when you’ve felt silenced simply because you are a woman.” how this boy gets participation marks is beyond me.

then there are the raging feminists who seem to have a point when they raise their hand, but then trail off into blatantly obvious statements — “cultures are diverse” — or painfully naive exclamations — “i can’t believe people can be so racist!” — or completely unexpected racial slurs — “i knew that the japs were placed in internment camps, but i never realized how poorly furnished they were.”

my friend and i call the girl who said that last one “degrassi”, simply because of the hot pink, knitted poncho-sweaters she’s always wearing. also because she has admitted that she’s the same age as the bionic woman — there’s your protofeminist, right there.

i fit into the invisible category in my women studies class, the one where the students remain faceless, nameless, and barely memorable by the end of the year.