Facts! I don't wear yoga pants seeking a reaction. But I wear yoga pants for comfort while cycling. Afterwords, if I run to errands the store or bank...it's not my concern of i am skinny enough or if ppl dislike yoga apparel ? . This isn't the first time hearing men discus yoga pants. And I wasn't wearing YP, either. I think it's a conservative Texan topic. Nice to know it's not a huge deal to everyone

@VictoriaNotes Later in that same chapter there was an essay on infant mortality (a lot of women gave birth wearing all that clothing and a picture is shown with one 'doctor' whose head was put through a sheet so he wouldn's see the woman's 'private parts'. It was written that Princess Charlotte, the presumptive heiress to the throne died in childbirth leaving Queen Victoria to become the ruler. It was under the Victorian era that all this nonsense about women's purity and being covered found fertile ground. If Charlotte had lived perhaps none of this would have happened. We can, perhaps blame Victoria (lol)

@VictoriaNotes I don't know. She was the boss and leader. The BBC production of Victoria (which is not all fiction) showed her to be strong and have a mind of her own. Patriarchy, yes but it's too easy for women to always blame the males. I am confidant that women can do a better job at governing today but there will still be plenty of mistakes. Am I being too serious?

@VictoriaNotes Okay, this is the second comment from you that has given me pause and made me think I need to do some investigation. I think one could do a doctoral dissertation on history being shaped by social norms which, in turn, shapes history.

@VictoriaNotes What is going on? I just read at lunch (the same book by William Bryce) about how children and women once worked in mines and were naked (women from the waist) so as not to get their clothes dirty. The conditions that children had to live in the 18th and 19th century were horrific.
Also, this is why the early National Geographics' were considered, by some to be scandalous.

@VictoriaNotes I worked on this for quite a while and actually had to struggle to make it this brief.
Your point is extremely valid but we cannot say how much or little any given issue was at play. You know a lot about the workings of the mind. To me this area is real and how chemicals and electrical systems work is pretty much hard science. History is not. It is always open to interpretation and always changing. This is my field but as I am no expert in any given area I have had formal training in ways most have not. I love it and continue to study. No one can say this or that shaped a history or that there is a definite lesson. I am going to do a posting that has shaken me up and that shows how lessons and knowledge are often way off base. Patriarchy probably had a lot to do with how things worked and turned out but not all. And who is to say patriarchy/religion totally dominated the mindset of the day? All the struggles and violence proves that people were always trying to get away from the prevailing environment (cultural and/or natural) and start a new one. To me the environment had a major role in history albeit one that is too often ignored. I also think the environment might have had a role in establishing patriarchy especially after agriculture became in force. Remember, British queens were/are often just as strong as the kings and they often set social norms and history backs them up.

@VictoriaNotes Victoria,
I keep getting homework from you (which helps me learn and evolve). Funny how we got from yoga pants to this).

No one (myself included) should underestimate the impact of paternalism on women, children and society. History is not so much about public policy but simply a recording of past events (dictionary definition). History is much a broader topic than just human systems. In the Nov. 2018 issue of the “Atlantic” pg. 97 (”How will you change us” - Alexa, smart speakers) ” Human history is a by-product of human inventions. New tools-wheels, plows, PCs-usher in new economic and social orders” (like the #MeToo movement) ”They create and destroy civilizations.”*

Infant mortality (until modern times and still in developing countries) was high and pregnancy was a major cause of death in women. The Economy was extremely weak and even children were put to work as early as 3yo. (“At Home” ). Women, with their role as providing more workers (and cannon fodder), child bearers/rearers, home makers and the fact of periods cutting into their ability to work gave men (with their higher physical strength) the duty of being the main provider and it often even effected other males. ”Peabody estates housed almost 15,000 people in clean, comparatively roomy flats, though the heavy hand of paternalism was still painfully evident. Tenants were not allowed to apply paint or wallpaper, install drapes, or otherwise significantly personalize their homes. In consequence, they were not much cheerier than prison cells.” “At Home”, Bill Bryson. Pg. 422 yes, paternalism can and has affected a lot more than we think but, again, humans are not the center of the planet and history involves much that is not human and, to me, the environment is a major driver of human systems.

I should also mention the facts of some male dominancy in the non-human world. It is well know that dominate lions seeking a mate will battle the old mate and kill the cubs so he can promote his own genes in his new cubs. There is also the fact of some female spiders killing (and often eating) their mate after copulation. [en.wikipedia.org] I strongly believe there is a nature connection to this issue. I hope I don’t end up like the male Araneus diadematus for this?
Whew!

@VictoriaNotes So we get to play round robin. Okay, I see your point but some questions arise: Does that mean we have to kill all the alpha males (what about the alpha females).
What about all the other hundreds/thousands of species that practice some form of patriarchy/matriarchy?
What about the problem of overpopulation? Red of tooth and claw exists not just for food but also population stabilization.
I totally believe the rules of Mother Nature, as unfair and horrific they may be, exist for a reason and we humans need to learn and heed those lessons. We can make things better for all but that takes understanding and a huge amount of acceptance.

@VictoriaNotes Victoria, I think the issue between you and I is that we see different bigger pictures. Dialogue helps a lot but we also have different life experiences and different inner workings to put us on exactly the same page (which as good). Mother Nature also gave us an awareness and intelligence to evolve, which I see as the ultimate goal of Mother Nature. Again, humans can overcome the limitations we have inherited but, so far, we seem to be failing because we are still victims of Mother Nature. If we don't evolve, as we are supposed we will perish.
BTW we are having another wind storm (even though it is clear and sunny). The lights keep cutting out and I may get cut off. Now would be a fun time to ride the ferry.

@VictoriaNotes I do strongly disagree on my possible assumption. The lack of knowledge about each other is true and I think the fact it is a virtual knowledge is a big part of the limitation. In the "Mind-Body" course section 18 "Building Bridges" several different groups were asked to rate the connectiveness using virtual media, telephone (voice only) and in person. Everyone of the groups stated the connection was stronger with the in-person connection. Absolutely, text is very limiting and in that same chapter male communication styles are often at extreme odds with female.

We seldom lose power here. Many of the cables are underground and the power company is very, very proactive in clearing the areas around the above ground lines. Often this starts from the mainland (like when someone hits a pole and the power to our underwater cables is broken). But the freight train is running and the power is flickering. So you are prone to sea sickness?

@VictoriaNotes You must have been reading my mind on the power thing. Unfortunately, there are 2 types of solar, off-grid and on-grid. Mine is the on-grid type which means the power goes into the system and my usage is offset in summer and banked in winter. Off-grid simply means the panels charge in-home batteries which supply power to the house. This can limit what people have available depending on the size of the system. Mine is only 2.75KW

@VictoriaNotes Lol who gets to be head author of this book we seem to be writing???

@VictoriaNotes Of course, but who will be the lead author? So as not to be accused of paternalism I will let you have the honor!

@VictoriaNotes Oops, my lesson for the day. I should have said...? I don't know, anything would have gotten me in trouble.

@VictoriaNotes You do know my remark has cost me some sleep. I ask what would I have said if I was addressing another male or I was female or you were addressing a male. I spotted this and, again, communication issues. [gocomics.com]

I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that said (On the Front) Finally found someone who could do the work of 5 men
(And, on the back, in bold capital letters) ONE WOMAN

I see average sized men wearing them, too. shirts not long enough to cover the bulge

right. I wear yoga pants to cycle. I could not imagine wearing sweatpants to make some incel feel better.

[goo.gl]