I'm pissed off at people who pass up chances to share honest opinions.

[MadrasT]

19. Women grow up with a lot of programming

Programming that tells us we are not supposed to upset people. And especially that we are not supposed to upset men.

The drive for heterosexual females to have men "like" them is a very powerful force. (Mustn't say anything to upset the menz.)

Plus there's the whole aspect of competing with other women (to be the cool, congenial one... the kind of woman that is liked by the menz).

Many women want men to *like* them, so they don't want to be that obnoxious you-know-what that speaks out. (Everybody knows men hate cranky feminists, just look around DU.)

It takes a lot of *courage* to break free from that. (And self confidence, and self acceptance, and not being an affirmation junkie.)

And before you even get to the point of needing *courage*... you need to even see that the problem exists.

(And once you see it, the whole situation is beyond frustrating.)