http://www.okcupid.com/dt?g=C2taJF8vMEg

I've gone on dates with 40+ people from OkCupid, but would I date you?

How should people spell "women"?

• Women
• Womyn, or other feminist spelling revisions
• I don't care either way

From www.etymonline.com (and also from a recent email correspondence):

woman (n.)
late O.E. wimman (pl. wimmen), lit. "woman-man," alteration of wifman (pl. wifmen), a compound of wif "woman" (see wife) + man "human being" (in O.E. used in ref. to both sexes; see man). Cf. Du. vrouwmens "wife," lit. "woman-man." The formation is peculiar to Eng. and Du. Replaced older O.E. wif, quean as the word for "female human being." The pronunciation of the singular altered in M.E. by the rounding influence of -w-; the plural retains the original vowel.

man (n.)
O.E. man, mann "human being, person," from P.Gmc. *manwaz (cf. O.S., O.H.G. man, Ger. Mann, O.N. maðr, Goth. manna "man"), from PIE base *man- (cf. Skt. manuh, Avestan manu-, O.C.S. mozi, Rus. muzh "man, male"). Sometimes connected to root *men- "to think" (see mind), which would make the ground sense of man "one who has intelligence," but not all linguists accept this. Plural men (Ger. Männer) shows effects of i-mutation. Sense of "adult male" is late (c.1000); O.E. used wer and wif to distinguish the sexes, but wer began to disappear late 13c. and was replaced by man. Universal sense of the word remains in mankind (from O.E. mancynn, from cynn "kin")

Man, used to refer to males, is therefore inaccurate, as it is actually refering to humans of all sexes and genders.

As a feminist, I find that it's less empowering to women if we feel the need to compromise our own female referent, when it makes more sense to encourage the use of wermen or something similar for males.
(Yes, I realize "wermen" sounds absolutely ridiculous.)

The American Medical Association just passed a resolution opposing discrimination of transgender patients. Resolution 122 should make it easier for patients to obtain health insurance coverage (including Medicaid--awesome!) for sex reassignment surgery, affirming the surgery as often medically necessary, and refuting claims that it is "cosmetic" and "experimental."


Check it out:

"RESOLUTION 122

Subject: Removing Financial Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients

Whereas, Our American Medical Association opposes discrimination on the basis of gender identity; and

Whereas, Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is a serious medical condition recognized as such in both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) and the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision); and is characterized in the DSM-IV as a persistent discomfort with one's assigned sex and with one's primary and secondary sex characteristics, which causes intense emotional pain and suffering; and

Whereas, GID, if left untreated, can result in clinically significant psychological distress, dysfunction, debilitating depression and, for some people without access to appropriate medical care and treatment, suicidality and death; and

Whereas, The World Profession for Transgender Health, Inc. (WPATH) is the leading international, interdisciplinary professional organization devoted to the understanding and treatment of gender identity disorders, and has established internationally accepted Standards of Care for providing medical treatment of people with GID, including mental health care, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery, which are designed to promote the health and welfare of persons with GID and are recognized within the medical community to be the standard of care for treating people with GID; and

Whereas, An established body of medical research demonstrates the effectiveness and medical necessity of mental health care, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery as forms of therapeutic treatment for many people diagnosed with GID; and

Whereas, Health experts in GID, including WPATH, have rejected the myth that such treatments are "cosmetic" or "experimental" and have recognized that these treatments can provide safe and effective treatment for a serious health condition; and

Whereas, Physicians treating persons with GID must be able to provide the correct treatment necessary for a patient in order to achieve genuine and lasting comfort with his or her gender, based on the person's individual needs and medical history; and

Whereas, Our AMA opposes limitations placed on patient care by third-party payers when such care is based upon sound scientific evidence and sound medical opinion; and

Whereas, Many health insurance plans categorically exclude coverage of mental health, medical, and surgical treatments for GID, even though many of these same treatments, such as psychotherapy, hormone therapy, breast augmentation or removal, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, and salpingectomy, are often covered for other medical conditions; and

Whereas, The denial of these otherwise covered benefits for patients suffering from GID represents discrimination based solely on a patient's gender identity; and

Whereas, Delaying treatment for GID can cause and/or aggravate
additional serious and expensive health problems, such as stress-related physical illnesses, depression, and substance abuse problems, which further endanger patients' health and strain the health care system; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association support public and private health insurance coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder as recommended by the patient’s physician. (New HOD Policy)"

The bastards lost my luggage 4 weeks ago. I flew from Chicago to London (Heathrow) to Amsterdam on June 27-28. When I got to Amsterdam, the luggage was no where to be found! I was told it should arrive with 1-2 days, so that was a relief, not having to haul it back to my hostel. 2 days later, still no luggage! I made a special trip back to the airport, since I wasted a phonecard trying to call BA, and they told me, "Oh, maybe a few days. We're having problems with the belts." Week after week goes by, and nothing.

I've had family back in the States call them numerous times (since they never like to answer the local number I was given), and each time we've been told a different story. Most recent update: Bag was sent to Milan (what the fuck?!) on July 8, because they have a bigger sorting center.

From news articles about the situation, I've managed to put this much more together: due to flooding, 100+ canceled BA flights, poor conveyor belts, and the bomb scare about 20,000 bags were "lost" by BA. The few who have received theirs have discovered their possessions covered in mildew and black and green mold. Nice thing to look forward to. Oh, and apparently the chief executive for BA just up and quit last week.

The worst part? After 45 days, it seems that BA has the right to sent the luggage and contents to auction! I'm heartbroken that my address book, work for my thesis, handmade clothes, and personal treasures could so easily be discarded or sold.

If I ever do receive my bag, there's no way I'm going to trust BA and check it again for my return flight. I don't care how much it costs or how long it takes (couldn't be longer than BA!) but I'm definitely shipping it back.

Please, take my warning, and never ever ever fly BA. Also, avoid Heathrow at all costs, especially in the summer. I heard this same thing happened last year. :(