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What makes you think I "seek" or want to be disrespected?! That wasn't what I said. I said I don't EXPECT to be treated any differently than any other Freeper who posts on threads just because I am a woman.

I have had my profile page up for about as long as I've been a member and I readily revealed my "back story" including my gender. Many people don't even read others profiles, so there have been several who just assumed I was a man since "boatbums" is a gender neutral screen name. The Freeper Elsie OFTEN gets mistaken for a woman, even though he's corrected that perception many, many times. Should I expect kid gloves when I get involved in a disagreement? No. I come fully prepared to defend my position and the only deference is that which we should ALL give to one another - regardless of gender.

There have been a few Catholic men who, once they realized I was a woman, approached the discussion with the attitude of I shouldn't be trying to teach them anything because I was a woman and women are to "be in subjection to men" and not "usurp their authority". For real! That's what I was told. Basically, we gals should be in submission to ALL the men of Free Republic and, as the joke goes, when they want our opinion, they'll beat it out of us. If I had never revealed my gender, I would never have been subjected to such Chauvinistic comments.

The point, dear Mlizzy, is we women should expect respect and manners from the men in our lives like I Peter 3:7 says:

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Members of FR aren't my husband! I happily am married to a man who not only respects and loves me but he values my opinions and my knowledge of the Christian faith. On an anonymous Internet forum, there should be general respect towards ALL posters but if I or another woman wants to participate in an OPEN RF discussion, wanting or expecting "special" treatment or deference is actually something that would work against us. Our ideas, beliefs and thoughts deserve equal respect and consideration as others expect from us. Let's not push our gender back to the "little woman" past where the man did all the thinking. I have just as much right as any man to come here and voice my thoughts and they be considered without regard to my sex. If you or any other woman cannot handle that kind of "equality" then they shouldn't try to join the discussion in the first place.

I'm pretty sure rudeness and disrespect bothers EVERYONE - no matter what sex they are - previously trounced upon or not.

Boatbums, maybe you missed my CX [that stands for correction; I'm dating myself probably; typesetter for 25 years long ago]. But here goes: "CX to boatbums: seek “[or not be bothered by]” this disrespect?"
There is no edit key on Free Republic; it's probably the only thing Facebook has that is good over Free Republic. Anyway, I understand what you are saying completely, but I don't agree that it should be that way. Everyone should be heard (and respected!), regardless of gender. You shouldn't have to yell louder because you are a woman.

That being said, my husband and I both "work" toward correcting the abuse of women by the Catholic Church and Catholic institutions of learning. It is a sideline thing; nothing that we are able [financially] to do full time. But we have helped bring Light to some pretty dark areas.

P.S. There are [evil?] moronic postings on Free Republic created by ill-fed men. They should stop, imo, lest the site crumble and everyone be denied the Good News. To quote onyx, "Pity that."