Naemanson, I hadn't really thought of the guitar-swiping as dominance per se so much as presumptuousness that a woman would be less serious or committed to the music she was making and therefore it would matter less to her to let go of the guitar for a while. Actually, all the guitar players at this session would be easy-going about sharing their instrument for a song or two (it's the accordions that really matter at this session anyway!). But you know, the optimistic view is that my Gibson is much cooler than all the other guitars in the room! And by the way, if I'm ever in Maine can I sing at your coffeehouse?

Flattop, I hope you included some Jane Siberry and some Holly Cole on that compilation tape. Thanks for your Faithfull perspective.

And Little Hawk, it sounds like you've spent a lot of time thinking about important issues. Here's a thought for you to mull over: many feminists find it just as sexist, oppressive, and inaccurate when womankind is credited with superiority in particular traits as when they are denied the right or the ability to possess certain other traits. So while some feminists declare that women are, for example, nurturing, intuitive, nonviolent, etc. -- all good human qualities -- others would say that's a bunch of nonsense and only serves to reinforce gender expectations for "female" behavior, thereby limiting women. So in reading your first post in which you say women songwriters are more subtle, expressive, and articulate, I worry a little that despite good intentions you might still be seeing women through a filter of assumptions rather than as individuals with all the range of characteristics on the spectrum from so-called "masculine" to "feminine" as plausible personality traits. Does that make sense, or am I falling down on the articulation job?! It's actually an issue that has caused a lot of ideological conflict among feminists, but has broader applications to both sexes.

Margaret