Nicholas Leifker           Note - this message started off as a private message to Nicholas,
 Ichinohei Hitomi           which is why you get the impression that it's a continuation of a 
 Katrina Lee Halbred        previous message - which it was.  I decided to turn it public to
 February 23, 1998          see what everyone would have to say about my rantings this time.

Well, chapter 7 did indeed warrant another message... And although I do remember
reading a message by Richard Lawson saying that Ranma's little speech with
Kodachi set the whole thing "off", I disagree.  Below I will use a bit of
psychological theory that I picked up over the past few years, and although I
have a decent understanding of gender issues I cannot in my dreams approach this
issue from every possible viewpoint.  I expect a lot of people, actually most of
the people, on the ML to disagree with me on at least one of my viewpoints, but
we'll see.

Ranma slipped into a dangerous and seductive trap at the very beginning of this
series, and it is a trap that is indeed impossible to escape.  You can take any
male on the face of this Earth and put them through hell for a while, maybe
compromise thier manhood several times, and you'll find that in some way or
another they will find a form of expression for stress release, if nothing
else.  For some men it would be something simple and even normal like exercise,
but in some cases their changes are more drastic - which is one of many ways
someone can become confused about their gender identity.  This state of
confusion can last for an agonizingly long period of time, but once said male
becomes comfortable with a role he is very likely to *keep* that role and aim
for renewed stability while he explores his modified gender identity.

Ranma was *definately* in the confused/experimental phase in the beginning of
this fanfic, but now that he (she) has come to like her role she is free to try
to assume it full force.  Her clinging manhood will provide un-ending conflict
until it is back in control, has surrendered to feminimity, or is forced to
accept a middle ground somewhere.  In another words, Ranma's going to be going
through hell for a while and the normal laws of characterization don't apply to
her as she is learning how to be someone totally new.  I would not be surprised
at all if Ranma totally surrendered to feminimity and kept the girl facade up
indefinately, but the way things are at the end of chapter 7 she also has some
potential to backfire and reclaim at least a little masculinity.

These types of things are never easy for anyone.  They are not easy to define,
to predict, to study, and they are *definately* not easy to experience.  If
someone like Ranma began to experiment with their full sexuality they could end
up being male, female, or anywhere in between, but one thing is for certain -
they would very much be "out of character".  Confusion is a *very* powerful
emotion.  It can lead to indecision, but it can also lead one to say and do
things they would not do if they really understood what was going on with their
lives.  I could keep going for pages discussing sexuality and masculinity vs
feminimity as it is a subject I understand more than I would like, but I've made
my point, whatever it was.


After 20 minutes of reading over the above message and considering whether to
trash it or send it, I still haven't deleted it so I'm sending it.  I'm also
going to hold a no-arguments policy on this one - meaning I am not going to
defend my viewpoints on the ML should they be challenged.  I've found that
policy to be quite useful in getting threads cut short after a few viewpoints
have been expressed... I've also been awake for a very long time (24 hours now)
so if my arguments seemed weak or if I seemed overly cautious my apologies in
advance.  I tread on this subject lightly.  Well, my ramblings are about done so
I'm going to see what I can do to keep me awake longer... I'm supposed to 'wake
up' in 3 hours... ErK...
-- 
Draxon-X@Bellsouth.Net

           Writer, Reviewer, and worshipper of the Red-Haired goddess.
                              Long live Nene Romanova!
"I don't know what's wrong with you, but I think I can probably make it a lot
worse."
                          --Ryouga Hibiki, A Demon's Delight