Is "herbwife" an excluding term?

[crabapple]

I asked if it's "excluding" rather than "exclusive" because clearly the word "wife" implies a female person. And that by definition is exclusive.

But my real question is whether men feel excluded by the term, and thus by this site? jim mentioned the gender-specific name of the forum in another conversation, and it's something I wonder about. I hope the name is not keeping men away from this forum. (But then I look around at herb gatherings and see a lopsided gender balance there too...)

Using the name "herbwifery" was my attempt to link to the kind of herbalism that the old-time herbwives practiced (grassroots, neighbor-to-neighbor, serving local communities, easily accessible by all sorts of people), rather than the more well-known herb-doctoring tradition. It was in no way an attempt to exclude men. (My analogy was with midwifery. Men can be midwives, right?)
_________________
Rebecca Hartman
Crabapple Herbs: http://crabappleherbs.com/
The Herbwife's Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/

[jim mcdonald]

its excluding only if, I think, a person wants/chooses to take it that way.

Doesn't bother me at all, anyway, and I don't think that a much good comes from trying to make everything in the world gender/race/culture neutral. There's sometimes a good intent in that, the desire to not exclude, but it just ends up narrowing expression, in the broadest sense of the term, and we're already far to narrow as it is....
_________________
jim mcdonald
~herbalist~
www.herbcraft.org

[kavawaka]

It doesn't bother me either, not to say that it hasn't crossed my mind a few times. I don't mean that whether or not to be bothered crossed my mind, just the fact of the 'wife' part. It's obviously crossed Jim's mind too, to some degree (maybe just good humor), as he commented on it. At first i did wonder if is it really okay to be posting here or if it could it be seen as interfering (figured someone would let me know if that was the case). But Jim and i are here. I think the question would probably apply most to any men who looked at the name and based on that did not bother to look any further or somehow felt ostracized. Of course, they are not here, so it's hard to say. Their loss? Sure. What does it all mean? I don't know.

[Bear_Medicine]

Well, I think it depends on who you're wanting here too... probably you won't get some male herbalists because they'll feel the name is too female-centric. However, it does seem like those males would be the exception, and those who aren't looking deep enough because (as jim mentioned in the other thread) the intent, atmosphere and feel of the forum is quite obvious from nearly any single thread here.
_________________
~*~ Kiva Rose
Anima Lifeways & Herbal School http://animacenter.org
Anima Healing Arts Health & Herbal Clinic:
http://animahealingarts.org
Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference: http://traditionsinwesternherbalism.org

[rosemarygoddess]

I would say there is a voice of herbalism that would not feel welcome here. The point is to decide if you want that voice here or not I know the term herbwifery is not my favorite, and I mentioned this is my introduction. But I chose to translate into language that works for me. The site was started by you Rebecca and this is your bias, which is fine we all have a bias. It resonates with some and not others. My only hope is that difference of perspective is welcome regardless of gender, bias etc.

Blessings
Linda
www.moonwiseherb.scom

[crabapple]

I hope that we can make as many voices and perspectives welcome as possible, while continuing to be respectful of each other's widely varying backgrounds.

I really love the ferment of ideas that happens when people who come from really different perspectives talk to each other. It can be a bit sticky sometimes, but I think it's absolutely worth it.
_________________
Rebecca Hartman
Crabapple Herbs: http://crabappleherbs.com/
The Herbwife's Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/

[teasel]

i notice you put a sticky note in the annoucements section nect to the registration code. this should help men who might not be sure if they should join.

i definitely enjoy the variety of perspectives here.