[Greenbuilding] Virgin Steel

[Beatrice Dohrn]

This list is an interesting place to swat someone down on none other than the authority of the steel institute.  I don’t know much about them, but I’d venture to say that if all of us waited for them and their counterparts in places of power to give us permission to change the culture, we’d be waiting a long time.  (Translation: if you want to get in bed with them, go ahead.  I’ll laugh while they stick their shaft.....) 


Meanwhile the list is willing to propose altering the culture’s m.o. on  just about everything else. Changing the language IS changing the culture.  Given all the thoughtful responses on this list to almost anything, I’d be pretty disappointed if nothing better than a defensive reflex comes from the comment about “virgin steel.”  I go through my life and career on construction sites speaking up every time I hear sexism – even the stuff that’s hard to recognize.  More of you – especially of the male persuasion who are present when none of us are, ought to have the clit to do the same!  

Bravo Jeannie, you are right – the term carries baggage that we ought to abandon. 


Beatrice Dohrn

 On Fri, 5/2/08, GSAVP at aol.com <GSAVP at aol.com> wrote:> From: GSAVP at aol.com <GSAVP at aol.com>> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Virgin Steel> To: jeannie at babb.com, Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org> Date: Friday, May 2, 2008, 8:51 AM> Jeannie:>  > I suggest you contact the Steel Institute, and have them> revise their  > definition. I have never met anyone with your take on> "Virgin" and "recycled",  from > a positive / negative perspective. As for your reference> toward women - got  > anything stronger to comment on with respect to> terminology? >  > FYI - Both men and women are born virgins. >  > Gene Lisa>  > . >  >  > In a message dated 5/2/2008 8:45:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight> Time,  > jeannie at babb.com writes:> > I've  said it before, but I don't think we should> term non-recycled  products> 'virgin.'  It implies something good about new> production  (that is somehow> more 'pure' or 'pristine,' which is not> particularly true)  and it implies> something very
 negative about recycled products AND also > about women.  This> is the 21st century so I hope nobody still believes  that> women who have sex> (you know, like your wife and your mother) are  somehow> tainted, used, dirty> or otherwise less than  'virginal.'> > > Jeannie> > > -----Original Message-----> From:  greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org]  On Behalf> Of GSAVP at aol.com> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 8:23 AM> To:  Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org> Subject: [Greenbuilding] Virgin  Steel> > > Good Morning:> > Anyone know where I can buy "Virgin"  Steel with> no recycled content, and if> > there is a premium price for  this?> > Eugene M  Lisa> Verde Interior Products> 7601 Village  Green Drive> Winter Park, FL   32792> www.verdeproducts.com> 407-230-4196 (Cell) - Preferred   Contact> 407-678-5768 ( Call First) -   Fax> > > > > **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get > new twists on family
 > favorites at AOL Food.       > (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)> _______________________________________________> Greenbuilding  email list> Environmentally-preferable design,  construction, building> elements> List  info:> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org> List  email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org> Managed by BuildingGreen, Inc. > http://www.buildinggreen.com> publisher of  Environmental Building News and GreenSpec> Hosted and archived by REPP /  CREST http://www.crest.org> To get on the list:> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org> or> mailto:greenbuilding-request at listserv.repp.org?subject=unsubscribe> To  get off the list:> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.org> or > mailto:greenbuilding-request at listserv.repp.org?subject=unsubscribe> > > > > > > **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get> new
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