"Is female to Male as Nature is to Culture"

As I read this story I connected many things I've seen and heard in my past. In my sociology class we spoke about the importance for people in China to have male offsprings rather than females. I assume this is because women marry off to their husbands family and no longer care for their own, where as men stay with theirs and continue family business ect.  In all cultures in some way or other women will never be pre-eminent. My culture has its own way of devaluing women in which I never saw this way. When I read 'A taboo still lingers about their coming near sacred objects at this time" [page 8] I remebered and 'old wifes tale' my family always speaks about. A women can not carry or hold a new born child during her menstrual period. I've heard many older people in my family say this and always thought it was ignorance but now I see its another way of devaluing women. I also liked the point made about women not being naturally subordanate. Most women took on the role of a care giver because they were comfortable being taken care of. Not all women are meant to be caregivers or nurturing.