Men Must Engender Greater Individuality

Re “Uncarnal Knowledge” (May 2): Human beings are many things. They are their profession, their political party, their gender, their citizenry, their ancestry, their religion, someone’s spouse, someone’s child.

The list goes on and on. It is unfortunate that men identify themselves first and foremost, if not completely, with their gender.

It seems to me that is why men find it hard to have friendships with women. Their gender overshadows their individuality. A male encounters another male--competition; a male encounters a female--sexual tension.

We are individuals, and individuality should be the first thing we identify ourselves with. If we could put our gender second or third, I think our society would be a little less sex-mad and a little less uptight overall.

KATHERINE CHILJAN

Northridge