Bem's wisdom on  the subjects of masculinity, femininity, androgyny and feminist child rearing after the jump.

It is a sad day for fans of the incomparable Bea Arthur, who died of cancer Saturday. Arthur was revolutionary on so many fronts, on both stage and screen, bringing feminist issues like abortion and ageism to light while crushing gender stereotypes. She proved the snake eye, a commanding voice and a confident swagger were just as fit for the ladies as they were for the fellas. She played funny, smart and unrelenting sarcasm to a tee. She was one of a kind. She will be missed.

Most people, regardless of gender, are born with 206 bones. Experts say human beings have between 640 and 850 muscles (they’re so difficult to count, a precise tally is impossible). Boy, girl, and in-between, we all share the same number of eyes, appendages, nerve endings. We have the same instincts—if we touch a hot stove, we pull away; if something is thrown unexpectedly at us, we duck.