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A native of Cairo, Ill. Karen Roberts lived several years in Clearwater, Fla. She now resides in Cape Girardeau.

Though I realize reproductive rights are the number one women's issue in today's world, I would nevertheless like to espouse on an entirely different issue. It affects all females, just as deeply, whether they are of reproductive age or not. I'm speaking here of how female's ideas have never been taken seriously by males.

Any female possessing that rare, but much needed trait high self-esteem will realize early in life that her ideas and opinions are often met with bemusement and condescension by males. I didn't miss the moment in the recent airing of the television saga of "Jackie," the life of the enigmatic First Lady, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, when Jackie asserted to her husband, our 35th president, John F. Kennedy, said (words analogous) "Oh, he didn't take her seriousl~y!"

It's a very common trait, I'm sorry to say of males, in general.

Not taking females seriously seems as innate in males as their taking in and expelling air. Most are quick to deny such sexism, when directly accused but then that's what prejudice is!

As stated in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "Prejudice" is an opinion for or against something without adequate basis."

Cheers, that perennially favorite NBC comedy, rarely runs its weekly course without some female, usually a dalliance of the ever lustful Sam, portrayed succinctly by Ted Danson, being referred to as a bimbo.

Airhead is another common and denigrating name affixed against the female intellect. The truth, of course, is quite the opposite! Females of all ages as just as capable of logic and common sense as males have always alluded to solely possessing!

A very good book on the subject is unfortunately no longer in print, but could probably be secured through a bookfinder. It's called Women of Ideas and What Men have Done to Them by Dale Spender. If it enlightens but a few, a swell as what I've said here, then the written word has once again achieved its goal.