Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
THIS is the face of modern capitalism. I'm speechless.
"Here's a guerrilla marketing technique that goes far beyond KFC's advertising of the Double Down on the butts of college co-eds. A clothing store in New Zealand is using plates installed on benches to imprint their ad onto the back of bare legs..... 'We put indented plates on bus stop, mall, and park benches, so that when people sat down, the message was imprinted on their thighs. This meant that as well as having branded seats, a veritable army of free media was created, with thousands of imprints being created and lasting up to an hour.'" I'll tell you what: if I'm ever in the ole' NZ, I'll make a point to pitch a fit if I come across one of these.
You may be asking about the connection to feminism, but I assure you this has everything to do with objectification. We are being targeted as walking billboards. People will be gawking at our legs. This is almost as bad as those shorts with writing on the ass. Sure, we have been targeted before with every brand-name proclamation t-shirt on the market, but this is worse. This invades our bodies. And these companies are banking on women, because we are more likely (because of the limited options in stores and because of our acculturation) to be walking about bare-thighed. I'm fuming.
Source.
As per Body Image Week:
Thin Privilege Checklist
- I can be sure that people aren’t embarrassed to be seen with me because of the size of my body.
- If I pick up a magazine or watch T.V. I will see bodies that look like mine that aren’t being lampooned, desexualized, or used to signify laziness, ignorance, or lack of self-control.
- When I talk about the size of my body I can be certain that few other people will hope they are never the same size.
- I do not have to be afraid that when I talk to my friends or family they will mention the size of my body in a critical manner, or suggest unsolicited diet products and exercise programs.
- I will not be accused of being emotionally troubled or in psychological denial because of the size of my body.
- I can go home from meetings, classes, and conversations and not feel excluded, fearful, attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped, or feared because of the size of my body.
- I never have to speak for size acceptance as a movement. My thoughts about my body can be my own with no need for political alliance relative to size.
- I can be sure that when I go to a class, or movie, or restaurant that I will find a place to sit in which I am relatively comfortable.
- I don’t have to worry that if I am talking about feeling of sexual attraction people are repelled or disgusted by the size of my body. People can imagine me in sexual circumstances.
- People won’t ask me why I don’t change the size of my body.
- My masculinity or femininity will not be challenged because of the size of my body.
- I can be sure that if I need medical or legal help my size will not work against me.
- I am not identified by the size of my body.
- I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double take or stare.
- I can go for months without thinking about or being spoken to about the size of my body.
- I am not grouped because of the size of my body.
- I will never have to sit quietly and listen while other people talk about the ways in which they avoid being my size.
- I don’t have to worry that won’t be hired for a job that I can do because of the size of my body.
- Source.
Right to Choose or Right to Lose?
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| All I can say is 'Thank God this trash is being taken down.' |
An excerpt from a male proponent of Planned Parenthood justice: "I don’t understand how these issues are still simply referred to as “women’s issues.” The destinies of men and women are intertwined by sex, and pregnancy, and childbirth. It is time for more men to sack up and start taking responsibility for their end of the conversation. These “women’s issues” have shaped my life: my birth, my adulthood and the children for which I am forever grateful. So yes, I support women’s health programs and a woman’s right to choose."
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
South Dakota, you scared me there.
Ole SD has shelved the bill I mentioned about last week.
Says the NY Times: "The House speaker, Val Rausch, said that the legislation had been shelved, pending a decision on whether to allow a vote, amend the language or drop it entirely. A spokesman for Gov. Dennis Daugaard said, 'Clearly the bill as it’s currently written is a very bad idea.'"
Says the NY Times: "The House speaker, Val Rausch, said that the legislation had been shelved, pending a decision on whether to allow a vote, amend the language or drop it entirely. A spokesman for Gov. Dennis Daugaard said, 'Clearly the bill as it’s currently written is a very bad idea.'"
Birth control for horses, not for humans
"Wanted to share with you all this little bit of irony.
It seems our lovely government is fine with supporting birth control for wild horses, but not for women.
That’s right. On the same day they are voting to de-fund birth control and family planning for all women in America they have also decided by unanimous consent to give birth control to wild horses."
Understandably horses are not the world's smartest or most able family planners (and as such may need to have this done for them), but humans have the capacity to be, if we are allowed the resources.
It seems our lovely government is fine with supporting birth control for wild horses, but not for women.
That’s right. On the same day they are voting to de-fund birth control and family planning for all women in America they have also decided by unanimous consent to give birth control to wild horses."
Understandably horses are not the world's smartest or most able family planners (and as such may need to have this done for them), but humans have the capacity to be, if we are allowed the resources.
Facebook recognizes civil unions and domestic partnerships
Link to entire Feministing article here.
"Functionally the change is minor to unimportant, from a societal standpoint it moves Facebook alongside some 35 plus countries in recognizing, in some form, non-traditional relationships.
Is it appropriate to talk about Facebook in country scale terms of influence? With 600,000,000 users, its population is only behind those of the physical populations of China and India, and is nearly twice that of the United States. That said, the two new options are reported to be limited to users in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France and Australia, before we rush to name Facebook a vanguard of social change. The country list actually makes little sense, it does not align neatly to the list of countries that actually legally recognize such unions.
And of course following that, the 15,000,000 Facebook users in the Middle East and Northern Africa, where homosexuality is largely a crime with penalties ranging from jail time to the death penalty, will not be seeing this option."
Monday, February 21, 2011
Today I learned about Jackie Mitchell
...and about Babe Ruth's lack of faith in women.
Taken from Mitchell's Wikipedia page:
"Seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell, brought in to pitch in the first inning after the starting pitcher had given up a double and a single, faced Babe Ruth. After taking a ball, Ruth swung and missed at the next two pitches. Mitchell's fourth pitch to Ruth was a called third strike. Ruth slammed down his bat and yelled at the umpire before returning to the Yankees bench saying that will be the last time he will bat against a woman. The crowd roared for her. Everybody was stunned. Babe Ruth was quoted in a Chattanooga newspaper as having said: "I don't know what's going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball. Of course, they will never make good. Why? Because they are too delicate. It would kill them to play ball every day."
Next up was Lou Gehrig, who swung through the first three pitches to strike out.
A few days after Mitchell struck out Ruth and Gehrig, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis voided her contract and declared women unfit to play baseball as the game was "too strenuous"."
Women's History Month is fast approaching and I wanted to commemorate one of the greats early.
Taken from Mitchell's Wikipedia page:
"Seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell, brought in to pitch in the first inning after the starting pitcher had given up a double and a single, faced Babe Ruth. After taking a ball, Ruth swung and missed at the next two pitches. Mitchell's fourth pitch to Ruth was a called third strike. Ruth slammed down his bat and yelled at the umpire before returning to the Yankees bench saying that will be the last time he will bat against a woman. The crowd roared for her. Everybody was stunned. Babe Ruth was quoted in a Chattanooga newspaper as having said: "I don't know what's going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball. Of course, they will never make good. Why? Because they are too delicate. It would kill them to play ball every day."
Next up was Lou Gehrig, who swung through the first three pitches to strike out.
A few days after Mitchell struck out Ruth and Gehrig, baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis voided her contract and declared women unfit to play baseball as the game was "too strenuous"."
Women's History Month is fast approaching and I wanted to commemorate one of the greats early.
Gender: social construction:: Sex: ?
We are categorized before we're even born. Biological sex is an immediate outward appearance that, as a determinant, will rule us (or attempt to do so) for the rest of our lives.
Pop quiz: What's the first question we ask an expecting mother?
Answer: Are you having a boy or a girl? (Unless we first ask "How far along are you?" as an opener, which is rare.)
Not, "Is your baby healthy?"or "How are you coping?"
We want immediate categorization, immediate relief from the unknown. We want to have our own voyeuristic pleasure in planning the baby's future. "Boy, you say? Oh, I'm sure he'll make a great doctor like his father."
I used to think parents were strange if they refused to want to know the sex of their baby before it is born. I thought, "How on Earth will they prepare?" What I was really thinking: "They need to know what color clothes to buy, what sort of toys...."
Even if parents want to be surprised until birth day, the delivery nurse will ascertain any suspicions, proudly proclaiming, "It's a boy/girl!" after labor.
In the case of hermaphroditic children, chances are the docs will push the parents to 'choose' their child's sex, as if this will have a concrete effect on their gender as well. "Well we have always wanted a girl, so..." Snip! And does this mean the parents have always wanted a female child or a child who 'acts' female? Or both?
Similarly, I've been in the following situation a number of times: I'll see a cute baby and want to, for lack of a better word, congratulate its mother. (The more I think about this, the more disgusted I am at myself.) In essence, I want to say, "Oh, parent, what a good procreative job you've done. What a service to this world. Your child is so physically attractive."
(On the same terms, if the baby is repulsive looking, I uncannily have no inclination to remind the parent.)
So. Cute baby. Must tell mom or dad. But I'm not sure of the sex. The child is wearing no pink, no blue, has no little baseball cap on, or overalls, the child's hair is not curled or in pigtails. It's just an 'it'. But that's so informal. So impersonal.
"So, uh, is that a boy or a girl?" Not exactly what a parent wants to hear. 'Isn't it obvious, you dolt?? After nine months of gestation and sleepless nights once the baby was finally out, you greet me with that?'
Lemme break it down: a child 'without' a sex is almost not a person anymore. It's a sexless object, of which the idea is nearly frightening. The parent would be ashamed if I asked or showed any indication of not being sure to which sexual category their child belonged. And where does said shame come from? From the need to belong. Even if it's to a feloniously constructed paradigm.
Gender is socially constructed and, because certain genders are paired with certain sexes (heteronormatively speaking), sex is also gendered.
Pop quiz: What's the first question we ask an expecting mother?
Answer: Are you having a boy or a girl? (Unless we first ask "How far along are you?" as an opener, which is rare.)
Not, "Is your baby healthy?"or "How are you coping?"
We want immediate categorization, immediate relief from the unknown. We want to have our own voyeuristic pleasure in planning the baby's future. "Boy, you say? Oh, I'm sure he'll make a great doctor like his father."
I used to think parents were strange if they refused to want to know the sex of their baby before it is born. I thought, "How on Earth will they prepare?" What I was really thinking: "They need to know what color clothes to buy, what sort of toys...."
Even if parents want to be surprised until birth day, the delivery nurse will ascertain any suspicions, proudly proclaiming, "It's a boy/girl!" after labor.
In the case of hermaphroditic children, chances are the docs will push the parents to 'choose' their child's sex, as if this will have a concrete effect on their gender as well. "Well we have always wanted a girl, so..." Snip! And does this mean the parents have always wanted a female child or a child who 'acts' female? Or both?
Similarly, I've been in the following situation a number of times: I'll see a cute baby and want to, for lack of a better word, congratulate its mother. (The more I think about this, the more disgusted I am at myself.) In essence, I want to say, "Oh, parent, what a good procreative job you've done. What a service to this world. Your child is so physically attractive."
(On the same terms, if the baby is repulsive looking, I uncannily have no inclination to remind the parent.)
So. Cute baby. Must tell mom or dad. But I'm not sure of the sex. The child is wearing no pink, no blue, has no little baseball cap on, or overalls, the child's hair is not curled or in pigtails. It's just an 'it'. But that's so informal. So impersonal.
"So, uh, is that a boy or a girl?" Not exactly what a parent wants to hear. 'Isn't it obvious, you dolt?? After nine months of gestation and sleepless nights once the baby was finally out, you greet me with that?'
Lemme break it down: a child 'without' a sex is almost not a person anymore. It's a sexless object, of which the idea is nearly frightening. The parent would be ashamed if I asked or showed any indication of not being sure to which sexual category their child belonged. And where does said shame come from? From the need to belong. Even if it's to a feloniously constructed paradigm.
Gender is socially constructed and, because certain genders are paired with certain sexes (heteronormatively speaking), sex is also gendered.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reproductive Rights Funding (or lack thereof)
The House voted to bar Planned Parenthood from federal funding. They cut funding for HIV tests, cancer screenings, birth control, and more, putting millions of women and families at risk. You can sign an open letter to the reps who voted for this bill -- and to the senators who still have a chance to stop it.
http://www.istandwithplannedparenthood.org/
http://www.istandwithplannedparenthood.org/
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
"Mishandled" is one way of putting it....
Rape in the US Military: filmed getting gang raped, severe bruising, but no investigation because commander says she "did not act like a rape victim" and "did not struggle enough."
Full Yahoo News article here.
Of equal relevance: I stumbled on an internet thread today titled: Do men need to start crying rape more often?
The poster went on to say: "Have you ever thought about how it would be if men cried rape as often as women do? You are sleeping after a night of banging and suddenly she slides up on top of you again. Then you get outraged and call the police because she did not ask first. She goes to jail for a couple of years."
I was furious. The ignorance. The audacity. In this scenario, there is no instance regarding the man not wanting sex or pushing the woman away. He just suddenly "get[s] outraged" later, as if by mental ineptness, and files a case.
My response: "Crying" here denotes 'lying.' No, men should not cry rape. They should approach a sexually abusive situation with legal action when it is true and necessary, as should women. No rape should go unreported, no matter the gender of the victim.
Full Yahoo News article here.
Of equal relevance: I stumbled on an internet thread today titled: Do men need to start crying rape more often?
The poster went on to say: "Have you ever thought about how it would be if men cried rape as often as women do? You are sleeping after a night of banging and suddenly she slides up on top of you again. Then you get outraged and call the police because she did not ask first. She goes to jail for a couple of years."
I was furious. The ignorance. The audacity. In this scenario, there is no instance regarding the man not wanting sex or pushing the woman away. He just suddenly "get[s] outraged" later, as if by mental ineptness, and files a case.
My response: "Crying" here denotes 'lying.' No, men should not cry rape. They should approach a sexually abusive situation with legal action when it is true and necessary, as should women. No rape should go unreported, no matter the gender of the victim.
South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers
"A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions."
Read the entire article here.
Read the entire article here.
Monday, February 14, 2011
I Give a Damn
The Give A Damn Campaign covers issues like marriage, hate crimes, parenting, and suicide in regards to straight advocacy for homosexuals, queers, bisexuals, and transgenders. Spokescelebs include: Cyndi Lauper, Elton John.
Putting Straights in Some Very Fabulous Shoes
A Heterosexual Questionnaire, found here. The last question was given by a commenter.
18. How can troops keep up their morale knowing one of their leaders of the opposite sex is a heterosexual? Don't you feel it would be demoralizing if they were to coerce or force you into sexual acts as your superior, or if they were to stare at you in or out of uniform?
P.S. I don't think this is particularly a feminist issue, but I'm not very keen on consumerist Valentine's Day. I can love anyone whenever I want. To show my affection, I don't have to buy them a gift. I do think, however, there's a bigger push for women than there is for men to 'be sure to be sexy' on Valentine's Day. Enter red sparkling bras and undies that say 'Be Mine' on the ass.
1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
2. When and where did you decide you were a heterosexual?
3. Is it possible this is just a phase and you will out grow it?
4. Is it possible that your sexual orientation has stemmed from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?
5. Do your parents know you are straight? Do your friends know- how did they react?
6. If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it just possible that all you need is a good gay lover?
7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality... can’t you just be who you are and keep it quiet?
8. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?
9. Why do heterosexuals try to recruit others into this lifestyle?
10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual... Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual teachers?
11. Just what do men and women do in bed together? How can they truly know how to please each other, being so anatomically different?
12. With all the societal support marriage receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
13. How can you become a whole person if you limit yourself to compulsive, exclusive heterosexuality?
14. Considering the menace of overpopulation how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?
15. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don't you feel that he or she might be inclined to influence you in the direction of his or her leanings?
16. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to.
17. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?
2. When and where did you decide you were a heterosexual?
3. Is it possible this is just a phase and you will out grow it?
4. Is it possible that your sexual orientation has stemmed from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?
5. Do your parents know you are straight? Do your friends know- how did they react?
6. If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it just possible that all you need is a good gay lover?
7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality... can’t you just be who you are and keep it quiet?
8. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?
9. Why do heterosexuals try to recruit others into this lifestyle?
10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual... Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual teachers?
11. Just what do men and women do in bed together? How can they truly know how to please each other, being so anatomically different?
12. With all the societal support marriage receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
13. How can you become a whole person if you limit yourself to compulsive, exclusive heterosexuality?
14. Considering the menace of overpopulation how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?
15. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don't you feel that he or she might be inclined to influence you in the direction of his or her leanings?
16. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to.
17. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?
P.S. I don't think this is particularly a feminist issue, but I'm not very keen on consumerist Valentine's Day. I can love anyone whenever I want. To show my affection, I don't have to buy them a gift. I do think, however, there's a bigger push for women than there is for men to 'be sure to be sexy' on Valentine's Day. Enter red sparkling bras and undies that say 'Be Mine' on the ass.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
So, um, this is what I want to do with my life.
Expose the fact that even Frank Sinatra could be a misogynist.
Enlighten folks that women directors are misrepresented and underappreciated in Hollywood.
Be silly with seriousness about the 'art' of privilege.
Be a guerrilla girl.
Enlighten folks that women directors are misrepresented and underappreciated in Hollywood.
Be silly with seriousness about the 'art' of privilege.
Be a guerrilla girl.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ever wonder why there's not a 'masculine hygiene' aisle?
The only hygiene items I can think of that are marketed to men are deodorant and toothpaste, and toothpaste isn't gender specific. Males don't need to be 'clean?' I'm sure we've all heard people proclaim in disgust that something or other 'smells like balls.' Are men comfortable in their own scent? Possibly. Should women be comfortable in their own scent? Absolutely. But many are shamed into thinking that if we smell (even if it's 'natural'), we can't be loved. Enter douche sprays, feminine wash, tampons, etc.
What really grinds my gears is the fact that there are marketable 'male'- and 'female'-specific scents. Women: rainforest, berry, flowers. Men: musk, sport.
Let's reiterate. Women: delicacy. Men: aggression, pugnation, exaggeration. Hmm.
A quick perusal of the Old Spice website leads me to conclude that male scents are a form of 'security' in manliness: scents like 'Swagger,' 'Showtime,' and 'Fiji'; you want to smell like confidence and an entire city? How about 'Assured Dominance?' [Don't get me wrong, the Old Spice guy (Isaiah Mustafa) is hilarious and all, but you can't deny the branded stamp of "MAN" all over this brand.] If a man were to wear female deodorant, he would probably get strange looks and maybe even be pegged as a homosexual.
What bothers me the most is the way marketing officials take advantage of women. "Smellin' a little too much like vagina today? Why not smell like flowers? Cover that cunt up, make it go away." Female consumers are comforted by smelling 'fresh.' I've bought into it, too. Truth be told, females most likely play a large role in the male deodorant industry as well: "Hey, boyfriend, I like it when you smell like ____. I'll pick some up for you later."
What really grinds my gears is the fact that there are marketable 'male'- and 'female'-specific scents. Women: rainforest, berry, flowers. Men: musk, sport.
Let's reiterate. Women: delicacy. Men: aggression, pugnation, exaggeration. Hmm.
A quick perusal of the Old Spice website leads me to conclude that male scents are a form of 'security' in manliness: scents like 'Swagger,' 'Showtime,' and 'Fiji'; you want to smell like confidence and an entire city? How about 'Assured Dominance?' [Don't get me wrong, the Old Spice guy (Isaiah Mustafa) is hilarious and all, but you can't deny the branded stamp of "MAN" all over this brand.] If a man were to wear female deodorant, he would probably get strange looks and maybe even be pegged as a homosexual.
What bothers me the most is the way marketing officials take advantage of women. "Smellin' a little too much like vagina today? Why not smell like flowers? Cover that cunt up, make it go away." Female consumers are comforted by smelling 'fresh.' I've bought into it, too. Truth be told, females most likely play a large role in the male deodorant industry as well: "Hey, boyfriend, I like it when you smell like ____. I'll pick some up for you later."
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Lemme break it down for y'all.
Here's a little sum'n sum'n about the Vagina Monologues:
People seem to think this show is only for women. On the contrary. The more men we have attend, the better. Everyone needs to be educated about cunts. The cast is here to dispel the myth that "vagina" is a dirty word. We want people to understand that rape is a horrific tactic of war and imposing silence. Women should get to know their own bodies; you spend your whole life within it, might as well give it the time of day. Know how you work. Know how to manipulate yourself for pleasure. Learn to find power between your legs.
This is not to say that we are equating women only with their vaginas. Women should be empowered by their entire beings, their sex, their gender. So should men [but the discrepancy level between men and women's self esteem is vast]. We should all be aware of the privileges we hold based on our races, classes, ethnicities, etc. This show is about banding together and finding peace within community.
Our performances are dedicated to all people who've never had a voice because they've been oppressed due to the aforementioned marginalized categories. We want our audience to find their voices and use them to stand up against injustice.
Oppression begets silence, silence begets oppression.
Love yourself first. Do that and you can change the world.
People seem to think this show is only for women. On the contrary. The more men we have attend, the better. Everyone needs to be educated about cunts. The cast is here to dispel the myth that "vagina" is a dirty word. We want people to understand that rape is a horrific tactic of war and imposing silence. Women should get to know their own bodies; you spend your whole life within it, might as well give it the time of day. Know how you work. Know how to manipulate yourself for pleasure. Learn to find power between your legs.
This is not to say that we are equating women only with their vaginas. Women should be empowered by their entire beings, their sex, their gender. So should men [but the discrepancy level between men and women's self esteem is vast]. We should all be aware of the privileges we hold based on our races, classes, ethnicities, etc. This show is about banding together and finding peace within community.
Our performances are dedicated to all people who've never had a voice because they've been oppressed due to the aforementioned marginalized categories. We want our audience to find their voices and use them to stand up against injustice.
Oppression begets silence, silence begets oppression.
Love yourself first. Do that and you can change the world.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Stolen
The following blog excerpt was taken from here. I love it very much.
To feminists:
"You get so tired. You get so sick of the homophobia, the sexism, the culture of rape jokes and wife beating cartoons. But today you can take 30 seconds and smile. Somewhere right now there is a daddy dancing along while his femmy boy sings Lady Gaga. Somewhere right now there is a little girl suiting up to go play football with her peewee team. Somewhere there is a woman taking off the clothes she hates and pulling on a pair of pants. And there are boys holding hands in front of Dairy Queen and there are girls on their first date at the mall. There is a mom driving her son to the court so he can change his name from Brittney to Brandon. There is a family supporting their daughter after she reveals sexual abuse. There is a foster parent hesitantly walking into his first PFLAG meeting. And there exists more freedom, more equality, more safety than has ever existed before in the history of humanity. Of course it’s not enough. But it is amazing just the same. And you have done this. This did not happen despite our tears and our sweat, our humiliation and betrayal. This happened because of it.
Keep fighting.
Keep being that “annoying” dude pointing out every sexist remark.
Keep arguing with your [friends] about not saying “fag.”
Keep voting.
Keep protesting.
And don’t you EVER let the other side get you down. They know that wearing you out is all they have left. What they do not know is that because of you, their children are safer. Because of you, our schools talk about bullying. Because of you, sexual harassment is illegal at their place of business.... You're doing it right."
To feminists:
"You get so tired. You get so sick of the homophobia, the sexism, the culture of rape jokes and wife beating cartoons. But today you can take 30 seconds and smile. Somewhere right now there is a daddy dancing along while his femmy boy sings Lady Gaga. Somewhere right now there is a little girl suiting up to go play football with her peewee team. Somewhere there is a woman taking off the clothes she hates and pulling on a pair of pants. And there are boys holding hands in front of Dairy Queen and there are girls on their first date at the mall. There is a mom driving her son to the court so he can change his name from Brittney to Brandon. There is a family supporting their daughter after she reveals sexual abuse. There is a foster parent hesitantly walking into his first PFLAG meeting. And there exists more freedom, more equality, more safety than has ever existed before in the history of humanity. Of course it’s not enough. But it is amazing just the same. And you have done this. This did not happen despite our tears and our sweat, our humiliation and betrayal. This happened because of it.
Keep fighting.
Keep being that “annoying” dude pointing out every sexist remark.
Keep arguing with your [friends] about not saying “fag.”
Keep voting.
Keep protesting.
And don’t you EVER let the other side get you down. They know that wearing you out is all they have left. What they do not know is that because of you, their children are safer. Because of you, our schools talk about bullying. Because of you, sexual harassment is illegal at their place of business.... You're doing it right."
Weekend Update
The Male Privilege Checklist How's the progress?
Should feminists be ashamed? When you hear the term, what comes to mind?
Anti-aging makeup for eight-year-olds. Way to go, Walmart.
Should feminists be ashamed? When you hear the term, what comes to mind?
 |
| Every body type, eh? They all look the same to me. White and thin. |
Anti-aging makeup for eight-year-olds. Way to go, Walmart.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Acrimony of Cunts
This chapter really hit me. I mean truly hit me. I've been through high school hell and back, the cliques, the bullies, the 'friends' who make websites about how stupid you are. Yeah, that last one exists.
We women are an angry bunch. So are men. So are whites, blacks, Christians, Jews and plain ol' any durn faction of Mutha Earth. [Muscio's writing style, for those who've read her, will realize her writing style's beginning to grow on me.] And we have a right to be. Because we're all (yes, even men) oppressed.
But why are women so damn angry at each other? Because it's culturalized, it's engrained, it's normal. Anger against women is praised. We're catty, persnickety cunt haters. All of us, at some level or another. It's societal, almost to the level of brainwashing. Some brave souls have gotten over this problem. But only because they've had the 'bathroom mirror effect,' as Muscio would call it. They've looked deep within themselves, gone through their seven circles of shit, and surfaced realizing why they're angry and who they're angry at [themselves].
We displace our anger. Pawn it off on people who are different from us. I'm guilty of it myself. And it's a hard-assed habit to break.
But
why
bother.
Why fill our lives and minds with hatred and animosity, acrimony and disgust? Social standards, as I'm sure you're aware, must. change. now. And they won't unless self-love and its diffusion becomes reality.
So, you. Yes. YOU. Get OVER yourself. And get on the next train to lovin' someone else.
Signed,
A concerned hippie
We women are an angry bunch. So are men. So are whites, blacks, Christians, Jews and plain ol' any durn faction of Mutha Earth. [Muscio's writing style, for those who've read her, will realize her writing style's beginning to grow on me.] And we have a right to be. Because we're all (yes, even men) oppressed.
But why are women so damn angry at each other? Because it's culturalized, it's engrained, it's normal. Anger against women is praised. We're catty, persnickety cunt haters. All of us, at some level or another. It's societal, almost to the level of brainwashing. Some brave souls have gotten over this problem. But only because they've had the 'bathroom mirror effect,' as Muscio would call it. They've looked deep within themselves, gone through their seven circles of shit, and surfaced realizing why they're angry and who they're angry at [themselves].
We displace our anger. Pawn it off on people who are different from us. I'm guilty of it myself. And it's a hard-assed habit to break.
But
why
bother.
Why fill our lives and minds with hatred and animosity, acrimony and disgust? Social standards, as I'm sure you're aware, must. change. now. And they won't unless self-love and its diffusion becomes reality.
So, you. Yes. YOU. Get OVER yourself. And get on the next train to lovin' someone else.
Signed,
A concerned hippie
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Argh! A response hath been missed! (#10)
1. Yes, I strongly identify as a feminist. To me, feminism is about equality of the sexes, in terms of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. I find that both men and women face unique challenges as a consequence of their gender and gender role expectations. I have experienced sexism first hand (when the bank associate, car sales associate, etc. insist on speaking only to my husband) - and I have observed my husband experience sexism (when daycare centers directed all of their questions towards me, instead of towards my husband) and my children (such as when people cannot believe that I would let my 3 year old son wear his pretty pink princess shoes). I believe that in order for both men and women to experience their full potential, they cannot be limited by gender role expectations.
2. Yes, I think that the term feminism has developed negative connotations - but truthfully, I do not think that changing the term is going to make feminism any more popular. Gender differences are complex and challenging. Science reveals that men and women may be truly, fundamentally different from one another (the obvious example is child birth, but there may be other biological differences in that way that men and women think, learn, and reason). It is so difficult to parse apart nature versus nurture when it comes to this issue. Especially since people are gender socialized from day one (pink for girls, blue for boys). I think that a challenge is that most people are comfortable with their gender role expectations and so there is no motivation to question these expectations or to change them.
3. I think that we need to try and lessen the impact of gender socialization in children. From birth, things are categorized as 'boy' versus 'girl' clothes, toys, etc. Even at McDonald's, the associate happily asks, is that toy for a boy or girl - without any recognition that toy preferences may cut across gender lines. As long as we continue creating highly defined differentiations between males and females, we continue to provide means by which to discriminate against one group or the other.
4. I think that a blog could potentially be used to mobilize, in very specific ways, people who identify as feminists. As for creating new feminists, I do not think that a blog would be very effective. The people who would read such a blog are probably already on board with feminist thinking. Unless it is organized in a very unique and broad reaching manner, I think that such a blog would probably end up 'preaching to the choir.'
5. Minimizing gender socialization and the impact it has on keeping people locked into gender boxes.
2. Yes, I think that the term feminism has developed negative connotations - but truthfully, I do not think that changing the term is going to make feminism any more popular. Gender differences are complex and challenging. Science reveals that men and women may be truly, fundamentally different from one another (the obvious example is child birth, but there may be other biological differences in that way that men and women think, learn, and reason). It is so difficult to parse apart nature versus nurture when it comes to this issue. Especially since people are gender socialized from day one (pink for girls, blue for boys). I think that a challenge is that most people are comfortable with their gender role expectations and so there is no motivation to question these expectations or to change them.
3. I think that we need to try and lessen the impact of gender socialization in children. From birth, things are categorized as 'boy' versus 'girl' clothes, toys, etc. Even at McDonald's, the associate happily asks, is that toy for a boy or girl - without any recognition that toy preferences may cut across gender lines. As long as we continue creating highly defined differentiations between males and females, we continue to provide means by which to discriminate against one group or the other.
4. I think that a blog could potentially be used to mobilize, in very specific ways, people who identify as feminists. As for creating new feminists, I do not think that a blog would be very effective. The people who would read such a blog are probably already on board with feminist thinking. Unless it is organized in a very unique and broad reaching manner, I think that such a blog would probably end up 'preaching to the choir.'
5. Minimizing gender socialization and the impact it has on keeping people locked into gender boxes.
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