In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

Month: January 2009

One of these things is not like the others…

Ann Coulter: “[Single motherhood] is a recipe to create criminals, strippers, rapists, murderers.”

What doesn’t match, kids?

My favorite section, though, is this one:

COULTER: No, those are different chapters and completely different points. You are conflating two things that have nothing to do with one another. The point is, in — on the Alicia Keys and Barack Obama, it is that all of these children of a black father who abandoned them and a white mother who raised them, they all identify with the ethnicity of their black fathers to establish victimhood status in America.

COLMES: And you accuse them of insulting —

COULTER: Because that is how you get ahead in America, by being a victim.

COLMES: And you accuse them of insulting the women who struggled to raise them.

COULTER: Correct.

COLMES: Yet you have insulted them by calling them strippers.

COULTER: No, I didn’t call the mothers strippers.

HANNITY: Oh, my goodness.

COULTER: I said that this is a recipe for creating — and it is, it is a fact —

COLMES: Oh, their kids are strippers. OK.

COULTER: Yes, and they will be, and that is a fact. You liberals pretend you care about facts.

So good.

(And yes, I know I shouldn’t be giving Coulter any attention, but this was just too funny — “All children of single mothers will be strippers, and that’s a FACT!” cannot be beat. Although I could have lived without Colmes’s buying into Coulter’s frame that being a stripper is just as bad as being a murderer, rapist or criminal).

Tell Congress to Vote for Fair Pay

So just a couple of hours ago, I put up a post about how Obama and Congress are expected to act quickly on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  I didn’t realize just quite how timely I was being, because this email from the Feminist  Majority just landed in my inbox:

We have just learned the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act will be the first votes of the new House. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed the House in the last Congress, but Republicans filibustered the bill and prevented a vote in the Senate. Ledbetter corrects the Supreme Court decision that gutted the ability of women workers to sue for wage discrimination.

The Paycheck Fairness Act also passed the House in the last Congress, but was never sent to the Senate floor. This Act would deter wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and by barring retaliation against workers who disclose their wages.

Let’s start the new Congress off with a vote for women’s rights. Tell your Representative to vote yes for women’s wages. Employed women need your Representative’s yes vote on these critical bills!

Well I’ll be damned.  For those who don’t know, the 111th Congress is beings sworn in today.  And if this really is the first vote they handle, it will be a hugely symbolic measure.  Go email your representative now.

New anti-prostitution laws will put women in danger

A guest post by Caroline Shepherd.

Hi Feministers, I’m Caroline Shepherd and I blog at Better burn that dress, sister. Jill has very kindly given me a guest spot to tell you all what’s happening to the prostitution laws in England and Wales right now – they’re set to change, and not in a good way.

Let me tell you about the laws as they are now: selling sex in England and Wales is legal, but the associated activities are not. For example, ‘causing’ or ‘inciting’ prostitution is illegal. Loitering on the street, soliciting basically, is illegal too. So is running a brothel and persistent kerb-crawling. Wiki has a useful page if you want a bit more info. These laws as they are far from ideal; a look back at the attacks of sex workers in England reported in the media this year alone very clearly demonstrate their vulnerability –

These are the cases that made it to court and the papers, God knows how many attacks happen that don’t even make it to the police station. Clearly, there is a group of women in society that are being completely and utterly let down by the law.

And it’s set to get worse.

Read More…Read More…

Obama Plans Action on Discriminatory Supreme Court Ruling

While I wrote yesterday about how the Congressional Democrats may be planning to drag their feet on the issue of stem cell research, there is better news.  It’s being speculated that they plan to take swift action on the issue of the Lilly Ledbetter decision and equal pay.  The Ledbetter decision ruled that one could not sue for pay discrimination if it began more than 180 days prior — rather than each new paycheck being considered a new act of discrimination — even if the party being discriminated against was not previously aware of the discrimination.

As a senator, Mr. Obama was a co-sponsor of a bill to overturn the Supreme Court decision. In the final presidential debate, he said he would appoint judges who understood the struggles of “real-world folks” like Ms. Ledbetter.

The legislation would essentially relax the statute of limitations under various civil rights laws, giving people more time to file charges. President Bush threatened to veto the bill, but Mr. Obama is eager to sign it.

“Obama said he would see me in the White House when he signs the bill,” Ms. Ledbetter said in an interview.

Mr. Obama describes the bill as part of a broader effort by his incoming administration to “update the social contract,” reinvigorate civil rights and close the pay gap between men and women.

As the NY Times outlines, the Ledbetter ruling has had incredibly wide-reaching, and increasingly outrageous, effects beyond just equal pay:

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reached a similar conclusion in a lawsuit by blacks who had applied unsuccessfully for jobs as firefighters in Chicago. Judge Richard A. Posner cited the Ledbetter case in rejecting their contention that they were victims of a “continuing violation” of the civil rights law.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit extended this logic to a housing discrimination case in Idaho. The ruling significantly limits the ability of plaintiffs to enforce their rights under the Fair Housing Act.

The Idaho plaintiff, Noll Garcia, uses a wheelchair. He said his apartment violated federal standards because it was not readily accessible. Under the law, he had two years to challenge a “discriminatory housing practice” in court.

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, writing for the majority, said this two-year period began when construction of the building was complete. Mr. Garcia lost out because he filed suit in 2003 — within two years of renting the apartment, but 10 years after it was built.

As could have been easily anticipated — if not to this ludicrous extent — the ruling is being used to uphold oppression by protecting those who blatantly flaunt anti-discrimination laws.  People being discriminated against are seemingly being asked to take responsibility for that discrimination (rather than, you know, the ones doing the discriminating), and even worse, it includes situations where they cannot possibly win.

Let’s hope the speculation is correct, and the law that will repair this mess is quickly passed.

Congressional Democrats Debate How to End Stem Cell Research Ban

Congressional Democrats, at least apparently and thankfully determined to end the ban on stem cell research, are debating how to best go about it:

Both President-elect Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders have made repealing Bush administration restrictions announced in 2001 a top priority. But they have yet to determine if Mr. Obama should quickly put his stamp on the issue by way of presidential directive, or if Congress should write a permanent policy into statute.

The debate is not academic. Democrats who oppose abortion say such a legislative fight holds the potential to get the year off to a difficult beginning, even though the outcome is certain given solid majorities in both the House and the Senate for expanded embryonic stem cell research.

“It is a very divisive issue, and it is a tough way to start,” said Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat from Nebraska. “You don’t want to stumble out of the box.”

In addition, many of the Democratic gains in Congress, particularly in the House, have come in more conservative areas, with strategists estimating that up to 70 Democrats could find themselves in competitive races in 2010. Those potentially vulnerable lawmakers provide another consideration for leaders weighing whether to set an early test vote on what for some is a politically sensitive subject back home.

At the same time, officials note that increasing federal spending on stem cell research is widely popular and has been a signature issue for Congressional Democrats in the last two elections, helping them defeat Republicans opposed to the concept. Many lawmakers would like to see it through to its legislative conclusion.

All I can say is that if the Dems are currently wringing their hands over an issue that can only be considered quite peripheral to the abortion debate, and worrying about whether to take an action that is overwhelmingly favored by Americans of all stripes but especially Democrats — largely because before the term has even begun they’re already concerned about reelection — well, wow.  We’re in for a bumpy ride.

Really, the idea that we’d rather just sit back and let people die than do research on cells that that get passed by women all the damn time without them even knowing about it, the same cells that were often going to get thrown away anyway, makes me want to weep for humanity.  But still, Congressional Democrats are worried to upset the “Sanctity of Life” asshole minority?  It never ends, does it?

I guess this is what happens when the Democrats run anti-choice candidates, now isn’t it?

Shameless Self-Promotion Sunday

Post a short description of something you’ve written this week, along with a link. Make it specific — don’t just post to your whole blog.

And just a short PSA: I have contracted some sort of bubonic plague and haven’t left my bed in four days (today I finally ventured into the shower, which was great). I also have the headache from Hell, so I’m not spending a whole ton of time looking at my computer. That means comment moderation might be slow, especially for comments that include a lot of links. Please be patient. One of us will get to the mod queue eventually.

Happy New Year, and self-promote away.

Book Club: So Many Ways to Sleep Badly

I guess this would be a good time to ‘fess up that I’ve never actually led a book club before. But I read a lot – that counts for something, right?

Anyway, today we’re discussing So Many Ways to Sleep Badly by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore. I’ll start off by pointing out a few things I thought were interesting:

1. I felt like the most prevalent theme in the book was that of broken bodies. All through the story, Mattilda (the character, not the author – remember that this book is a novel and not a memoir, so we should start with the assumption that everything is fiction) complains of myriad aches, pains, illnesses, and injuries. If it isn’t the sinuses, it’s the hypoglycemia. If it isn’t the hypoglycemia, it’s the fibromyalgia. If it’s not fibromyalgia, it’s the jock itch or headaches or digestion problems or unexplained pain. As she deals with all these problems, the narrator makes it clear that views her body as a malfunctioning, high-maintenance machine – and that the incest she suffered as a child is a large part of that perception. On page 70, she writes, “My forearms are burning, why am I so fucking fragile? I’ll give you three choices: a. incest, b. incest, c. incest.” And on page 183: “I want to tell Rue that none of my pants fit either, but I can’t. I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s scarier than talking about incest, or maybe it is talking about incest – hiding and hating my body, poor helpless body.” What do you think is the connection here? Why are physical pain and sexual abuse so inextricably linked?

2. Although overall, I really liked the body theme, certain parts of it annoyed me – namely the narrator’s constant sarcastic tone when describing her ailments, and her reliance on alternative medicine like yoga, chi gung, acupuncture, and herbal remedies. The novel is fiercely critical of mainstream culture (more on that below), and yet the narrator steeps herself in trendy remedies that are contingent on class privilege, money, and a willingness to appropriate other cultures. What did you think of the narrator’s lack of self-awareness there?

3. Also on bodies: trying to sleep is another big theme in the novel. I don’t think Mattilda gets one good night’s sleep in the entire book. The title of the book points to this theme, so obviously it’s a big one – how do you think it ties in to all the other threads?

4. How about that narration style, huh? Michelle Tea says that Sycamore “makes stream-of-consciousness a lifestyle, a state-of-consciousness.” Did you feel like the style helped or hurt the story? It’s interesting how she uses events like the Iraq war to mark time, but it still feels like sections of the novel take place over a matter of weeks when, in fact, years are passing. Also, notice how Jeremy sort of fades out over the course of the second half? It’s very poignant when you realize that, after their rocky relationship and unstable friendship, he’s just not really present in her life anymore.

5. Politics – especially criticizing mainstream gay culture – play a huge part in Mattilda’s life and identity. On page 121, Sycamore describes “the worst Gay Shame meeting ever:” “People talking about not wanting to critique the community. I mean, we started Gay Shame to challenge the hypocrisy of gay spaces, and now people embrace the new hipster spot like it’s salvation. I’ve done my time getting smashed in terrible gay bars, but I’ve never thought that was community. Benjamin and Ralowe have been talking about leaving the group for awhile, but it’s the first time I think about it too.” In another part – sorry, I can’t find the page – she describes seeing gay and lesbian couples lining up outside city hall to get married, and describes it as the “most depressing thing ever.” I felt torn about this – on the one hand, genderqueer and trans communities have been thrown under the bus multiple times by gay and lesbian communities. On the other hand, at what point do you go from critiquing a community’s treatment of you to claiming that your way of life is superior to theirs? Did anyone else pick up a judgmental tone, or am I totally projecting? (And as a straight, cisgendered woman, do I even have a right to weigh in on this?)

6. I loved the dream sequences in the book. “Fish Tank” was by far my favorite chapter.

7. Here’s a line on page 113 that I loved: “The trick’s cute enough, I push him up on the kitchen counter, I’m grinding against him and he says let me ask you a question: are you gay? These people. Later, he says: what do you do for a living?”

So those are some things that I noticed. Thoughts?

Creature Comforts and Other Weekend Reads

CREATURE COMFORTS: We see a working dog at the grocery store about once a week that has really fascinated my son Ethan. The dog has shown up over the last few months with various folks who appear to be training or actively working with the dog in his harness to navigate the bazillion carts clogging the aisles and get his subject through checkout and back to the car.

Because it’s been such an interest for E, it was serendipitous that an article on the very subject showed up in the NYTimes this week about the apparent controversy over working animals. The controversy surrounds the definitions of “disability,” “working animal” and the “tasks” they perform, as well as the ability of the animals’ subjects’ ability to describe why the animals are necessary on outings to stores, restaurants, and on public transportation, even though their subjects may not be the most qualified to describe their needs and tasks in clinical terms. Dogs appear to be most socially acceptable to public officials, over other working animals such as miniature horses and primates, and are doing what they can to make dogs the only acceptable working animals.

My most pressing question after reading this excellent article is why an animal who is not a dog but is trained, disease-free, happy, and well-treated, should be prevented from helping an individual with a mental or physical disability gain better access to equal opportunity?

*** UPDATE: Evil Fizz points out in the comments that the author of the article, Rebecca Skloot, is also a blogger who is updating and answering questions about the article here and here. Of particular interest is an impressive video on the training of Panda, the working horse pictured above. ***

ALSO ON ANIMALS, but really about shitting on single moms (again), Dear Prudence rounds up her best and worst of 2008 and singles out young, single moms as irresponsible rubes that don’t understand their own impulses even as she’s being criticized for doing just that in the original article. If you read the original, the subject is “Pitbulls and Toddlers Make Me Nervous When They Hang Out Together,” but Prudence reads, “The Real Issue is That The Toddler’s Mom Gave Birth Before I Am Socially Comfortable With Single Parents, So Let’s Make The Dog Thing About That.”

The biggest lesson learned is not to write Dear Prudence if you’re a parent before the age of thirty.

WHAT WOMEN WANT: At Jack & Jill Politics, the results of a survey by YWCA on what women want from the Obama administration.

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE?: At Body Impolitic, thoughts on porn and the passing of Bettie Page.

WOMEN, AGING, AND WORK: Octogalore on Jennifer Aniston “feeling at ease with her age” when that means getting naked for a photo-shoot, and on women in positions of political power when they are placed there rather than being elected.

MENSTRUATION RULES MY SHOPPING HABITS: Marketing brown diamonds as “chocolate diamonds,” because women will buy anything chocolate.

A CLASS ABOVE: A college education may move out of reach for most of the U.S. Also, an international conversation on women, motherhood, and workplace mobility.

DO IT FOR THE KIDS: For nature-lovers and ecoists, this picture- and trivia-heavy blog may become one of your new favorites. My nine-year-old and I talk about the pictures and ideas featured on an almost nightly basis.

ONO, RACISM, AND SEXISM, OH MY!: And finally, if you haven’t been following Cara’s series on Yoko Ono, you really should be. Even though I’m not a die hard Beatles fan like Cara is, I’m absolutely fascinated by her analysis of Yoko Ono’s place in history and how easily Ono’s story narrates commonplace sexism and racism in action that ultimately colors Ono’s own legacy as well as that of John Lennon’s. [Intro, Part I, Part II, Part III, and more in queue.]

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Rapes Go Ignored By Kenyan Police

Trigger Warning

This article about unperformed rape investigations in Kenya is a few weeks old, but still outrageous and heartbreaking.

Hundreds of Kenyan women have reported being raped during ethnic clashes that left more than 1,300 people dead over the course of two months.

The actual number of rapes committed likely totals over 3,000 according to the Federation of Women Lawyers – Kenya, which is known as FIDA.

A year later, police have brought just four cases to court.

Earlier this fall the odds of justice for victims seemed much better.

At that point, Kenya seemed set to break new ground in a region where sexual violence coupled with vast political violence has long met with official indifference. The combination of a combative civil society, international pressure and the threat of a referral to the International Criminal Court had encouraged hundreds of women to speak up.

Why aren’t cases being prosecuted?  As is almost always the case, it seems to be a lack of will.

Kenya police and the Federation of Women Lawyers launched an all-women task force to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence. With a victim’s consent, the force would be able to access hundreds of DNA samples collected during the violence and analyzed with equipment donated from the United States.

“That evidence would be very conclusive if only the police are able to match it with suspects,” said Teresa Omondi, programs manager at the gender violence recovery center at Nairobi Women’s Hospital. “If they visited the hospital they would be given samples but no police officer has come as of yet.”

Last month, however, the Federation of Women Lawyers left the task force, saying the police had excluded them from the investigation and implying they had concerns over the safety of witnesses.

“It was a very uncomfortable position of telling women we cannot give you any guarantees because the police will not give them to us,” Patricia Nyaundi, the federations’s executive director, said. “Unfortunately you are dealing with a society where, for such cases, the gravity of the offense is lost on people.”

Just three of the 534 DNA samples from the Nairobi Women’s Hospital have been used by private investigators. Women interviewed by Women’s eNews said police had not begun investigating their cases, reported nearly a year ago.

In other words, this whole task force was seemingly a ruse to make it look like something was being done about these atrocities and human rights violations when nothing was intended to be done at all.  With many police accused in the rapes as well as hundred of murders, they have little motivation to do investigations that will likely implicate themselves or their friends in heinous crimes.  The whole damn things screams of both high and low level cover up.

Here’s one outrageous statement of dismissal from not just any old police officer, but a police spokesperson:

“Investigation is a tedious, painstaking exercise,” said Kenya police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe, who said international attention to the rape charges was overheated. “When you hear some of these stories, they are very, very annoying. It is only that the international community are so gullible.”

Yes, yes, I’m sure that stories like the ones told in the article of women being raped by up to 20 men, raped by police officers, raped in front of their children, or raped so brutally that they died from the injuries, are very, very boring to the men who have the power to do something about bringing the perpetrators to justice.

I don’t know what else to say other than that this is straight up instituionalized misogyny and rape culture.  And I wish I had an answer.

ETA: In addition to wishing I had the answer, I’m also eager for us to come up with one.  Does anyone know what a reasonable action would be on this issue?  Can the U.N. do something?  If so, is there a particular office we ought to write to?  If anyone knows, please leave answers in the comments.