The post which seemed to resonate with my readers this past week is “Black Folks Have To Call Out Their Own, Too.” http://missincognegro.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/black-folks-have-to-call-out-their-own-too/
I assumed the regular bloggers are operating on a summer schedule. If so, that’s all for the good! Having spent much of the week traveling and gardening, myself, I’ve got just one on-topic post: my speculations on how “emotional affairs” are being constructed as women’s work.
In response to former mag editor Liz Jones’ criticisms of women’s mags, I wondered Are women’s magazines really that bad?” I also happened to publish a story on condom use (or more accurately, the reasons some people don’t use condoms) in a women’s magazine, which happily also published a couple of other feministy articles, on the fat acceptance movement, and the normalisation of plastic surgery.
Hi guys, I made a series of street interviews in San Francisco about gender identity. People were breathtakingly honest. Here is an youtube interview with another straight feminine man. We share stories of having our genders policed while growing up, and people in our environments trying to tell us that we are gay. I feel that male femininity is an important feminist issue. Straight males should be free to reject masculinity. Take a listen. http://bit.ly/MlFyg
I wrote a piece suggesting that a compromise that might end the feuding between transgenders and transsexuals. Some of us women who were born transsexual feel erased rather than included in the paradigm of Transgender as umbrella. The fighting has meant that we refuse to work together even when it comes to common issues. I proposed a step forward in ending these feuds would be to use transsexual and transgender or TS/TG when referring to both groups along with both sides toning down the rhetoric. http://womenborntranssexual.com/2009/07/23/compromises-rev-3-2/
If Skip Gates hadn’t been denying his heritage he wouldn’t have reacted so poorly when dealing with the police http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/black-men-trying-to-escape-their.html President Obama gets the dunce cap for his mea culpa with Cambridge police http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/youre-so-lame-award-of-shame.html Black women are often left out of the discrimination narrative http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-only-victims-are-male-only.html
DBR stands for damaged beyond recognition and describes unhealthy behavior patterns that cut across class lines http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/dont-let-anyone-stop-you-from-getting.html Regina Benjamin’s detractors would rather dissect her body than exalt her qualifications http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/regina-benjamin-detractors-dissect-her.html My initial reflection on the Henry Louis Gates arrest http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/reflection-on-henry-louis-gates-arrest.html
Reliving one of the best Cosby show episodes where Cliff teaches Theo about being a responsible adult http://actsoffaithinloveandlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/teaching-our-children-responsibility.html
A post about the construction of female bodies as public, while male bodies get to be private. An excoriation of evolutionary psychology.
I discussed the technique employed by Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry to encourage his followers to be violent without actually owning up to his words in “I’m Not Saying, I’m Just Saying.” Rebecca wrote about Pat Buchannan’s appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show in which Buchannan claimed that America was built by white people in “Rachel Maddow 1, Pat Buchanan —1,000,000.”
I wrote stuff! Liked it?, about 500 Days of Summer. “A writer writing a book about how writers should write books.”, about the sequel to the Steve the Penguin novel. Uppity colored people, about Henry Louis Gates and Sonia Sotomayor. “I don’t always feel anything. Sometimes I feel, like, numb, or something.” about sex workers and My So-Called Life‘s Rayanne Graff. Enjoy!
This week at Adventures of a Young Feminist: Harry’s All About the Sexual Tension: about the focus on romantic relationships in the new Harry Potter movie and the reactions to it. The Romanticization of Secret Life: about the show Secret Life of the American Teenager and its unrealistic representation of teen pregnancy. Good Intentions, Overweight Stereotypes: about the trend in television shows focusing on plus size women — and men. The Feminist Act of Blogging: addressing the question: is feminist blogging activism?
It’s been a slow week, but I read a great article about theology and gender, that seemed to lay the framework for a trans-inclusive theology by saying that the exploration and discovery of gender identity is a way of knowing God. I’d love feedback!
8 Year old victim blamed for her own gang rape: Looking at the shaming of the Liberian family while ignoring the victim blaming that goes on in the western world. The Problem With Marriage Is Black People: Looking at the ways in which Black women are encouraged to ignore sexism in their relationships. If you’re disabled you cannot be a customer: Looking at the different standards that exist for the differently abled and the currently abled when interacting in restaurants. Black hair in advertising: Looking at the ways in which Black hair is used as prop while in the process demeaning Black women. When Sexy isn’t simple: Looking at the role race plays when we decide who we consider attractive.
I discuss why I don’t owe social conservatives a “fair hearing”: http://talulahmankiller.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/the-other-side-of-the-equation/ I ask everyone to share the books and movies that scarred them for life: http://talulahmankiller.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/books-and-movies-that-warped-me-for-life/
Although it has been said million of times before this time when I ask Why Doesn’t Laura Ingraham get it? it relates to health care. Lots of other stuff but one readers may want to see is Four ways to decrease your BPA exposure Really important to women in particular if the research is even half right. Keep up the good work! Kate from After cancer, now what?
File under “things that piss me off”: my thoughts on chris brown’s (un)apology. The inane extremism of the pro-life camp: i mean, really? requiring a woman to get a man’s permission before getting an abortion? Uh, no. LOL you’re a feminist: my frustration with my feminism being used to ridicule me (i know i’m not the only one). Fuzz Therapy: more kitty pics
I’ve got a post up on young women, money, and learning to say no to all those who want yours: “First, Last, Security Deposit”: Women’s savings, feminism, and the steps to getting a room of one’s own. Conclusion: Women are told, over and over again, to subordinate their personal hopes and wishes to those of the family, the culture, the race; women’s bodies and women’s bank accounts bear the burden of maintaining solidarity. Families matter. Culture matters. But so too does private happiness; not all joy comes from the selfless serving of one’s kith and kin. And while some private happinesses are blessedly free, some aren’t. And for those that aren’t, cold hard cash in one’s own hands is indispensable.
Name Change – I successfully completed my legal name change, and recounted the ridiculous process it was. On the Edge of Trolling, pt 4 – Part 4 in an ongoing series about deconstructing comments which are likely just trolls in the first place. More Random Links – Pretty much self explanatory.
I interviewed BrokeNCYDE at Warped Tour two weeks ago. I had hoped to discuss more than their raging misogyny but…that’s all we go to. Still, I think it’s interesting! It’s here: http://www.macaroonshindig.com/features.html The article opens as a pop-up window. Thanks! (p/s I’m terrible at watching for follow up comments in general, so feel free to e-mail me if you have something to say that requires a response. 🙂
Wtf did I just watch? – “Teeth” – I watched that movie about vagina dentata, and it’s, it’s really bad. I looked at it from my feminist perspective and it’s, it’s, I don’t get it. I tried. If you’re thinking of renting it you might want to rent something else instead.
I’m going to split this week’s links across three separate comments, because there’s a lot of them (but, neatly, they more or less fall into three categories). Frst up, I finished writing “My Radical History”, with parts covering the 1990s and the “noughties”. Although, I’ve since been reminded that I completely missed out my family’s attending the “Jubilee 2000 drop the debt” demonstrations, so I’ll have to edit to add that bit tomorrow. I also added another “radical history soundtrack” post, with a few of the tunes that I mentioned in the other posts.
Cheryl of Wry&Ginger creates hilarious handmade cards in original designs: greetings for the petulant, passive aggressive jerk in all of us. http://www.suchcoolstuff.net/2009/07/wry.html Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions creates beautifully intricate glass lampwork beads. http://www.suchcoolstuff.net/2009/07/glass-addictions.html Ruby Jean is about fun and color in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to accessories! Kelly, the owner, has a passion for making things with her hands and sharing them with others! Be sure to check her out on August 22 at Summerfest in York, SC. http://www.suchcoolstuff.net/2009/07/ruby-jean.html
The second topic is police abuse of powers: ‘Kettling’ tactics to be tried in European Court of Human Rights I also posted the account I gave to the lawyers about what happened at the first use of kettling (the same event that the ECtHR case concerns) Police have also been abusing anti-terror laws to stop people using videos and cameras to hold them to account, for instance, over unwarranted stop-and-search procedures.
Lastly, there is a loose connection of religion to the last set of links. Two of them are also linked by attempts by ruling powers to rewrite history in their favour: The Christian Right in Texas want history books in schools to “emphasise the role of Christianity” in US history. The Israeli Govt want to ban the word naqba from Palestinian history textbooks – “naqba” means “disaster”, and is used to refer to the war of 1948 when many Palestinians were forced to flee their homes by the advancing Israeli Defence Force. Finally, on a more positive note, I wrote up my reading of 2 Corinthians and Galatians – in its way, 2 Corinthians is a thematic link with the other two stories (i.e. St Paul (re)writing history according to the way he wants it understood…)
I’m trying to decide which dissertation topic to write. From a feminst perspective, which one of these are you most interested in reading – http://safewordisgemara.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/dissertation-angst/
I took on Evony. NSFW pictures within. As well as pictures of my brother in a gold coin bikini. Thought I’d warn you about both.
I identify six ways to deflect accusations of racism, and I found them all in one conversation on Facebook. http://afunnyfeminist.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-6-ways-to-deflect-accusations-of.html
We’ve definitely been on summer blogging time over at HappyBodies (that is, we haven’t been posting very much). But I did write this mostly anecdotal piece about the way that our beauty standards privilege white, blond, blue-eyed bodies and how this affects WoC. My observations were based on a series of compliments and comments about my eye color (blue) from a group of young Latina girls that I’ve been teaching.
I’m suddenly annoyed that ‘Violent Femmes’ is already a band name when I realise the devaluation of female-fronted hardcore and metal is a way of silencing our anger.
This week I’ve accidentally stumbled over some unrealized hetero privilege, pondered what constitutes a feminist act after a dust-up at Feministing Community, and gotten annoyed with my father’s use of conservative slogans that disappear the history of PoC in America.
The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality, and Relationships: As the face of feminism becomes more of a collage than one iconic portrait, as the proverbial intersection of race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, religion, and other forms of identity receives more thoughtful traffic, documentary films such as The Price of Pleasure emerge. This film boasts a unique approach to exploring the contentious world of pornography. Silver Metal Cuff: I don’t do dangly bracelets. Perhaps it’s the residual punk rock girl of my youth who influences the aesthetics of what I wear around my wrists, but I just can’t bring myself to get down with chains and charms and all of that froo-froo stuff when it comes to arm adornment. For me, it’s cuffs, bangles, or bust. Afro-Punk Festival – Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Brooklyn, NY (7/3-7/12/2009): Afro-Punk is a movement that gives “a voice to thousands of multi-cultural kids fiercely identifying with a lifestyle path-less-traveled,” particularly those who are into indie, punk, and hardcore music. The film is an insightful look at a topic that I had never really considered: what it is like to be an African American who is involved in a scene that is overwhelmingly White.
Just wanted to remind people that the deadline for the first revived Feminist Carnival is this Wednesday! You can submit posts here. At Female Impersonator, I wrote a lot about movies – what happens when screenwriters view female characters as simply human, a Netflix fail and rounded up a bunch of resources related to the Bechdel Test. I also found a Twitter account for tweeting catcalls and what I see in a photo campaign of mini-brides.
I reflected on the word transition in a transgender/genderqueer context. I also linked to a hilarious video and a photo project aimed at criticizing transphobic questions: are you a man or a woman? What’s your “real” name? Have you had surgery?
This week: “a white woman learns about Black women’s hair,” and I chat about the new Harry Potter movie.
At Natalie Does New York: People suck. I chime in on the Florida man who lost his job when he married a porn star. I also wrote about a disturbing trend I noticed in Craigslist adult gigs.
I talked a bit about Silvio Berlusconi and the meanings through which we relate to male promiscuity I did a series of posts about ‘who owns green politics’ – how does environmentalism relate to other political beliefs, like conservatism or feminism? And I suggested some things to do with lawyers: first nationalise them, and then abolish them altogether.
This week, at Deeply Problematic: Obama uses tradition to justify dismissing abortion: reacting to President Obama’s rhetoric on abortion rights Trichotillomania: cures, shame, localization, management: thoughts about my hair-pulling compulsion (trigger warning). Responding to criticism of my construction of motherhood in last week’s post on the controversial Ms. cover. Babies are cars: adventures in gendered advertising Pregnancy, my greatest fear: on why exactly I’m so scared of getting pregnant, and how that helps to frame my feminism Sharing some of my favorite bands from Floydfest, a music festival in SW VA.
“Save Our Children” Revisited: Lithuania Enacts Homophobic Censorship Law July’s Global Feminist Profile on Dr. Shershah Syed from Pakistan Delta Responds to Charges of Fat Phobia Art Alert! Gay Icons at the National Portrait Family Comments heated up on a post on oppression, masculinity, power, the male gaze, street harassment, and slavery Rethink Afghanistan – Liberation of Women
I guess this is even later but I’ve been struggling to explain how the fallacy of blaming the victim instead of the perpetrator applies even in the so-called “shame-based culture” reactions raised in the case of the Liberian family in Phoenix that allegedly rejected their 8-year-old daughter after she was sexually assaulted by four other children. After a couple of false starts, and thanks to additional thoughts on the subject on Echidne’s and Renee’s blogs, I think I’ve finally said what I was trying to say: No matter how you and your culture defines “victim of sexual assault” we still have to get past the universal reaction of blaming them for what happens instead of, you know, the actual perpetrators. It’s part of a general theme I’m pursuing of creating expectations for male responsibility as opposed to our current expectations that tacitly approve of male irresponsibility. figleaf
I wrote about challenging feminist groupthink over at my blog, partly in response to Miranda’s recent guest post about how to identify herself as an ally of womanism (sorry for the lack of links to posts I’m referencing; I’m at work and the connection is impossibly slow).
Not to be irritating (and it doesn’t bother me at all that this went up late), but: Since you’re running on WordPress, shouldn’t you be able to schedule your Self-Promotion Sundays in advance? Or do you purposely put them up manually at at time when you know you can moderate? I do not have anything particularly notable this week, but I did write about some delicious zha jiang mian noodles at a no-ambiance-at-all restaurant in Kips Bay.
Re: Scheduling the Self-Promotion posts — Not annoying, I just went away for the weekend and thought I’d have internet. Turns out I didn’t. That’s why I didn’t schedule it. But it’s a good idea for the future, thanks!
From Bitch blogs this week… A Hairy Situation for Women’s Aid, nude hypocrisy in feminism Six Questions for Jessica Hopper on Girls’ Guide to Rocking, she’s just released her first book, The Girls’ Guide to Rocking Actress Spotlight: Jean Seberg, beauty and political turmoil Is this Feminism at Work?, the new Miss England is a black female athlete Sprite Ad is Overblown, pornified ad arouses suspicion *Note: There seems to be an issue with my posts not making it into the comments.