Shameless Self-Promotion Sunday January 24, 2010 Jill Post a link to something you’ve written lately, along with a short description. Make it specific — don’t just link your whole blog. Happy Sunday!
This week, I reflect on what makes La Paz natives describe the local feminist organization, Mujeres Creando, as the most extreme of Bolivia’s women’s groups.
The week began well, with a post re: the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The situation disintegrated from there. First, frustrations with online dating. Then this. Then, href=”http://missincognegro.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/ignoranceonice/”>this. Didn’t think it could get much worse, but it could, and did. Then, finally, democracy thrown under the bus
Oops! Here is the link re: frustrations with interracial online dating. Do they? I don’t think they do.
Stuck in a tiny room in a factory with Paul Harvey on the radio, my BS meter was off the scale. Racist, misogynist, extreme right wing, he was the granddaddy of hate radio. Now I feel vindicated. Harvey was taking his scripts from J.Edgar Hoover. http://kmareka.com/2010/01/24/paul-harvey-and-j-edgar-hoover/
They’re nice people, and they live for the day that millions will perish in nuclear destruction. They are the fundamentalist Christians next door. They are organized, they own politicians, and they are broadcasting inflammatory statements to the Muslim world. War is their salvation– a review of the film, ‘Waiting for Armageddon’. http://kmareka.com/2010/01/23/playing-with-fire/
It was an abortion-heavy week for me as I blogged for choice and found out a family member needed one.
PeTA’s 2010 State of the Union and the Sexualization of Black Women: What would a PeTA advertisement be without featuring a woman stripping down naked for the cause? Scott Baio: Black Friends Don’t Make You Immune To Racist Actions/Words: Scott Baio posted a racist and sexist pic of Michelle Obama on twitter but since he has Black friends it seems this is okay. Mary J Blige and Why She Is Not Like Chris Brown: Why using Blige as an example of women beating on men being ignored and comparing her to Chris Brown is problematic. ESPN How Mike Greenberg refers to MLK as Martin Luther Coon: Isn’t this a great way to celebrate MLK day? Of course he says it was a slip. Finally this weeks Sunday Shame is the dark chocolate edition. Pop by and admit what you are willing to do satisfy your love of chocolate.
I dove into Mary Daly’s legacy one last time by looking at how she didn’t heed her own admonition for feminists to avoid creating secular idols. In idolizing women, she demonized men (as well as transwomen, but I wrote about that earlier). For Blog for Choice Day, I argued that this idea of secular idolatry applies to “choice,” too. We’ve invested far too much in that one concept, at the expense of broader, more flexible framings. On a totally different note, I looked at a promising new technology – ironically based on Reagan-era “Star Wars” research – that may help women avoid mastectomies.
Without Choice, Your Choice of Life Means Nothing- I confront Sarah Palin, Pam Tebow, and other anti-choice women who use their difficult pregnancies to limit other women’s options. I’m promptly labeled a ranting extremist. http://johnnykaje.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/without-choice-your-choice-of-life-means-nothing/” I Don’t Want Any Blue Savages Playing on My Team- Regarding the AABA and the old “I’m not a racist, but-” saw. Complete with a dig at Avatar. http://johnnykaje.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/i-dont-want-any-blue-savages-playing-on-my-team/ And this has little to do with progressivism, but here’s a little blathering about paleogeography, for those of you into prehistoric Earth. http://johnnykaje.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/facts-for-the-attention-deficient-paleogeography/
For those who wondered why we won’t get rid of SC Governor Sanford, the primary reason is the Lt Gov, who this week compared poor people to stray animals. (Now you know!) I started the Dead Air feminist film series with Splendor in the Grass (1961)
It was a rough week around here. I’m preparing to write a couple of horror novels as soon as I finish the fairy tale (and the only difference between the two is how it ends) So, I’m overthinking it and I wrote Thoughts on Horror written (discusses movie and book scenes that may be triggering). And a short piece, Intertextuality, or Your Sources are Showing Like an Ill-Fitting Slip.
I started a blog last week with the intention of just writing about what it’s like to be a gender studies major, and just finished my post about my first class: http://genderstudiesmajor.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/first-class/
I’m busy being annoyed by the idea that men need sex more than integrity. http://animeg.blogspot.com/2010/01/apparently-doing-things-you-know-are.html
I watch a lot of tv in the so bad it’s good category. Baby When We’re Grinding, I Get so Excited: Pathetic tv deaths, magical paralysis recovery, terrible narrative structures on classic Melrose. Also, Mama Mia Mancini: cavalier attitude toward death and ridiculous ethnic stereotyping. Chupacabra: Secret Life of the American Teenager seems to think that if you say it in spanish it doesn’t count. Also masturbation and sullenness if you’re into that.
This week at Questioning Transphobia I wrote a guest post on navigating the intersections of trans politics and identity in sexual relationships as a trans woman.
This week on Yes Means Yes Blog: I Can’t Say No, about masculinity, celibacy, and the pressure to be sexual on request. Mariko Passion posted a long meditation about sex work, sexual assault, boundaries and STIs, titled Teaching You A Lesson, Or Sexually Assaulting You.
My first day back to Texas A&M, with both good and bad surprises: http://austintotamu.blogspot.com/2010/01/school-starts.html And A&M, after running off their first Latina (and first woman) president after only one year, picked another white guy: http://austintotamu.blogspot.com/2010/01/presidential-search-over-regents-pick.html
I wrote about a protest at Planned Parenthood in Texas, as well as Blog for Choice Day. Also posted two Sunday reading columns.
I wrote posts! Whatever happened to, about the next episode of The Millionaire Matchmaker. I do deserve good health care!, about the Hyde Amendment and reproductive rights. Enjoy!
What’s new on Women’s Glib… New York State residents: learn about the Reproductive Health Act! A hilarious response to an icky commenter. Scott Brown sucks.
Do you REALLY trust women? Blog for Choice Day 2010. At 3rf and FWD/Forward Enabling abuse in online communities: How many voices have been silenced? At 3rf Jokes about Limbaugh’s drug use are not funny. At FWD/Forward and 3rf
I vented a little about the MA Senate election, and (hopefully more interestingly) I wrote about a post I’ve been trying and failing to write, and why, and tried to get a discussion started.
I may have seen a glimmer of hope in the overdone loser-gets-the-girl plot of dudebro romantic comedies. (The movie will be crap anyway.) In Defense of a Crappy Trailer Week Three of Copy Edit Craigslist Tuesday I taught Old People the meaning of the word w00t and pissed off some Scientologists with A Long List of Scientologists (for all of your boycotting needs).
Ethecofem has been rather quiet this week, but we have a couple up: I just got a Facebook message with another “all girls update your status message” suggestion, only this time it’s not about raising awareness of anything, but rather writing sexually suggestive status updates for no other reason than to confuse or titillate your male FB buddies. Danny writes about his sympathy for women being expected to remove body hair, and his own shaving experiments to see what it’s like for us.” In light of the NY Times charging for online content, how do you feel about paying for information online? Also, Dude who wrote about how he loves having sex with sleeping women took the post down after receiving several comments informing him that he needs to quit raping people. (this is an older post, but more of an update of the situation for anyone who was wondering)
My response to the “Blog” For Choice” topic of what “Trust Women” means to me: http://cannedartistshit.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-for-choice-2010-what-does-trust.html My thoughts on “National Sanctity of Human Life Day” http://cannedartistshit.blogspot.com/2010/01/open-letter-to-organizers-of-national.html The joys of a cunt necklace http://cannedartistshit.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-here-its-here.html some thoughts on the racial divides in the city of Savannah, GA, and the Savannah College of Art and Design: http://cannedartistshit.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-eve-of-mlk-day.html
I also did a bog for choice day post at http://ms-marx.blogspot.com/2010/01/trust-women.html I posted about the recent study done by the pew research center, commenting on some of the problems with what questions were asked in that study http://ms-marx.blogspot.com/2010/01/study-about-how-men-benefit-from.html And I did a post about a few tv shows I watched last week where women were represented as enjoying sexual harassment http://ms-marx.blogspot.com/2010/01/primetime-television-and-continuum-of.html
This week in Evil Slutopia: ~We participated in Blog for Choice, of course: Blog for Choice: Trust Women Starts With You ~We picked out some of our favorites from the recently announced winners of The Sexies. ~Glenn Beck, feminist icon, reached out to his female audience recently with his insights into “the psychosis that is chickdom”.
This week at Happy Bodies: We blogged for choice! But is choice the right question? We published our Happy Bodies Manifesto! and I reflected on my experience as a fat activist. Jill continues to explore the world of Science! And what they get wrong in the intersections of class and health.
I did my best to Blog For Choice and take it in a slightly new direction: “Our bodies, our choices: Beyond sexuality to selling organs and giving aid” http://clarissethorn.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/our-bodies-our-choices-beyond-sexuality-to-selling-organs-and-giving-aid/
At re:Cycling, the blog of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, we wrote about Jane Lynch’s lucky tampon at the Golden Globes, research on a new treatment for uterine fibroids, SNL’s series of unfunny ESPN skits sponsored by feminine hygiene products, the popularity of blood-red lipstick, ways of re-framing menstruation, the best pain relievers for cramps, the humor implicit in a new Always advert, collecting stem cells from menstrual blood, and our gratitude to Dr. Tiller. We also responded to several asshats in the comments to the ESPN post. Those dudes are tiresome.
The Terrifying Market – How do you reenter the dating market, when you’ve been off for four years and have transitioned since you last were on it? Where should the anger go? and Anger is stupid and bad and I don’t like it – Two posts on what to do with anger Tom Girls – This American Life talks about trans children
This week I Blog for Choice – talking about what trusting women means to me: http://barnyardchorus.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-for-choice-trust-women.html
So this week * Amanda Marcotte linked to my post Two Rules of Desire * Hugo Schwyzer linked to For At Least 600 Years Non-Feminists Have Believed All Men Are Potential Rapists… And Evidently Still Do * Crooks And Liars linked to A Good Time to Think About Haiti’s Coerced Domestic Child Servants At the moment, though, I’m most shamelessly proud of The No-Sex Class: On Men Who Think Women Are Humiliated By Having Sex With Them and Ah Yes, The Halcyon Days When A Woman’s Place Was In the Home… Or Else the Asylum figleaf / david
In Private Practice and Fundamentalist Forced Abortions, I consider the anti-choice faction and how its daughters are maybe equally as likely to be forced into an unwanted abortion as they are an unwanted birth. For those fixated on the Most Terrible Legislative Branch in the History of Ever, a play in one act: Post-Filibuster Apocalypse: Man on the Street.
My partner and I recently launched a site devoted to transgressive feminist erotica that doesn’t reduce people to sexual cliches. The site chronicles the lives of friends and strangers living in a fictional town. Each character has their own blog, which is updated with anecdotes from their everyday life. The updates are not always erotic, but allow the reader to form a close bond with the character. As the site develops, we are looking for talented writers of all ages to join our community. We are especially interested in bold writers who represent marginalized sexualities. Sound like your cup of tea? Check us out at .
Here’s what’s been goin’ on at Gender Across Borders: We participated in the Blog for Choice Day this past Friday. Check out our posts below: Dear Pro-Life Movement: I respect your opinion. Can you respect mine? From, someone who believes in pro-choice Depicting Choice: Pregnancy and Abortion in Film Blog for Choice Day: Poetry Those bleeping protestors give me a headache, and other thoughts on Roe Day We also blogged about Haiti & art therapy and Harassment on Public Transportation is No Joke. Don’t forget to stop by and leave your links (and shamelessly promote yourself) on tomorrow’s Global Feminist Link Love, happening at Gender Across Borders every Monday at 1pm CST.
On Monday I wrote about an event the night before when I thought I heard a rape alarm outside and, being too far away to help in person, rang the police in the hopes that if there really was a crime taking place, they might be able to do something. I continued the “Taking the Epistle” series with a quick look at the anti-slavery letter to Philemon Finally, I lost my rag with the British police, who want to use military-style UAV drones to spy on civilians – my comments technically make me a terrorist in British law, I cite the Levellers and the US Declaration of Independence for my belligerent stance!
I wrote about the anger I feel about being shamed over my abortion, feelings brought up by another unplanned pregnancy in the family.
Let’s include the Uniting American Families Act in any comprehensive immigration reform that’s put before congress this year, no? Same-sex binational families (like mine) deserve the same paths to unified families as straight binational families have. Macha Mexico asks our readers to get involved.
India’s Women Find Empowerment in Exotic Dance Anyone who has ever sat through the frequent and painstakingly choreographed musical numbers in a Bollywood film can tell you that dance is an integral part of Indian culture. From Bhangra in the Punjab province to Kathakali in Kerala, each part of the country has its own distinctive combination of body movement, facial expressions, and hand positions which form the regional style. But nowadays in urban India, dance is not simply used as a form of cultural expression. Women of means are being seduced by a type of dance that is a little more, shall we say, exotic. (Continue reading at The WIP)
The 12th Carnival of Feminists – Review Edition! Cleaving will surely smash any goody two shoes image fans may have had of Julie Powell (of Julie & Julia). Though it does feature a few recipes and go into great detail about butchery, these things are more of an afterthought; Powell’s fucked up marriage and obsessive extramarital affair take center stage. In An Angle of Vision, we are presented with a series of extraordinarily well-written essays centered upon one of the most taboo topics in U.S. culture: class. More specifically, we are presented with first-person, female-centered examinations of two groups who are steadily disappearing from both the public discourse and the popular culture of the United States: the poor and working class. Ariel Gore on Women, Happiness, and Self-Determination Ariel Gore’s new book Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness asks the question, “Can women be smart, empowered, and happy?” Here, Ariel Gore offers her ideas on happiness and advice for women seeking change in their lives.
Blogged for choice at from the rib? : http://fromtherib.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/blog-for-choice-day/
I’ve been talking about: *Why we think “if it hurts, it must be working” when it comes to chemical peels: http://beautyschooledproject.com/2010/01/19/chemical-peels-hurt-like-hell/ *How the beauty industry plays up the differences in white and black skin to (shocker!) sell more products: http://beautyschooledproject.com/2010/01/21/more-thoughts-on-chemical-peels/ I’m also starting a new “Beauty Overheard” section on the blog, because those offhand (or sometimes not-so-offhand) comments reveal a lot about our internalized beauty standards. And are sometimes also hilarious. Send me anything you’re overhearing: http://beautyschooledproject.com/2010/01/25/beauty-overheard-tabitha-looks-terrible/
Internet has been spotty for us here in rainy California (weather? what is weather?) but I did manage to get my contribution to Blogging for Choice Day up.
I wrote a post entitled as a treatise for friends, family and the world at large to STFU about me having kids.