This week at SexGenderBody: Alex Karydi offers tips from and for the dating-challenged, in Lesbian Flirting Tips! The Truth! James Turnbull muses on agism and sex / body stereotyps in Yes, Old Korean People Have Sex Too… and how objectification of women plays out when racism and gender mix, in “Want to Sleep With a Foreign Woman?” jaded16 offers thoughts on sexism in literature in Weekly Textual/Sexual Reader (Week 1) and her perspective privilege in Voicing The Voiceless Is Only The Concern Of The Artist In The Ivory Tower. Christina Engela looks at the similarities of religious intolerance across cultures, in Polly Wanna Cracker. Maggie Gordon shares her experience and observations on body judgment and acceptance in My Body, My Needs and Societal Responsibilities: Responding to Fat Acceptance and HAES Critiques. lilith land offered up thoughts on body image in Making Peace with My Body and about choosing one’s own sexual identity in The Female Horndog. Jack Molay takes several thorough looks at gender identity, covering personal, group, scientific beliefs in What Harry Benjamin Really Meant about Crossdressers and Transwomen, The Harry Benjamin Syndrome Part 1: When transactivism becomes transphobic and The Harry Benjamin Syndrome 2: The Scientific Basis. Olga Wolstenholme talks about what exactly she is looking for, in It’s Love I’m After and offers a literary review in Krakow Melt: “Don’t Fall In Love With Fires, Start Them” buck angel vlogs about intolerance and its impact, in this installment of Bucking The System.
Guest post at my blog by imnotme, who writes a letter to Minnesotans about why we should not allow our morals to dictate who we vote for. http://ethecofem.com/2010/09/25/we-dont-need-government-to-defend-our-morals/ Nike’s ad consisting of a small woman with a butt porportionate to her frame, calling it a “big butt” irks me to no end. http://ethecofem.com/2010/09/28/by-what-standards-are-we-defining-big/ New blogger at ethecofem! Kristi writes a strongly worded letter to Vagisil, and in no uncertain terms, explains precisely why they are full of bull. http://ethecofem.com/2010/10/02/a-strongly-worded-letter/ NOM’s anti-same-sex marriage campaign ads in my state get shot down beautifully: http://ethecofem.com/2010/10/03/1580/
Julia Roberts May Adopt an Indian Baby: Looking at the role of neo-colonialism in international adoption and the myth that somehow white mothers are better for children of colour. Discovery of Jewish Ancestry Converts Neo Nazi: A couple find out that they are indeed Jewish and how this changed their world perspective. The Death Penalty: The State Must Have its Pound of Flesh: Looking at a case in which an inmate attempted suicide before the death penalty could be administered and questioning if it rises to the level of cruel and unusual punishment. When a Cat Hoarder Meets the Criminal Justice System: Questioning whether or not the penal system is the best way to deal with someone who has a disability. Vampires Diaries Bad Moon Rising: A look at last week’s episode. Signs for the Disabled in Indonesia: Rather than make accommodations for the differently abled the solution of the Indonesian government is for the disabled to wear signs calling attention to their disabled bodied.
Unnatural Forces is back! This week I wrote about the difficulty of establishing boundaries in personal relationships, wondered why men who try to deceive women seem to think we women don’t ever talk to one another and thus we will never catch them at the asshole game, and finally I made fun of the United States’ report to the U.N. on the state of human rights in our country (really, it is RIDICULOUS).
Julia Roberts May Adopt an Indian Baby: Looking at the role of neo-colonialism in international adoption and the myth that somehow white mothers are better for children of colour. Discovery of Jewish Ancestry Converts Neo Nazi: A couple find out that they are indeed Jewish and how this changed their world perspective. The Death Penalty: The State Must Have its Pound of Flesh: Looking at a case in which an inmate attempted suicide before the death penalty could be administered and questioning if it rises to the level of cruel and unusual punishment. When a Cat Hoarder Meets the Criminal Justice System: Questioning whether or not the penal system is the best way to deal with someone who has a disability. Vampires Diaries Bad Moon Rising: A look at last week’s episode. Signs for the Disabled in Indonesia: Rather than make accommodations for the differently abled the solution of the Indonesian government is for the disabled to wear signs calling attention to their disabled bodied. This week’s Sunday Shame: How long can you possibly hold onto an item.
Back after a couple week hiatus thanks the joys of law school, I finished up a piece I started after reading a lot of fat acceptance backlash in the feminist blogosphere. My Body, My Needs and Societal Responsibilities: Responding to Fat Acceptance and HAES Critiques
I’ve written a piece for Planet of the Blind in reaction to the news of Tyler Clementi’s suicide: http://www.planet-of-the-blind.com/2010/10/queer-matters.html
Following the Ontario Superior Court ruling: What I wonder about in the matter of decriminalizing prostitution Now with an updated statement by the company’s sales director: “No women drivers”: Pizza Pizza responds. This is a follow-up on a previous post on my blog about not being able to even apply for the job.
Over at my shiny new blog, Junkland, I: Was disturbed by the video of young girls doing a stripper-esque dance to ‘Put a Ring on It’. Was a little extra bothered by all the hyper-sexualization of women in ads. Was thrilled to see the amazing Anita at Feminist Frequency do a feature on HuffPo that expressed my sentiments exactly. Wrote a rebuttal to some doctor’s racist, anti-healthcare screed that is, unfortunately, making the rounds of facebook. Was horrified by the connections between ALEC, the for-profit Corrections Corporation of America, and Arizona’s racial profiling law, SB 1070.
“Gay Friendly” colleges and Trans kids at school – Some posts on how schools deal with (or avoid dealing with) an LGBT population Review: Luxe Magic Massager – A sex toy review. Huzzah! Voldemort! (A post on names) – Some musings on how to handle my old name, and how I’ve dealt with it previously in my transition
http://kmareka.com/2010/09/29/just-funnin/ It was sneak artist O’Keefe’s pornified and seriously creepy attempt at sexual humiliation of a female journalist. It was going to be an ambush caught on film. It was supposed to ruin the career of an uppity woman. It might have gotten ugly if his female assistant had not gone off script and disobeyed.
Anti-bullying policy has gay agenda? Really?the Mrs. Lovejoys have their priorities out of whack Dear McDonalds, Please to be not gender-conditioning my children, thanks – Adventures in the Service Sector
This week on Elysium Avenue, Natasha writes about her Tattoos http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/tattoos-for-you/ and shares a family recipe http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/how-can-a-memory-with-bacon-be-hazy/ Lisa schools us in feminist movies http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/to-bechdel-or-not-that-is-the-question/ I review the film Ondine, based in selkie folklore http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/ondine/ as well as my love of personal home spa days http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/lotions-potions/ Debbie writes about losing a friend http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/the-loss-of-a-friend-%E2%80%93-how-to-say-goodbye-re-blogged/ Daylight Atheism on Why Atheists Should Be Feminists http://elysiumavenue.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/why-atheists-should-be-feminists-reblogged/
At Deeply Problematic, I began my feminist review of the popular webcomic Achewood, focusing disability and central character Roast Beef I also ranted about stinkbugs over at my side blog.
I’ve been drawing some connections between the Tea Party and what looks like a push to bring charter schools to Seattle, and giving a brief mention of how charter schools affect marginalized children such as children of color, special ed students, poor children, and English Language Learners – that deserves its own whole post, though. I’d love to hear from folks in New York, Chicago, and New Orleans to see how things went down there. Charter Schools and the Reason Foundation
I wrote a review about the new book on riot grrrl, Girls to the Front, and my comment on the last post here — the one about the lack of women in music criticism — got a little long so I turned it into a post of my own.
i wrote about the Catholic bishops in Minnesota trying to “save marriage” via a propaganda campaign, and a suggestion for another more pressing issue they ought to consider expending resources for.
A post on how little Americans know about religion and why that is a cause for worry—and how we should try to rectify that.
This week I reviewed , an anthology of Science-fiction short stories written by women. I highly recommend it! Today (Sunday, Oct 3rd) is also the last day of my book , where I am giving away two books written by women (three if I get one more follower!)
(I was actually too much of a wuss to be the first commenter, so I went away to make soup, and now I’m back. Clearly I have some Self-Assertiveness Not-Being-A-Wuss training to do.) This week I have sniggered at the lovely Nadine Dorries, MP for abolishing abortion and doing unintentional Wayne’s World impressions, and been bemused by some really shoddy reporting on abortion stats in Scotland. It’s been an abortiony sort of week.
It’s been an exciting week for women in UK politics! I wrote about it here: http://delilah-mj.blogspot.com/2010/10/women-in-politics-voices-for-change.html
I talk about the vision of sexual liberation and other things in the Howl movie: http://goldennotebooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/drunken-taxicabs-of-absolute-reality.html
I had a guest post right here on Feministe! Which made me very happy. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2010/09/28/the-alt-sex-anti-abuse-dream-team/ I was interviewed on a talk radio show called Casual Sex: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/david-ortmann/2010/10/02/casual-sex-with-david-ortmann I published an article on AlterNet about male sexuality: http://www.alternet.org/sex/148291/why_do_we_demonize_men_who_are_honest_about_their_sexual_needs/ For the AlterNet article, I immediately received hate mail from one man: http://lovebites.blogs.chicago.timeout.com/2010/10/01/men-dont-deserve-the-word-creep/ And then some feminists also disliked it: http://hugoschwyzer.net/2010/10/01/clarisse-thorn-on-the-pathologizing-of-male-desire/ Which just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished. Lots of people also liked it. I guess at least I’m good at starting conversations. Meanwhile, on my actual blog …. An interview with a fetish porn director: http://clarissethorn.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/porn-a-lone-villain-working-within-an-evil-empire/ Please oppose the terrible new Internet censorship bill: http://clarissethorn.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/please-oppose-the-new-internet-censorship-bill/ AND last but certainly not least, if you want me to come lecture at your institution, there’s information on my available stuff here: http://clarissethorn.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/available-lectures-workshops-and-events-from-clarisse-thorn/
How easy it becomes for males in religious leadership positions to take advantage of vulnerable children when they aren’t being monitored. http://actsoffaithblog.com/pimps-predators-the-misuse-of-the-pulpit-in-the-black-church-and-how-it-ties-into-fatherlessness The first of “Minister” Eddie Long’s (alleged) LONG list of victims to come forward. http://actsoffaithblog.com/pimps-predators-the-misuse-of-the-pulpit-in-the-black-church-and-how-it-ties-into-fatherlessness Why some would rather stick their heads in the sand than deal with unresolved issues and the negative impact on marginalized groups who do so. http://actsoffaithblog.com/i-dont-know-nuthin-bout-nuthin
Guest blogging – reaching out to the asexual community – directs readers to a place where I guest blogged about female sexual dysfunction, with members of the asexual community in mind.
Both links are potentially triggers for rape and sexual assault. MSU Rapists Walk Fee and Other Rape Culture News: Possession of more than two ounces of marijuana can earn you a year in jail in New York state, but raping and assaulting three teenage girls? Ten years probation. I think it says a lot about who and what the American justice system is really designed to protect. You mad? Stay mad.: I’ll say it again: your anger is justified. If you are a woman, you do not need to look for reasons to get angry; they find you every day of the year. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention, which means you’re not an active participant in your own life. Pay attention. Hear what’s being said about you, see how the world is failing you.
I wrote about enthusiastic consent as it relates everyday life, including non-sexual touch and children playing.
This week, I wrote about queer studies and the issue of privilege in academic discourse: http://michelleg3399.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/queer-studies-and-academic-privilege/
On my blog I’m doing a series of posts where I discuss feminism in other parts of the world. Focusing on what issues women face and what they’re doing to combat these problems. This week, I focused on feminism in India. Feminism across cultures: India
I’m on Day 21 at Chronicles of a Cosmo Nut. Highlights from this week include: A terrible quiz: http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/day-15-part-two-i-am-quizzproof/ Cosmo provides some entirely unhelpful commentary about men with tempers: http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/day-17-part-one-the-menz-they-is-so-crabby/ I suspect a writer for Cosmo wrote the copy for this Trojan ad: http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/did-someone-from-cosmo-write-this-ad-for-trojan/ Cosmo attempts to give advice about safer sex, and fails miserably: http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/day-18-part-one-safe-sex-fail/ On the brighter side, I experimented with makeup and a gooey pumpkin facial mask: http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/day-18-part-two-jadore-this-expensive-lipstick/ http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/day-20-part-one-eyeshadow-and-eyeliner-school-spirit-style/ http://chroniclesofacosmonut.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/day-20-part-two-the-great-pumpkin-facial/ I’m nearing the end of this experiment, with plenty more material to write about, so please stay tuned!
Some recent posts on Man Boobz, my anti-Men’s Rights movement blog. An MRA blogger uses Tyler Clementi’s suicide as an excuse to bash … feminists: http://manboobz.blogspot.com/2010/10/mra-blog-uses-gay-teen-suicide-as.html Bangkok Girl: Looking Behind the Fantasy of the Nubile, Pliable Non-Western Woman: http://manboobz.blogspot.com/2010/09/bangkok-girl-looking-behind-fantasy-of.html There’s something inherently ridiculous about being lambasted for using “shaming tactics” — by someone who has just called you a “mangina”: http://manboobz.blogspot.com/2010/09/aint-that-shaming-tactic.html Also this past week: Quotes from a right-wing female blogger who thinks giving the vote to women was a huge mistake and from a MRA who thinks lesbians are inferior to striaght men because they can’t produce sperm. Also, check out the comments on the blog for some raw, unfiltered misogyny from angry MRAs; be warned, though, much of what they say is extremely foul and infuriating.
At our new poliblog Distinctly Disgruntled I have two new posts up this week. Quick Hit: Sarah Hansen-Young Reintroduces the Marriage (Equality) Bill Sarah Hansen-Young is one of Australia’s Greens MPs, calling for a conscience vote on marriage equality (same-sex marriage etc.) And also a link spam in Vote One: Political Landscape. Have fun!
This week, I wrote about a first date I had in London and some of the thoughts that I had about how social expectations, our shared feminism and so on interacted when she decided she wanted me to go back to hers so she could “go all the way”, which I was keen to do, but the thought remained: What if I’d wanted to say ‘no’ and go home instead?
You’ve heard of ‘Bratz’ dolls, but have you seen ‘Motelz’? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swSWxLdyWBc
I wrote down my thoughts about the suicides in recent weeks of gay youth. And how frustrating it is to pretend it’s a new trend: http://wp.me/pij0l-nV
Two pieces this week: The first is about the consequences of Louisiana’s refusal to recognize an out of state adoption on a boy’s legal status, all because his adoptive parents happen to be Gay. Louisiana refuses to recognize out of state adoption by Gay couple, boy left in web of legal uncertainty And a second piece looking for adopted people or their families who have been turned away by the state of Illinois in the wake of a fatally flawed piece of legislation originally designed to restore original birth certificate access equality to them. My post is about a data collection effort trying to bring together the stories of those rejected in an effort to revisit the new law. Rejected under Illinois’ new adoptee birth certificate “access” law? Not allowed to register in the IARMIE?
A post about privilege, but not the kind you’d expect. http://annanettie.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/privilege-part-two/
Some friends and I are starting a small group blog. So far we’ve got some posts about gender variance, including my most recent post about the practice of gender-neutral marriage
It Was “Factually Rape”: A response to a very special kind of douchebag (TW for victim-blaming and rape apologism in both links) who believes that feminism conspires to get women raped, so as to make monetary profit, and that women are responsible for being attacked.
I talk about Chris Armstrong, the University of Michigan student who is being stalked and harassed by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell, and his role in student government, which I could relate to. Imam Yahya Hendi, one of the religious leaders who advised President Bush after 9/11, recently came to my hometown to talk about religious confrontation and cooperation. I attended, and part one of my experience is here. I learned Rand Paul needs some schooling in campaigning. Shortly thereafter, I learned he needed a LOT of schooling on campaigning. Apparently this is going to be a series!
Reclaim or not to reclaim the Halloween witch? http://witchyfeminist.com/2010/10/02/reclaim-or-not-to-reclaim-that-is-the-question/
It’s been kinda quiet lately at re:Cycling. This week we’ve got brief posts about home remedies for period pain, a new federal report about women’s health research, and breast cancer awareness month, plus our weekly recommended reading.
Going To Prison: Bagly Case Update, in which telling information comes out in the bail hearing of one of the defendants in the case discussed here. In Lubricated Holes and Mangina Attack Dogs: A Glimpse At The MRA Abyss I excepts the spewage of some MRAs. Not the fringe rantings of people dismissed in those spaces, but the most liked comments; and not a sample of the worst from years and years, but rather a group of comments from a single thread. It’s horrifying. And instead of disclaiming them lock, stock and barrell, HughRistik and Daran from Feminist Critics and some others are arguing that they sort of have a point, blah blah, don’t represent all MRAs, blah blah. You know the drill. Also, anyone who liked Not What We Do might enjoy Episode 60 of Kink On Tap, where I talk mostly about the BDSM community and its discontents with the hosts, Maymay and Emma, and with Arvan from SexGenderBody.
a little late but why not: yet another cultural appropriation rant from yours truly, sharing some great links and a new zine to cover the basics of why hipsters need to stop wearing “native-inspired” headdresses. over at shameless, i wrote a review of the craft: crafting girl on girl hate after rewatching one of my favourite teen movies.
I wrote a post about the difficulties of attending conventions in the US, linked to the Moonfail with Elizabeth Moon: Wiscon on the Moon. (The comment thread was unamusingly disrupted by someone who made a name for himself in Racefail 2009. Please ignore: he’s now been banned.) I adapted a post at GenderBitch ([Activist Modus Operandi] Methods of Communication) into The Sorting Hat: What Kind of Activist Are You? And I wrote a post on my connection with THIS (a protest by a pseudonymous group of Dance students of colour Feb-Apr 2009 at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance, University of Minnesota) and my feelings about Racefail 2009: THIS can change your life – partly in response to Tempest’s post You Know What I Wish? also about Racefail 2009.
I wrote about one of the many tiny incidents where women in journalism encounter a lack of respect from men. A guy I was interviewing called 37-year-old me a “cub reporter”. Really, asshole? http://cassandrasays.blogspot.com/2010/10/ironic-moment-given-all-talk-about.html On a better women in journalism note, I’m also showing off my cool new photos. I’m primarily a writer, but sometimes I get asked to do photography too, and it’s been quite the learning experience. But my shots are finally getting better! http://cassandrasays.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-photography-is-getting-better-check.html