How branded is your child?: http://humaneconnectionblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-branded-is-your-child.html Michael Michalko: 12 things you were not taught in school about creative thinking: http://humaneconnectionblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/michael-michalko-12-things-you-were-not.html What is humanity’s essential nature? That’s the wrong question: http://humaneconnectionblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-is-humanitys-essential-nature.html
My post didn’t go through last week, so some of these links are a bit older. Weekly Blog Roundup Taboos in Erotica Paypal’s Corporate Power Barely Legal Teens Blog Roundup As well, The Keep updates every week with a new chapter from our epic fantasy erotica series, the Forgotten Thrones.
Women in business class: on how the female identity is still linked to the idea of self-sacrifice: http://clarissasblog.com/2012/03/02/women-in-business-class/ Why do we need birth control? http://clarissasblog.com/2012/03/02/why-do-we-need-birth-control/ How the idea that submission is a part of every romantic relationship is promoted: http://clarissasblog.com/2012/03/01/whos-the-sub/ Is having a lot of sex shameful? http://clarissasblog.com/2012/03/03/is-having-a-lot-of-sex-shameful/
A piece on sexism, sexism and how talking about driving is often a way to wish women knew their place: Swearing in Cars with Boys, or, “Fast Ladies and Women Drivers” And one on how we define our intellectual boundaries by slagging each other off: Defamations and Defintions, or, “Boundary Disputes”
Health and fitness recommendations are usually based on studies of only male participants, how this affects the women who rely on them: http://somethingproblematic.blogspot.com/2012/02/published-medical-studies-no-girls.html
In general I’m a pretty snarky feminist film fan — I never even saw Titanic, and I just can’t bring myself to see a Katherine Heigl movie. But I have an embarrassing, persistent affection for the Sandra Bullock feature, Practical Magic (1998). This led me to explore the nature of guilty pleasure viewing and to try to explain why this film works for me despite all its weaknesses. I’m so convinced by my conclusions — which come by insights from the terrific film The Celluloid Closet — that I’m now reluctant to call Practical Magic a guilty pleasure anymore. Read it and tell me whether you’ve got guilty-pleasure favorites, and why you feel guilty about them. Oh, also: I thank Rush Limbaugh for clarifying the GOP’s stance on women. The fresh air is exhilarating.
This week, I engaged with a post by Richard Beck and wondered about Mimetic anthropology and virtue ethics? I blogged about my class on the Holy Spirit this week, where I had an “aha” moment that connected Zizioulas and Congar (with diagrams!) And I reflected on how the RC bishops are missing an opportunity in their response to marriage equality, even without challenging official church teaching on the subject: Marriage equality as a teaching moment. On a lighter note, I also lobbied for St. Ephraim, Mary Magdalene, Thomas Merton, and the Apostle Thomas in this week’s Lent Madness silliness.
Next time some jerk tells me to make him a sandwich, I’m doing this: http://onefemalegaze.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/mathochism-calculus-sandwich/ And there is no way to limit infinity: http://onefemalegaze.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/mathochism-fun-with-infinity/
I love this idea 😀 This week, I wrote a lot but the posts more relevant to feminism are the double standards in Islamic law (in terms of gender issues), accessible here: http://qrratugai.blogspot.com/2012/03/let-me-get-this-straight-double.html and an introductory post on Islamic law and women (it’s to be a series because there’s lots of background to give, so I’ll be continuing this for the next few weeks): http://islam-and-gender.blogspot.com/2012/03/islamic-law-and-women-part-i.html
Have you heard that yogurt can prevent yeast infections? We posted an article summarizing what the science says about yogurt’s claimed ability to prevent yeast infections. It’s not as clear cut as many of us have been led to believe! This one’s for the skeptics: a piece on honing your baloney detector. Online merchants peddling bogus cures for STIs, yeast infections, and other conditions have been on our radar lately, and this is a response to that. Lastly, one of our volunteers wrote a post about watching state legislators debate over one of Arizona’s most recently proposed anti-choice bills.
I am part of a team of researchers at Yale University carrying out a large-scale study on issues related to sexuality and sexual minorities. This completely anonymous online survey usually takes between ten and fifteen minutes. Please take this opportunity to express your views; your responses could be essential to the diversity of the sample. Visit this URL to participate: https://yalepsych.qualtrics.com//SE/?SID=SV_831r92XR2Jpn7aQ&lk=FE1
Face Off: Musty Vampire Edition : The self hating vampire emo vampire seems to be the new thing and so this week we attempted to decide which of the most popular vampires are the most musty. Cover Snark: Deformed Female Bodies and Photoshop Gone Wild : Though urban fantasy largely has female protagonists, the covers are largely set for the male gaze and this week we look at the harm can be done when Photoshop goes to far. The Importance of Critiquing Urban Fantasy: Because urban fantasy largely looks at vampires, werewolves, fairys etc., it tends to get a pass on serious critique and this week we look at why this is a mistake. What We Wish from Authors in the Internet Age : In the digital age, authors are far more accessible than they ever were but some still manage to get it desperately wrong. The Walking Dead Season Two, Episode Ten: 18 Miles Out : A critical look at the latest episode of The Walking Dead, specifically examining the anti-choice language of the last episode.
This week I reviewed Some Like It Hot, a movie that has more to say about the performative nature of gender than it thinks it does: https://before1984.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/some-like-it-hot-1959/
An open letter to young women during International Women’s Month. The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: protecting our ladybits during foreign travel. Madness, rage and grief in the Haïtian revolutionary Marie Sainte Dédée Bazile. Georgia church vs the Virgin Stripper… errr, Mary, nursing the baby Jesus.
I’m re-starting my blog and trying to get my momentum going again, after taking a looooooong, mother-in-law induced hiatus. If anyone wants to encourage me, I would love that!
Individualism v. Collectivism: The Victim-Shaming Edition– A nightclub’s “Battle of the Complexions” make me think about the responsibility of willing participants of objectification. I got mad at Huggies’ new “Nominate a Dad” campaign. I talked about ithere, and here, and then it culminated with “A Rambling: Feminism, Parenting, Equality, and Ripping My Hair Out.” What I’ve Learned about Urban Dining and Babies– A trip to a local restaurant makes me reflect on how much having a kid has changed the way we choose places to eat.
In my ongoing post series on socially constructed identities, I’m starting a series exploring the concept of neurotype and neurotypicalism: Identities: Neurotype — Your Brain is Broken
This week I wrote… Defending the female fuck-up : On why it should be considered progress to show imperfect women in comedy You want the blue pill; we’ll pay for it. You want the red pill; Rush Limbaugh owns your sex life : On…well, the obvious. But I took his position as a literal philosophical argument, just for fun, and analyzed it on the basis. Marks of the cross that don’t rub off : On the most important considerations of getting a tattoo, and whether those are being properly considered by members of a church Houston getting tattooed for Lent.
When teenage dieting leads to adult binge eating (and when it doesn’t) Posted on Binge Eating and Bulimia: The latest psychological research
The Forty-Sixth Down Under Feminists Carnival: a carnival of Australian and New Zealand feminist writing from February. Expanding the conversation on feminists of faith: I’m starting an interview series, so pop on over if you have suggestions. Music Monday: Various takes on love edition: ‘Love isn’t always of the romantic kind – and it’s not always kind, or loving, at all.’
Here’s a petition to fire Rush Limbaugh. Please sign it, and link it on your blog/Facebook/twitter if you can. I did NOT create this petition but I think it’s the right think to do. Scroll down to sign: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fire-russ-limbaughremove_sponsors/
Binoculars — Memories of and keepsakes from my dad, why they mean what they mean. In more closely yoga-related stuff, I reviewed Shiva Rea’s Creative Core + Upper Body DVD, looking especially at accommodation and a little at body diversity. I also analyzed standing head to big toe pose as work and engagement for the pelvic floor muscles. And in recognition of Endometriosis Awareness Month, the latest endo fact (part of a series).
On the racism of squirrels and misunderstandings of what it means to be “politically correct”. And a quick hit on the vested interests of those who are restricting reproductive choice in the US.
I wrote about the poll that apparently found almost half of all young women would rather large breasts than high IQ’s : http://www.gappytales.com/2012/03/big-breasts-or-big-brain-which-would-you-rather.html
On the group weight loss blog I write at, I did a post about the Georgia Fat-Shaming campaign (trigger warning on the rest of the site for weight issues)
Why doesn’t the Religious Right condemn this un-Biblical practice that is rampant, nationwide? Is it because some of their own are guilty? The Unspeakable Sin So, are all these women committing parthenogenesis and being slutty with the same half-dozen guys? As women defend our right to birth control, Where are the Men?
Three blog posts. The first (and urgent): Bob McDonnell is an out-of-control dictator. He sent in police with dogs and riot gear to suppress a peaceful women’s rights rally yesterday in Richmond: http://aikenareaprogressive.blogspot.com/2012/03/mcdonnells-out-of-control-gestapo.html That link now includes video. The second: Sandra Fluke is the Best Person of the Month. http://aikenareaprogressive.blogspot.com/2012/03/best-person-of-month-for-march.html The third: One of four women who were killed in a domestic violence slaying in Wagener, S.C. in July lost her home to a tornado on February 24: http://aikenareaprogressive.blogspot.com/2012/02/twin-tragedy-tornado-crushes-wagener.html
R.I.P. Davy Jones. I don’t usually get verklempt over celebrity deaths, but this one was different to me. Music is such a big part of my life. Not the most feminist topic, I know, but probably more so than the previous post I wrote about fashion at the Oscar’s. 🙂
This week we wrote about: How to maintain a Southern-ish identity once you leave: http://ok4rj.org/2012/02/here-to-help-my-story-of-location-and-activist-identity/ Finding politically “red” areas in “blue” states: http://ok4rj.org/2012/02/we-found-love-in-a-hopeless-place-breaking-down-the-red-state-blue-state-binary/ Wondering why in the hell lawmakers with no medical background find the need to legislate medicine: http://ok4rj.org/2012/02/the-controversy-of-medicine/ Finding community at an anti-personhood rally in Oklahoma: http://ok4rj.org/2012/03/strength-in-numbers-the-importance-of-community/ Bacon shots! http://ok4rj.org/2012/03/rodeo-roundup-bacon-shots/
New post on one of the bits of language we use, and its feminist history: Talking the talk: the importance, history and limitations of the word ‘survivor’ Warnings: this article is about the use of the word survivor, so covers some issues around abuse/violence, dealing with its impacts, and how others respond. I will not describe any abuse or other violence, but various victim-blaming and other negative responses are described in order to be refuted. Tags: activism, bearing witness, cissexism, language, racism, monosexism, radical feminism, rape culture, survivor, victim, victim-blaming
A few short posts about Rush Limbaugh’s slut-shaming comments, the lack of parity among magazine and newspaper writers, and why women hate their bare faces.
The Redomestication of the American Woman I wrote a guest post at ForbesWoman this week! Contraception: A Women’s Right, The End of Patriarchy, or Both? Why all the uproar over the last few weeks about contraception/”religious freedom”? Let’s remember that historically speaking, women’s access to contraception and subsequent control of their sexuality and fertility have been revolutionary in patriarchal societies. Mommy Blogs Have a Diversity Problem, But Should We Care? Beyond meal planning, DIY crafts, and homeschooling agendas, mommy blogs exhibit something else: white female privilege. What Men Want: M.R.S. Degrees or PhDs? In the last century, conventional wisdom held that if a woman was more educated than her male counterpart, then she was less likely to be of marriageable quality. Recent research has now debunked that: women by and large are no longer penalized (by being less marriageable) for being as or even more educated than their marital prospects. Lenten Reflection: The Unclean Woman A reflection on meeting a woman shunned by society on the subway in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Why We Critique Urban Fantasy A post on why we think it’s important to analyse Urban Fantasy, especially in relation to -isms Cover Snark: Deformed Bodies and Photoshop Gone Wild a continued look at Urban Fantasy book covers and their sexualising tricks Being Human (US) Season 2 Episode 7 Ties that Bind: A Social justice look at the last episode of Being Human Face Off: Musty Vampires a look at 4 of the mustiest vampires we’ve found in the genre – let the soulful eyes and tortured angst competition begin!
I wrote my first guest post at another blog this week, at Hoyden About Town. It’s on http://hoydenabouttown.com/20120228.11420/being-an-asexual-ally/ (If you feel the urge to comment, make sure you actually read the post first.) Also, a quick post that’s kinda a repost of something I saw here last week, on period shaming in relation to using tampons is public and being told to practise being quiet as a mouse!
Why The Forced Ultrasound Bill Is Rape *TW For Graphic Mentions Of Actual Object Rape Done On And Done By Actual People*: http://katreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-forced-ultrasound-bill-is-rape-tw.html A post about why abortion should never be compared to the Holocaust on my Tumblr: http://katherinetheliberal.tumblr.com/post/18750862129/awakened-by-love-those-who-forget-history-are
Something on body image and trying to ensure Boogie doesn’t have an issue with hers. Or develop an eating disorder. You know – the small stuff… http://mistressofboogie.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/food-glorious-food-2/
Dancing Treat is a video of a recent belly dance performance in Madrid, NM. This an art town in the mountains outside Santa Fe Embodying Erishkigal is this weeks Pagan Blog Project post. I discuss what it’s like embodying a goddess of the underworld and how much good it does me. DandyKor is Albuqueerque’s Gender Bending queertastic Bi-monthly Carnival. Come see me belly dance on March 16th! And I begin a new series called the Importance of Alternate Economies, exploring how to enrich our lives and communities without a focus on monetary exchanges.
in a spiritual frame this week: as we embark women’s herstory month, i have added a brief poetic scan of Black women’s struggle to come into a collective self up to the the 1970s (added as #2 of “geneses”). your words and reactions are more than welcomed since they will be helpful in the directions i take. “geneses” (plural for genesis, or beginning) is a multi-faceted piece in progress that looks at origin in different ways [examples: 1st: subconscious emergings (to be expanded), 2nd: pathways of struggle]. – http://blkcowrie.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/1384/ otherwise, i have added a plethora of videos for literary and cultural inspiration. peruse the category “musings” or the tags “image” or “video” or “article”, sit back and be blessed! – http://blkcowrie.wordpress.com (scroll down page for options) happy spring, she’lz
is a project that’s been around for a few years now, working to redefine “wrong” and validate the full spectrum of sexual assault. The new website was just launched a couple of weeks ago, and now you can read many of the stories online! You can also read an interview telling more about the project at Any questions–feel free to email me at anditwaswrong@gmail.com. Thanks to you all for doing what you do!
I was sick all week – bladder infection – which meant I couldn’t have sex. But that did not stop me from writing about sex: http://disciplineandanarchy.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/male-consent-or-can-women-rape/
It can be a scary prospect to call up an abortion clinic…Which is probably why some patients don’t immediately admit that’s why they’re calling. A new post on The Provider Project discussing how online videos about abortion are helping women who may be too scared to call the clinic.
And It Was Wrong (www.anditwaswrong.com) is a project that’s been around for a few years, working to redefine “wrong” and validate the full spectrum of sexual assault. The new website was just launched a couple of weeks ago, and now you can read many of the stories online! If you want more background on the project, check out an interview posted at http://jenbokoff.com/post/17712314238/anditwaswrong If you have any questions, feel free to email me at anditwaswrong@gmail.com. Thanks to you all for all that you do! Rachael ps. Sorry for my failed attempt at posting this with embedded links earlier–still figuring that one out.
Another reason the death penalty is bad: http://daisysdeadair.blogspot.com/2012/03/edward-lee-elmore-freed-from-sc-death.html Mentally disabled man is freed from SC Death Row after **30 years**
Hello! This week I wrote a recap of The Walking Dead and the writers’ slip into misogyny, about the Canadian conservative party and their robocall scandal, and how many steps it will take the GOP to get to The Handmaid’s Tale. For something on the lighter side, my co-worker and I have started dressing up mannequins at the store we work at and writing little stories for them: the adventures of Doris and Mona, part one and two. Have a great week everyone!
Really nervous about posting this. My brain farts around the notion of “personhood” that is used as some defence against abortion, and why I don’t think even a full acknowledgement of personhood could force abortion to be outlawed. http://uristmcdorf.tumblr.com/post/18628203623/in-which-i-get-my-feminist-bitch-hat-on
I haven’t been very productive this week… 🙁 http://miriammogilevsky.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/limbaugh-really-should-educate-himself-about-birth-control/ http://miriammogilevsky.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/liking-yourself-and-being-a-good-person-is-there-a-connection/
The latest from F, the Sydney Feminist Collective: http://fcollective.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/sydney-action-for-juarez/ Are you a feminist in Sydney? Or with a connection to Syd? Search the F collective on facebook or better yet, come meet us. Info here And my latest: http://meganclementcouzner.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/dudes-and-sexual-violence-part-2/
I made some suggestions for the anti-choice protesters to make their prayers more constructive: http://wp.me/p1FE65-2G
This week food is on my mind! http://contradictorymultitudes.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/my-food-is-problematic/
This week I broke down a few takeaways from recent pro-choice victories. http://gwenemmons.com/2012/03/03/pro-choice-wins-not-just-jon-stewarts-doing/
I did a reaction to a right-wing Catholic columnist’s call for a ban on surrogate motherhood: On surrogacy, slavery and choice(s): My response to Breda O’Brien Also, how some of the reaction to Rush Limbaugh offensively misses the point: On Rush Limbaugh, slut-shaming and whorephobia
Last week, I published some examples of gendered science, especially in a blog entry called “Your heart and my back: two examples of gender-enhanced science” at http://curt-rice.com. It starts like this: Medical science improves our lives by developing treatments for illnesses. But if a treatment is going to work for everyone, research and testing must be done on a varied population. The challenges of science often lead to just the opposite situation. One way to test if a drug is actually having the hypothesized effect is to give it to several people who are otherwise as similar as possible. Medical treatments may therefore be developed without sufficient testing on both men and women.
I also jumped into the Smith College discussion, with a post called: Two lessons on diversity from Smith College at http://curt-rice.com It starts with: The “obvious” tension between diversity and quality leapt onto the front page this week through a debate at Smith College. And just in case you’re unsure, the putatively obvious connection is that increasing diversity decreases quality. The debate at Smith presents a new twist on this issue, and it offers at least two lessons to university leaders everywhere.
MacKenzie and Curt-Any research done by and for women should also be done on post-menopausal women. The example MacKenzie cites, referred to estrogen effects, including ERT. Many of us opt out of ERT, for reasons ranging from carcinogenicity to expense. ephemeradical: excellent, seriously helpful post. The material on neuronic pathways makes me consider physical patterning as a shadetree-mechanical possibility for neurogenesis to heal or bypass my ingrained trauma responses.
College sexual-harassment policies: way less crappy than people on the Internet say. http://noseriouslywhatabouttehmenz.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/sexual-harassment-policies-on-campus/ Seriously, people, why do we need a success-scented candle and a testicle-shaped teabag for men to like candles and tea? http://noseriouslywhatabouttehmenz.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/the-masculinization-of-femme-stuff/ I have a before body, and I’m proud. http://noseriouslywhatabouttehmenz.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/the-before-body/