Comments on: Blamer Brain Trust Action Request

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:48:05 +0000

There is a nice article about women wearing short hair and what it means to them and other people. This is about the evolution of society that has changed the life in many ways, including hairdos. Short hair is practical

By: About a word. « This Highway

About a word. « This Highway — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:04:22 +0000

[...] And that’s where things got tricky. Jane’s talking about her personal experience, but she’s talking about it in political terms. I asked a question about her definition of her experience using those political terms. I wasn’t challenging or invalidating her perception of her experience (and, incidentally, I don’t appreciate her implied challenge to mine when she responded, “If you are still not sure how women are oppressed by men, I refer you to your own experience, or your female family members or your local newspaper or this blog (maybe start with this thread on that blog)”). [...]

By: mearl

mearl — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:37:06 +0000

S: olive branch. I wrote that at the finish of a long day and was at the frayed end of my rope. I stand firm upon my other posts. For those who are pondering the question of sex-positive authenticity, here is a good post to read:

http://womensspace.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/women-and-men-say-no-to-porn-report-on-the-feminist-anti-pornography-conference-at-wheelock-college/

Crap. I don’t know how to make links very well, do I?

By: Pissy P.

Pissy P. — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:46:29 +0000

To answer the question, I’d have to invoke a quote from French actor, Jeanne Moreau, “There are only two things without limit: femininity and the means to exploit it.” Thus pointing to the inextricable link between patriarchal capitalism and its cash cow.

Femininity is a performance, a dance, if you will, done for approval, acceptance and to fatten the wallets and egos of capitalist patriarchy.

Refuse to be a cow.

Pissy
New York, NY

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:30:22 +0000

I’m sick of feeling of not being feminine enough, it’s crippling. Screw femininity. Be human.

By: S

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:00:19 +0000

Merle,
I would never have taken your tone to be mean, a thinly veiled sarcastic attack maybe, but mean no. I was poking fun at myself for being a Foucault quoting academic more than anyone else. I will endeavour to take myself more seriously. Also, I apologise for misinterpreting page long posts on consciousness raising, radical feminism, radical ecological feminism, post structuralism, and postmodern feminsm for theorising and not nitpicking. Point taken. I must say however, that I feel a bit out of sorts over the last dozen or so posts. While I do think that disagreement from both within and outside feminist communities is productive and necessary, I have been to women’s studies conferences where front line workers and academics align themselves into opposing camps and spend half of the day defending themselves against one another. To me it seems as if these posts exude a similar vibe. I guess I’m just wondering why a more symbiotic relationship remains so seemingly elusive?

I am familiar with the FEDO, and they do amazing advocacy work on behalf of Dalit women, girls, boys and men. Is it elitist that educated women founded this organization? I don’t know, and I don’t really care, because they have advocated greatly on behalf of Nepal’s Dalit population, and helped to improve the lives of many, particularly women. In the same breath, is it elitist that educated postmodern, multicultural, and global feminists have developed theories of ethical relativism/absolutism, which have been incorporated into various government policies, especially Canadian immigration policies as they pertain to immigrant and refugee women? Well I don’t know, but I have to respectfully disagree that “elitist feminist theory does not extend to those who have to deal with issues outside the academiaâ€ Honestly, I don’t even know how I would begin to draw this line you’ve alluded to, because to my mind feminism in general, and women as a whole are shaped by fluidity and interconnectedness.

Although I prefer not to place static labels such as radical feminist, social feminist, and postmodern feminist upon myself, I have found the writings of social ecofeminists, Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva to be very helpful in my attempts to understand the kaleidoscope that is feminist thought. Rosemarie Putnam Tong however, is much more poetic and succinct in her assesment than I could ever hope to:

â€œWhat I most treasure about feminist thought is that although it has a beginning, it has no end; and because it has no predetermined end, feminist thought permits each woman to think her own thoughts. Not the truth, but the truths will set women free.â€

By: msxochitl

msxochitl — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:35:39 +0000

J:
“I think that when resistance is the only basket in which we put our patriarchy-ending eggs, it becomes antithetical to that cause, BECAUSE ending patriarchy involves changing people, the world and ourselves in a way that goes beyond mere resistance.”

Where is this world you live in where feminist resistance to patriarchy involves action without thought? You’re arguing forcefully for something that already happens.
I can see what you mean if we had stuff like wet t-shirt contests to raise money for a rape-crisis center. But I haven’t come across much of that.

J: “Itâ€™s the difference between striving for a world where the sexualization of women is not allowed and striving for a world where the sexualization of women is not really thinkable or wanted.”

That sounds like radical feminism to me. (Even though you dissed radical feminists by claiming that we really don’t want to end patriarchy.) And the comparison you’re making here and in previous posts is between liberal feminism and radical feminism, the difference between moving up within the system to abolishing the system. You are not comparising resistance to patriarchy vs. whatever else it is that we should do instead of/in addition to resisting that we are not already doing.

By: msxochitl

msxochitl — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:10:16 +0000

Word, Mearl.

I interviewed this incredible woman here in Nepal named Laxmi Karki. She was imprisoned for organizing against the monarchy and was raped and tortured in jail. While in prison, she did some consciousness raising. Most of the women in jail with her were imprisoned for having abortions and she wanted them to see how all of this is connection: imprisoning women, women not having control over their bodies & the monarchy.

Unfortunately, she probably knows nothing about Lacan and therefore nothing about gender and how to end patriarchy. The poor, deluded thing has no idea that her actions were merely inscribing patriarchy, that her CR in prison didn’t really change people’s mindsets or do anything beyond resisting. I should have told her that, even though she calls herself a feminist, she really just wants patriarchy to continue so that she’ll have something to fight against.

By: mearl

mearl — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:45:19 +0000

And msoxchitl, REALLY. Why bother taking small steps toward change when you can’t have the whole whopping ideal of changing the mindset of all men and ending patriarchy completely? It’s just silliness to take that practical advice of yours and fight for gains in the real world UNTIL you can get to a point where you can gather up everyone in one big critical theory class and have them all suck back a hefty draught of pomo so we’re on the same page. Then when I put on my heels and lipstick and go out to be a sex slave, all the guys will be well-read and realise that I’M BEING AUTHENTIC AND ACTING WITH FREE WILL AND PERSONAL AGENCY, not bowing to the patriarchy. Jeez.

Gawd. Revolution. How silly.

By: mearl

mearl — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:35:58 +0000

S: who quoted Foucault? Nit-pickin’ ain’t theorizin’. I never said patriarchy DOESN’T affect the privileged classes either. Sure, I happen to be educated but have realised that an elitist feminist theory does not extend to those who have to deal with issues outside the academia. Some others have not clued in to this one yet.

I feel like writing, “DUH” here, but that would be petty and mean of me. And we all know I am neither of THOSE.