imperfection is underrated.

Katie-Rose, 27, Belfast, I've been here too long

[shetheyslain]

Dahling you simply must read this book! It’s all about this devious little caterpillar who simply gorges himself on all manner of divine things

[catchymemes]

[lessmouse]

day 6 / ???

[bakurapika]

this is really interesting in how it frames disability/low spoons/etc as not being a series of internal symptoms, but specifically a situation in which daily tasks increase in complexity. for example i used to be able to wash the dishes normally. but now mental and physical issues combine to make that situation have a lot of prequalifications (do I have time, energy, how long can I do it without being sore the next day) that means many more steps are involved in getting that single physical act of washing a dish to be done.

[rockshitty]

I’m trying to remember the quote. “On a good day, doing laundry is three steps. On a bad day, the first step is getting out of bed.”

[bethanydelleman]

People who long for some imaginary idyllic past that never existed aren't reading enough female-written classic literature or they aren't paying attention when they do, because the imagined social contract of men holding power and wealth and using it to provide for and protect women has never worked.

Jane Austen emphasizes marrying prudently, but without sufficient independent wealth (rare), a woman's life becomes tied to a good man's survival. Mr. Dashwood inheriting late and dying early put his wife and daughter's fates in the hands of his selfish son. When women cannot work, they must hope that their fathers live until they marry, hope that their brothers will take care of them, and hope to be provided for as widows. Even love matches can end in ruin if the man holding the money is incompetent, as Mrs. Smith in Persuasion emphasizes. But men are supposed to provide for the dependant women in their lives, Jane Austen points to this social contract again and again, so why does it fail? Because there are almost no consequences when men refuse to do their duty. No one shuns John Dashwood for the way he treats his female relations. The only ones with the power to hold men accountable are men themselves, and why would they do that?

Not to mention that a man can uproot his entire family's life without any need to consult them (North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell), the jobs available to women were degrading and poorly paid (Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë), escaping abuse was dangerous and legally difficult (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë & Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë), being born as an intelligent woman was seen as a curse because it was useless and wouldn't get you married (The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot), etc. etc. etc.

Elizabeth Bennet might have gotten her fairy tale ending, but Charlotte Lucas would have given her left kidney to be able to get a job and pay for "comfortable home" all on her own.

[bethanydelleman]

The most amazing thing to me about Jane Austen is that she staunchly refuses to leave any woman behind. It doesn't matter if a woman is an antagonist, a side character, or what, the reader is assured that they will be okay. This is so different from fiction at the time or even now.

Marianne Dashwood, living a plot perfect for a tragic death by illness to preserve the beauty of her first attachment and disappointment? Nope, she lives and loves with her whole heart again. Maria Rushworth, the fallen woman who cheated on her husband does not die for her crimes or even fall into poverty or prostitution, her father and Aunt Norris will provide for her. She is punished, but she's protected. Lydia Bennet? Her two sisters will provide for her for the rest of her life. Her husband's debt will not destroy her. Miss Bates? There is an entire community around her no matter what happens and her newly rich niece will provide. No woman is even left as a governess, Miss Taylor is Mrs. Weston, Jane Fairfax becomes Mrs. Churchill instead. Mrs. Smith is pulled out of her indigent state by Anne and Wentworth.

The only woman Jane Austen allows to suffer a terrible fate is off-page and dead long before the novel begins: Eliza Brandon. Eliza Williams, her mother's affair baby, is ruined by Willoughby. Colonel Brandon could easily have washed his hands of her and her affair child, but he doesn't. Eliza Williams is going to be okay. Her child will be okay.

Antagonist women never fall into poverty or die for their crimes, most of them are even in loving marriages. Fanny Dashwood is cruel to her mother and sisters-in-law, one could imagine her falling low in karmic retribution, but no, she's fine. Lady Susan, the delightful anti-heroine, marries a baronet at the end of her novel. No punishment looms on the horizon for her promiscuity and deception. Caroline Bingley has a loving family that will never turn her away and an independent fortune. Mary Crawford has a loving sister. Isabella Thorpe may have lost the big prize, but she has her mother. Never is a woman thrown to abuse or poverty, even when they have attacked other women. The only punishment would come from their own conscience or regret for the goodness they have thrown away.

Jane Austen somehow imagines a world where even the worst women are safe.

[coughloop]

No 👎

[fluoresensitives]

Personally I hate AI because it uses slave labor, is killing the planet and is making people stupid, but that's just me. The soulless art aspect is just one little piece of my grander disdain.

[wackom]

That's how they do that

[dommingateez]

*staring sternly into the mirror* you've had a wild week, you haven't eaten today, you've barely interacted with people today. do not trust the Vague Sense of Unease

[caats]

[lenetaylor]

band on the run

[cutemech]

she got stage fright

[mostlycatsmostly]

[iputhepinprincess]

Big baby 🐻 ❄️

[hbmmaster]

how much does the aurora borealis weigh

[hbmmaster]

it's pretty light

[gender-anarchy-deactivated20250]

[anima-sp0rca]

[tinysatan-rulesagain999]

[animentality]

[the-merry-otter]

Tunic embroidered with old Norse runes around the bottom that read “I joined the SCA and all I got was this stupid t-tunic”

[the-merry-otter]

The sleeve cuffs are also embroidered with runes, one side reading “women want me” and the other side “the britons fear me”

[the-merry-otter]

My friend has suggested that the neckline read “Briton women feel conflicted on the matter”

[the-merry-otter]

Everyone reblogging this with some variation of “if you don’t do it, I will”, consider: we can all do this. There are not a finite number of silly embroidered tunics in this world. I only ask that you send me pics if you do :P

[sca-nerd]

This is my SCA

[josephus-miller]

Literally me but I went with the classic 'women want me fish fear me' in old Irish.

[the-merry-otter]

Omg amazing

[riphertoshreds]

Stevie Nicks photographed in 1983 during the Wild Hearts Tour.