XX Revelations

The poetry of my dreams, the metaphysics of liberation.

[fuckyeahvikingsandcelts]

Russian man spends 6 months living in the 10th century

Most of us like reading stories about ancient times and fantasize that our ancestors’ lives were easy and romantic, but were they really? 24-year-old Russian man Pavel Sapozhnikov decided to see what his ancestors’ lives were really like by spending 6 months living in 10th-century conditions.

“The idea is to see if a modern man can survive alone in an early medieval environment, what impact this kind of lifestyle will have on his psychological state” says Alexey Ovcharenko, who is the driving force behind the “Alone in the Past” project.

For six months – until March 22 – Pavel will live in a medieval farm without electricity, running water, Internet access and other modern comforts. The autumn and winter seasons were chosen on purpose – scientists want to explore the everyday challenges faced by medieval people during the toughest time of the year.

Thanks to fivestrings-attached for pointing this amazing photo collection to me.

[female-resistance]

From the pictures I seriously thought he was a hipster. He wouldn't have been alone though. Humans are social animals and he would need to trade.

[pretty-brown-eyes27]

[yourpersonalcheerleader-deactiv]

“Have you ever come across a homeless individual and felt totally uncomfortable?

You see them and you know they are in need, but you are not sure what to do. You know that handing them money is not the best thing. But, you also see that they clearly have some needs. Their lips are chapped. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are asking for help.

How can you help?

Here is a simple idea - blessing bags.

This was such an easy project. We are now going to keep a few “Blessing Bags” in our car so that when we do happen to see someone on the streets who is homeless, we can hand them a Blessing Bag. I first learned of these bags from my friend, Julie. I am using the picture of her bags (see above) because the ones we took were taken in horrible lighting and turned out really grainy and hard to see what is inside of them.

If you’d like to make your own Blessing Bags, this is what you would need:

Gallon size Ziplock bags

items to go in the bags, such as:

chap stick

packages of tissues

toothbrush and toothpaste

comb

soap

trail mix

granola bars

crackers

pack of gum

band aids

mouthwash

coins (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)

hand wipes

you could also put in a warm pair of socks, and maybe a Starbucks gift card

Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence.

This would be a great activity to do with some other families. Each family could bring one of the items going into the bags (ex: toothbrushes). Set up all the items around a table and walk around it with the ziplocks and fill the bags.”

http://kwavs.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessing-bags-how-to.html

[velvethorn]

Hey, words from an actual former homeless person here.

Those people you see who make you uncomfortable? Those aren’t homeless people, they’re beggars. Well, some of them are also homeless. Some of them are not. NOT ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE BEGGARS. (Also, they’re not all addicts, though some are. You literally know nothing about a beggar’s life except that they are beggars.)

Beggars have a uniform like any other kind of worker. They have to look as bedraggled and dirty and pathetic as possible. If you gave a beggar a chance to shower and wash their clothes, you would be damaging their earning potential. They make their money by manipulating the feelings of people who don’t know much about poverty. That means they have to play to stereotypes, some of which are like a hundred years out of date.

When I was homeless, I did not beg. (I stole, dealt with charities, sometimes even worked. Yes, you can be homeless with a full-time job. I’ve worked 60 hours a week and been homeless. And I mean sleeping in a car or a tent homeless, not on somebody’s couch homeless, though that’s an under-counted form of homelessness. I asked for food once or twice, but I didn’t look like a beggar.) I kept myself clean. I looked like anyone else. That person you pass in the store, on the bus, someone who looks just like anyone else, they could be homeless. The sales clerk who helps you for minimum wage. They could have lost their apartment because you can’t pay rent on that salary.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with begging. And it’s true that some people do actually just look like that because due to mental illness or addiction they sincerely can’t take care of themselves. Some of them are honestly nothing more than scam artists who have no real need, though, playing off people’s sympathy for those who genuinely do need help. But let’s assume that you were giving these to an actual homeless person.

- soap is not that difficult to come by if you are so inclined to have/use it. Many public bathrooms have it. Homeless shelters will give you a bar of it. If you have $10 or so for a truck stop shower, soap is provided. Running water is a lot more difficult.

- believe it or not, they may already have a toothbrush and toothpaste, and if they don’t, it’s unlikely they have any interest in using them. Homeless people commonly cache useful items wrapped in plastic in a bunch of hidden places. If you want to help the homeless, next time you find one of those caches, don’t throw them away. I mean, think about it. If you had to start living on the street, would you stop brushing your teeth? I didn’t either. Plus, if everyone gave homeless people one of these packs, they’d have more toothbrushes than they did teeth. Same with the deodorant—one stick lasts a long time, and they give them to you in shelters. This kind of mismanagement and waste is incredibly frustrating. People are willing to flush money down the toilet to avoid helping you TOO much.

- food is nice! But keep in mind that not everyone can eat stuff you give them. Dietary restrictions like diabetes and Crohn’s unfortunately don’t go away when you become homeless. Maybe this is why they were hoping for cash? Also, some (though not all) homeless people have access to food already through food stamps, soup kitchens, charities, etc. A granola bar is nice, but they likely have other problems. If they need food, they will usually have a sign asking for food, or ask for it verbally! Otherwise food might not be a problem for them.

- I’ve given medicine to beggars when it was asked for. Medicine can be super useful if you have a need of it. But when you don’t have a place to put your shit, you realize what a luxury it is to be able to store shit you don’t need at the moment. At best, it could go into one of those caches, if that individual uses caches, or into a shopping cart if they haul one of those around. Or in a car if they have one.

You know what’s useful, lightweight, and portable? MONEY.

You know what money can be used for?

- the nightly fee of some pay-shelters to keep you out of the elements.

- minutes for a pay-as-you-go phone, which can be used for emergencies, scheduling appointments with therapists, doctors, and addiction counselors, even searching for jobs or housing. There is a TON of bureaucracy involved in getting help when you have nothing, and that shit burns through your minutes. Payphones? What is this, 1980? I still have and use a phone I bought while living in my car. It was $10.

- gas for a car, if they have one. (Commoner in rural areas.)

- a hot shower at a truck stop.

- medicine, including prescription medication.

- items that protect against the elements, in their size!

- transportation. News flash, no bus will let you on for pocket change.

- items you might not even think of, like pet food (some homeless people have pets!) sanitary napkins (even if they don’t look female—remember how the homeless rates go up if you’re queer? Yeah.) condoms (possibly for sex work? Not something you want to assume though!) diapers (adult or otherwise! seriously! You don’t know their lives!) or pretty much anything else THAT IS BOUGHT AND SOLD WITH MONEY.

Does that include cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol? You bet it does. But you know what, if that’s what they need, you’re in no position to judge. I’ve never been through withdrawal, but I’ve seen people go through it, and it’s complete shit. If that were you, yeah, you wouldn’t want to get drug sick, are you fucking kidding me? Offset it with a contribution to a rehab center, whatever helps you sleep at night.

And all this is assuming the person giving you a case of the guilts is actually homeless. When they may not be. And other people you don’t notice around you almost surely are.

That uncomfortable feeling you get, though? That has a name. It’s called INEQUALITY. It means that you know you have shit other people don’t have access to. You probably have resources so that even if you were in trouble, there’d be safety nets. You have the kind of money that you can buy a bunch of care packages to assuage this horrible guilt you feel every time you’re in bed in the rain and you know someone else out there isn’t. Those feelings are right. The world shouldn’t be this unequal. We shouldn’t have houses standing empty while people live on the street. We shouldn’t have food sitting in warehouses till it spoils while people starve. We shouldn’t be punishing people for trying to medicate away the pain we gave them.

If you want to REALLY help the poor, go buy a pen and paper and write to your representatives. Stop blaming “generational welfare users” for being “leeches on the system.” Tell them you want to see real aid going to people in your community. Tell them to fund the mental health system, which is inadequate for the demand and constantly getting slashed. Tell them you don’t want to see food stamps cut for bad grades! Tell them a stitch in time saves nine, and if they helped people who were losing their homes, maybe there wouldn’t be so many homeless. Tell them to decriminalize drug use and prostitution. Tell them to support programs like Insite. Support universal healthcare, because you’d be surprised how many people end up homeless due to illness, either in themselves or a family member. If you’re ever in a position of power, such as a landlord or employer, don’t discriminate against people who don’t have a current address. Also don’t discriminate against marginalized groups by race, gender, orientation, ability, etc. These people are more likely to end up homeless because of this BS. Check out charities in your area doing actual outreach with the poor, many of whom are not beggars and not visible. And if you’re going to give a beggar something, either ask them what they need or just give them fucking money.

You can’t make that uncomfortable feeling go away with the wave of a magic wand. You can’t buy exemption from the fact that you HAVE and others DON’T with some soap and granola.

[female-resistance]

"decriminalize drug use and prostitution"  Full legalization of prostitution is bad news for poor prostituted people. If you really want to help, advocate for the Swedish Model.

[ladiesagainsthumanity]

[babygoatsandfriends]

Colourful edible flowers in chevre (goat’s cheese). via 

Green Renaissance

[female-resistance]

Beautiful!

[female-resistance]

When I was 15/16 yrs old I was in an online relationship with a grown man. I was not a radical feminist or even a feminist yet and did not really know how much men cannot be trusted. Lately the man has been sending me threatening emails and has hold me he has shared the...

[smashingcontrolmachines-deactiv]

men suck

I’m not interested in a world where men really want to watch porn but resist because they’ve been shamed; I’m interested in a world where men are raised from birth with such an unshakable understanding of women as living human beings that they are incapable of being aroused by their exploitation.

[female-resistance]

I'm not interested in a world with men at all. 

[exgynocraticgrrl-archive-deacti]

Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible pt. 1

[themushr000m]

FOR REAL! stop going to Africa, stop wearing dreads, LISTEN AND TEACH YOUR PEOPLE! 

[fuckingrapeculture]

[White woman speaking: In college, I once went to an event and I approached a young, African-American male who had spoken very beautifully at this gathering, and I said, “I wanna help. How can I help? Y’know, how can I help promote change and equality for American-Americans and for all people of color? And he just turned to me and he said: “Educate your own people.”]

[female-resistance]

He still has more privilege than her as a man in patriarchy. Anyone with an a radfem class understanding knows that. European pre christian tribal ppl sometimes wore dreads. 

[gradientlair]

Here’s where the racial fissures in feminism come out: by all means, defend a woman’s right to govern her own body; it’s great that white feminists have that goal at the top of their lists. But meanwhile, as a woman of color, I’m still defending my right to actually be considered a body at all and not decoration. Expressing your sexuality at my expense isn’t okay. You don’t get to claim sexual freedom while simultaneously perpetuating the oppression of another body. When you feel the need to express your sexuality by turning my body into an accessory, the black feminist in me—two identities which I refuse to separate—can’t have your back anymore. The feminist struggle is a struggle for autonomy. It’s a fight for recognition and full-body respect. But in Cyrus’ search for and exploration of her sexual identity, she limits my autonomy as a woman of color. She appropriates it. She cheapens it. She effectively uses the identity and lived experiences of so many women of color as a crutch for her career.

Jacqui Germain

This quote is from her essay Miley Cyrus, Feminism and The Struggle for Black Recognition. Critically important essay. Larger issues here than the disgust that was the VMAs and Miley’s performance alone. For how long will White women’s sexual freedom and autonomy be paid for by Black women’s bodies, experiences and pain? This would be White supremacy, not feminism, actually…

(later edit: the essay was published by Latoya Peterson, but written by Jacqui Germain. Corrected on 8/29/2013.)

Wow its news to me white women's bodies are consider human. 

[sir-madam-prongs]

We need to take a large step back in time for a moment, to the early part of Freud’s era, when modern psychology was born. In the late 1890s, when Freud was in the dawn of his career, he was struck by how many of his female patients were revealing childhood incest victimization to him. Freud concluded that child sexual abuse was one of the major causes of emotional disturbances in adult women and wrote a brilliant and humane paper called “The Aetiology of Hysteria.” However, rather than receiving acclaim from his colleagues for his ground-breaking insights, Freud met with scorn. He was ridiculed for believing that men of excellent reputation (most of his patients came from upstanding homes) could be perpetrators of incest. Within a few years, Freud buckled under this heavy pressure and recanted his conclusions. In their place he proposed the “Oedipus complex,” which became the foundation of modern psychology. According to this theory any young girl actually DESIRES sexual contact with her father, because she wants to compete with her mother to be the most special person in his life. Freud used this construct to conclude that the episodes of incestuous abuse his clients had revealed to him HAD NEVER TAKEN PLACE; they were simply fantasies of events that women had WISHED FOR when they were children and that the women had come to believe they were real. This construct started a hundred-year history in the mental health field of blaming victims for the abuse perpetrated on them and outright discrediting of women’s and children’s reports of mistreatment by men. Once the abuse was denied in this way, the stage was set for some psychologists to take the view that any violent or sexually exploitative behaviors that couldn’t be denied- because they were simply to obvious- should be considered MUTUALLY caused. Psychological literature is thus full of descriptions of young children who “seduce” adults into sexual encounters and of women whose “provocative” behavior causes men to become violent or sexually assaultive toward them.

Why Does He Do That - Lundy Bancroft  (via sir-madam-prongs)

[smile-like-you-mean-it-darling-]

I haven’t actually attended any sessions with my doctors and the clinic I was going to about my ME in over two years. I have this big thing about pretending it’s not there, pretending that it doesn’t affect me and when I’m having a good day/week ( rare I know) I go all out. Now I think because I...

[female-resistance]

I think it is but you have to mentally prepare yourself for disappointment. And if you live in a country where you pay for medical care I would just spend the money on healthy food because they don't know shit about CFS anyways.

[female-resistance]

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Except when you have chronic fatigue syndrome.

Fuck my life.

[poopypies]

Creating “cis” as the oppressor class was really a brilliant move. The fact that transphobia is a form of misogyny that still ultimately benefits men can be entirely circumvented. The fact that transphobic violence is performed mostly by men is overlooked. The fact that women are oppressed from birth by sex is pushed under the rug. Because oppressors should have no voice in the struggle of the oppressed, in one fell swoop, women are entirely silenced. They may not point out the misogyny in the “gender spectrum.” They may not call anything a “women’s issue” to highlight the misogynistic motives behind it, as that is now exclusionary. Lesbians now don’t get a say in their sexuality or terms. Women don’t get to speak about the realities of womanhood from birth, because now it also is now exclusionary. Really, this was an amazingly effective political move.

rad&funkyphresh:   (via thespinsterette)

[female-resistance]

Michael Jackson had a meeting at the WTC on 9/11 but overslept. Too bad. At least he's dead now.

[female-resistance]

You sound like one of those Westboro Baptist scumbags. Congrats, you are the worst person alive. When you're so hateful that it's unclear whether you're trolling, it's time to seek professional help. Spreading stigma toward HIV positive individuals? Wow, that's commendable, shitting all over some of the most marginalized people alive. You should be ashamed of yourself--HIV does not discriminate, and it's not a "gay" disease. You haven't a clue.

No it is not. I never said that. It effects many women but men who have sex with men are most likely to spread it. I have also decided not to use the f word for gay men. While they are just as misogynist as straight doods I want men to keep their dick out of women! I realize in the eyes of straight people all gay people male and female alike are a enemy and homophobia effects me too as a lesbian. 

[terfbord-deactivated20130828]

Go to liberalism where you belong

[girldwarf]

Kill me

I’ll gladly be liberal then ffs

[female-resistance]

Good take your ass back to liberalism where it belongs you male pleasing cocksucker.

[hedonisticparadise]

hahahaahahahah so basically liberation is only for white women? acknowledging women of colour makes us… male pleasing cocksuckers? 

PLEASE GET OUT OF FEMINISM, THIS IS CLEARLY NOT FOR YOU 

[female-resistance]

no women i am saying that assigning women to categories of race is thought terminating and part of radicalizing is rejecting male identified labels to box ourselves in. i am against mental colonization and 3rd wave intersectionality- a useless term that is mens way of pitting oppression against the other so women cant see its all their fault as a class.

[terfbord-deactivated20130828]

[female-resistance]

That quote was by Lucky Nickel. She is old she knew Andrea Dworkin and Mary Daly. This is basic theory in radical feminism that every other movement is very specific in their goals and what they will focus their energy on but women never get that…

[female-resistance]

@hostilehottie you dont seem like much of a radfem having a username with “hottie” in it is appealing to the male gaze plus your femme appearance. Radical feminism does not through woc under the bus but it rejects men which includes moc.

[sp00kyhottie-deactivated2013100]

to consider yourself attractive is to appeal to the male gaze. noted. thanks for addressing the issue at hand!

[female-resistance]

That word is used by men against women to objectify them but there is nothing wrong with considering yourself attractive you just dont look like a radical feminist if you were that radical you would know how fuckability mandates hurt women. It is relevent the title of my post is about supposed radicals using the name for shits and giggles. Its sew radikewl. You aren’t very radical at all. If you were you would be able to understand racial divisions and identities is just one form of male violence and stuff like Zimmerman killing Tray was a male violence issue not a feminist issue as it was framed. Men kill other men all the time. But other than the gynergy and pain of the mother who lost a child there is nothing feminist about it. I am glad one piece of male scum is ridden from this earth. 

[girldwarf]

do u rly think men are the only people attracted to ladies just wondering

the problem is the patriarchy perceiving her body as an object. there’s nothing actually “object” about her body.

why do you hate women

[female-resistance]

 I use the word faggot to show my extreme hatred of men. It wounds them all including the ones who consider themselves straight. Any man can be misogynist not just straight men. Gay men just suck your gynergy instead.Or berate your appearance. Or use you as a wife while sticking his dick in another man and then giving his wife hiv. Getting married while they know they are gay for het privileges or whatever is so selfish and I despise those men with passion. Its similar to them calling women cunts. Fuck all you faggots get aids and die! I don’t hate women I am a lesbian and support woc in sharing their own truths I just dont support the mainstream reformist action for race. Radical feminists reject all male politiks including liberalism so we don’t go around on tippy toe sharing of not being politically correct. Fuck that shit.

[girldwarf]

"Faggot" isn’t a word full of hate for men; it is a word full of hate for homosexuality.

Everything you wrote is horrible. You are harmful for all people including women. Please do not respond to me again. Your toxic hate for women and oppressed groups degrades the quality of this world.

[female-resistance]

No it isn’t. Faggot has always been a slur against gay men. I am a gay woman. We deal with homophobia and misogyny both. I do not hate oppressed groups. I am mentally and physically disabled and working poor with learning disables and a lesbian in a conservative area. But I focus on the root which is male violence and supremacy. Degrades the quality of the world? lol. Radical feminists are a minority group and that is a reversal bc it is men who truly degrade females and the planet. 

[girldwarf]

You hate a lot of oppressed groups. It’s super clear. You act like you’re the only oppressed person on the planet and rhat you haven’t an inch of privilege in your life. Nonsense.

"Faggot" is a slur. Don’t say it. What I find most interesting is that you think it’s funny to say to straight men because it makes them uncomfy. You know though I would argue that that discomfort is partially motivated by misogyny. I think part of the fear of being a gay man is the fear of being perceived as "feminine" or "less masculine." That fear is therefore misogynistic in nature. Its weird you would exploit that in the name of feminism.

[female-resistance]

I don't act like I am the only oppressed person. I am a radical feminist because over half the human race is oppressed it is far from just me. There is no way you could have taken that from what I said. I am part of a number of oppressed groups including being learning disabled, lesbian, mentally ill, working poor and suffering from a chronic illness but I focus my radfem on opposing male violence because that is the root of all social problems including the disabled not having basic rights and women of color being sexualized by white men. I am aware of the roots of the word faggot but meanings change and today it is clearly a slang against gay men. Not all gay men are feminine that is a stereotypical and feminine gender roles have NOTHING to do with being female I oppose gender roles as do all feminists. They are few words against men that can equal their own against women so feminists I know are working on making more for them.