Root of The Problem

Oppression comes in myriad forms and can only be overcome when the true motives behind it are exposed.

[feministowl]

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. It is not explanable, let alone excusable, by a white supremacist's mental illness or any other individualized excuse likely to be propogated about this man. The person who did this is ailed by the same hatred of people of color that has run this country since the day white settlers arrived on this land and began ruining the lives of innocent people here and around the globe. The #CharlestonShooting is yet another consequence of systemic racism, white supremacy, and **white silence** about white violence in this country and around the world. To my fellow white friends/not friends: Wake. The. Fuck. Up. This is our problem because we are the ones doing this. We allow this to happen because we refuse to let go of our privilege or to be in the least bit vulnerable to having our feelings hurt because we don't understand the entirity of the consequences of our actions and deliberate inactions. #BlackLivesMatter

[slutshamersonfb]

[probablynot404]

TRIGGER WARNING

This is a Scottish anti-rape PSA that is a direct response to blaming a rape victim for dressing like a slut. What do you think? Is it effective?

Never have I seen such an effective video in my life… and it’s only 30 seconds long. Definitely, 100% watch and reblog this.

[gingerhobbit-tealover]

Nobody asks to be raped. Ever.

Well done Scotland

[georgestayoutofmybush]

THIS IS FUCKING KFDNVBGIOEFNHVLO

[feministowl]

An intimate journey across the violent landscape of our cities through the eyes of those fighting to sow peace and security.

1. Ameena Matthews is a person I will admire with absolute awe for the rest of my life.

2. I have so many feelings about this film and everything it addresses that I am not sure I will be able to articulate them very well at the moment, but this film needs to be spread.

[feministowl]

Political Party Blame NO LONGER MATTERS IN THIS SHUTDOWN!

I'm pretty fucking sure that the thousands of people furloughed, and otherwise negatively affected, as a result of this shutdown do not give a shit about which party is responsible. Yes, there is a serious ideological divide, but this divide could be, at least temporarily, reconciled in the face of this bullshit shutdown. After said temporary reconciliation, perhaps we should have a conversation about what is acceptable behavior within our "democratic process" (yea, "for the people" isn't exactly what I'm seeing here on any fronts, rather I'm seeing "for the stubborn insolent assholes who cannot seem to get over their own egotistical competitions").

[radtransfem]

The problem with safe space is the presumption that a safe space is even possible… We realized that we could not assume alliances with each other, but we would actually have to create these alliances.

Andrea Smith, The Problem with “Privilege” (via radtransfem)

[feministowl]

Just a thought...

If you feel the need to state that you are not racist, sexist, heterosexist/homophobic, cissexist/transphobic... you should probably NOT make that announcement and instead re-evaluate your need for defending your non-oppressive world views.

[feministowl]

Designed to make you smile... should make you want to do something that actually creates smiles

I don't know if there's no such thing as stupid questions, but here's a beautiful one.

This actually pissed me off rather than making me smile... the world does need more smiles, but smiles can't happen until oppressions are lifted. The world needs more engagement on a massive scale.

[feministowl]

When talking about my issues with this song and the accompanying video, or just reading what others have said about it, it is often argued that this creative expression shit is supposedly empowering to the women in the video and to women in general. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF THIS SONG/VIDEO. Thicke and Co. are endorsing sexual assault and rape myths ubiquitous in our culture. 

[lawofthetongue-deactivated20180]

heads up to any white folks and non-black POC planning to attend rallies today or tomorrow in support of trayvon: be respectful. remember that you are there to SUPPORT, not to co-opt. let the people affected most have the loudest voice and grieve appropriately. there is solidarity in silence.

[clittyslickers-deactivated20250]

be conscious and aware that we take up space

[feministowl]

yeap.

[feministowl]

Yes, yes, yes. This is exactly the perspective that inspired my honors thesis and the basis of my future graduate work... we must focus on the perpetrators in order to prevent the violence THEY are perpetrating. 

[fuckyeahveganlife]

[feministowl]

yes please... 

[boredvenus-deactivated20141120]

1. White terrorists are called “gunmen.” What does that even mean? A person with a gun? Wouldn’t that be, like, everyone in the US? Other terrorists are called, like, “terrorists.” 2. White terrorists are “troubled loners.” Other terrorists are always suspected of being part of a global plot, even when they are obviously troubled loners. 3. Doing a study on the danger of white terrorists at the Department of Homeland Security will get you sidelined by angry white Congressmen. Doing studies on other kinds of terrorists is a guaranteed promotion. 4. The family of a white terrorist is interviewed, weeping as they wonder where he went wrong. The families of other terrorists are almost never interviewed. 5. White terrorists are part of a “fringe.” Other terrorists are apparently mainstream. 6. White terrorists are random events, like tornadoes. Other terrorists are long-running conspiracies. 7. White terrorists are never called “white.” But other terrorists are given ethnic affiliations. 8. Nobody thinks white terrorists are typical of white people. But other terrorists are considered paragons of their societies. 9. White terrorists are alcoholics, addicts or mentally ill. Other terrorists are apparently clean-living and perfectly sane. 10. There is nothing you can do about white terrorists. Gun control won’t stop them. No policy you could make, no government program, could possibly have an impact on them. But hundreds of billions of dollars must be spent on police and on the Department of Defense, and on TSA, which must virtually strip search 60 million people a year, to deal with other terrorists.

Juan Cole, 08/09/2012

Juan Cole actually wrote this 4 days after a white terrorist, yes, terrorist, murdered 6 and injured 4 people at a Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin. The terrorist who committed said crime spoke of an impending “racial holy war” beforehand and was a member of white supremacist/neo-Nazi hate groups.

(via sailorfemme)

Isn't it funny sick how when a white American dude shot up a theatre, a school, an anything in this country, a riot about mental health issues went viral... but when a non-white, non-christian person does ANYTHING out of line, there is an instantaneously riot demanding answers about where the person is from (even if they are US citizens, their cultural heritage is immediately brought up), their religious affiliation (usually assumed to be Muslim by the media), and how we can best demonize their entire existence? Why is it that white men need to be helped and everyone else sent to hell? Humans are violent. White men have probably killed more people in extremely cruel ways than people of color and of religions that are not Christian. They've done so in the names of the Christian god, American patriotism, money, and power. They've put forth this agenda that the violent white man is mentally ill and in need of help, while the violent non-white, non Christian, non American person is an evil creature that must be destroyed in order to ensure that the white man remains in power. Yes, that is sick. 

[dhunki-deactivated20121126]

Women are socialized to make men feel good. We’re socialized to “let you down easy.” We’re not socialized to say a clear and direct “no.” We’re socialized to speak in hints and boost egos and let people save face. People who don’t respect the social contract (rapists, predators, assholes, pickup artists) are good at taking advantage of this. “No” is something we have to learn. “No” is something we have to earn. In fact, I’d argue that the ability to just say “no” to something, without further comment, apology, explanation, guilt, or thinking about it is one of the great rites of passage in growing up, and when you start saying it and saying it regularly the world often pushes back. And calls you names.

The art of “no.” « CaptainAwkward.com (via professorpinka)

Auto-reblog always

(via foulmouthedliberty)

This is so important for people to know. Especially when most anti-rape activism is based on ‘no means no’, and doesn’t go much further than that. There needs to be a dialogue about how it’s acceptable just say no, and teach everyone sometimes ‘no’ isn’t as straight-forward as one two-letter word.

(via clitoracy)

[feministowl]

West Bengal: Man allegedly kills his 10-year-old daughter-India News - IBNLive Mobile

The girl was killed on Saturday night when she protested her father's plans to sell her to a girl trafficker, police said.

[mrsmelchiorgabor]

this is what heterophobia would look like if it was real. if you believe that heterophobia is a real thing that exists, please watch this because you will see that it simply doesn’t exist, that it never has and never will. 

tbh I think everyone should watch this anyway because it’s very clever and very powerful

[botanicaldaydream]

This is so powerful. Please watch.

[fairyellle]

wow this made me cry. 

[the5thkellement]

a friend of a friend produced this to illustrate the effects of bullying on teens, particularly those living with LBGTQ orientation. what does a world look like when you judged for who you love, or you’re not allowed to love who you love simply because it isn’t right by society’s standards? well, welcome to this existence. only, now it may seem like it actually affects you.

[feministowl]

I recently did a talk about oppression and power and how, at the current moment (and throughout most of dominant history) power is held by white-heteropatriarchy and this promotes violence against racial minorities, women, and against the LGBTQ community because members of these groups threaten the current world order. If the tables were turned, this is what it would look like. This is reality for so many individuals simply because they threaten the status quo by existing. 

[feministowl]

So. #Violenceagainstwomeniswrong is currently the #1 trending hashtag on twitter.... it makes me sad that it's popularity was gained with "retweet this for a follow, reply or DM" ... it's also a really great example of slacktivism - people will retweet this and think they've done their part in the fight against violence and oppression.... and possibly get a cyber hookup to go with it. UHHHHH. no.