fumbling for feminism

HERE THERE BE DRAGONS ALSO FOUL LANGUAGE AND POSSIBLY TRIGGERING CONTENT This is a blog. I’ve started it for a university class called Network Media. We can pick any subject we like, something we’re passionate about—so I’m blogging about feminism. I’ve only really become aware recently of so many of the issues, the flaws woven into our society that we’re raised with, that we don’t even see. I’m still trying to learn. I’m still trying to change. I’m not here to educate you. I’m here to educate myself. So this is me, fumbling towards feminism. SOME LINKS FAQ Feminism 101 Rape Culture 101 The Truth About Boys and Girls

[brofisting]

I LOVE FASHION BUT FASHION DOESN'T LOVE ME, A Contest

WHILE I’M ON A ROLL TONIGHT, I’m announcing a rage-fueled contest business relevant to the last few posts in honor of… my rage!

If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by the fashion industry for being fat, please raise your hand!! Okay good, that’s everyone. If you raised your hand, as you all did, you should throw together a Polyvore set of an outfit that you would wear the hell out of but doesn’t come in your size. Clothing can come from anywhere but should be something you could afford to purchase in real life! Then, write a short paragraph about the thing you hate most about clothing for fat people in relation to the fashion industry (ie. walking into stores knowing clothes won’t fit you, shoddy quality, unattractive clothing norms), and e-mail both of those things to me along with a sassy picture of you! (My e-mail is [email protected]!)

Get it to me by Sunday, January 8th at midnight (EST). The person who wrote the paragraph I think is the raddest gets a drawing of them in their dream outfit, and the entire mess of paragraphs gets mass-emailed to fashion blogs, clothing stores, and posted on a Tumblr somewhere.

Sound cool? Signal boost it! The more paragraphs, the more people…. get to commiserate about our collective irritation?? Join the party!!

[longhorse-deactivated20170925]

Signal boosting the shit out of this.

[lizardtitties]

I need a place to live.

[iexpectmore-blog]

firstrisingvibes:

Is there anyone in the world (in a country I could get a visa/not need a visa) that is looking for a room mate? I’m a good chef! I come with a PS3 and games, a plasma TV, a snake, a kitty, and a lot of books! I’m currently on UK disability benefits but I could definitely get a bar job or a shop job if it wasn’t in this town. I will move basically anywhere. England, mainland Europe, wherever. As long as it wouldn’t be too hard to get a visa.

My boyfriend left me and I can’t really bring myself to ask him back just so I have a house. I can stay at my mum’s but while she is relatively lovely, she does go through these frequent phases of being a really nasty person re: trans/fat/queer stuff and makes me sink into mega depression and whatnot.

So, yes, if you need a quirky queer roommate who’ll make you food and share zir weird books/DVDs with you, then let me know. Or reblog/contact folks you know who need a roomie if not. Thanks folks :)

Signal boost!

[iexpectmore-blog]

An article by the wonderful Dr Leslie Cannold.

[writeon-dude]

[iexpectmore-blog]

roachpatrol:

stfuconservatives:

fuckyeah-jj:

Because women bare the brunt of our neurosis. It is much easier for us to place our emotional burdens on the shoulders of our wives, our female friends, our girlfriends, our female employees, our female colleagues, than for us to impose them on the shoulders of men.

It’s a whole lot easier to emotionally manipulate someone who has been conditioned by our society to accept it. We continue to burden women because they don’t refuse our burdens as easily. It’s the ultimate cowardice.

My best friend sent me this article, and it is exceptional. It even got me a little emotional with it’s truth-bombs. 

We’ve talked about gaslighting here before. This is a good read.

-Joe

ETA: realized we’ve not just talked about this we’ve also posted this article before. Still highly recommend.

Holy fuck this is everything I have never been able to put into words. All my life have I held this inner core of fury that I’m not allowed to be mad about things without thus being wrong about things. If you’re told that you’re crazy, over and over, after a while you just say ‘alright, so I’m crazy! LET ME SHOW YOU HOW CRAZY I CAN BE, MOTHERFUCKERS.’ 

It takes a lot to unlearn that. It’s a big step to say ‘no, you’re the problem here.’

My dad does this a lot, and I wish I were coherent enough to explain THIS to him when he does it.

[pizzaland-deactivated20120305]

[iexpectmore-blog]

tinydragongina:

aeedee:

I would like to take this opportunity to point out one thing.  This is an example of a male-targeted, vaguely ‘sexist’ commercial campaign that is genuinely funny, and clever enough for women to “get the joke”.  These commercials, despite claiming Old Spice was a product for “men” and not ladies, were met with mutual appreciation from men and women, because it is:

A: Not stupid or flat in its humor or message

B: Not degrading to women

C: Genuinely funny

On top of that, these commercials featured a man that was trying to, above all else, make women happy.  He wasn’t trying to be a man because “ew being girly is dumb lol,” he was trying to be a man because “oh ladies I would love to impress you.”  And even though both of those messages are somewhat traditional ways of viewing and reinforcing gender standards and expectations, that fine line between them makes a world of difference.  Many of these pro-men campaigns are too insulting, or too small-minded, or simply not clever enough to make us “get the joke”.  But this campaign has humor that appeals to both men and women at the same time, by neither degrading nor bashing either of them.  Men can want to be like this man, and woman get to appreciate a man that is like this man. But at the same time, this campaign is too light-hearted and whimsical to hurt anyone’s feelings, so you can easily take it for the hilarious joke it is.

This campaign is not only funny, it’s clever, highly creative, intentionally over the top, and entertaining.  Everything that Dr. Pepper’s agonizing “Why don’t women get the joke about our manly soda?” campaign is not.

[armchairpatriots]

[iexpectmore-blog]

cydne-should-be-sleeping:

inexorablezero:

armchairpatriots:

Think about how we treat female politicians. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Armchair-Patriots/173343349350173

Scott Brown, please read this

Remember when female conservatives were called ‘Cameron’s Cuties’ in the British media? Blarg.

[mercy-misrule]

Genocide against Hazara Shia people in Pakistan

[iexpectmore-blog]

nova-bright:

I wouldn’t normally link to an article by the Australian, because you know, they are News ltd, but this is well written and important.

Hazaras despair

The article describes racially targeted mass murder, and there is a picture of mourners.

Situations like this are why people flee their homeland. Situations like this where their friends and family are being slaughtered. And the fact that my government dares, dares to imprison aslyum seekers in detention centres disgusts me.

How dare they. How dare anyone look at this and not feel compassion and a urge to offer help, in any way they can. Australia is a rich country, a huge country, swimming in privilege. We can house those who come to use. And instead we torture, imprison and deny them, people who need sancturary most of all.

I am ashamed.

[toocooltobehipster]

[iexpectmore-blog]

esmeweatherwax:

liquornspice:

onikaisthenewblack:

you guys: MY HUSBAND IS GOOD GUY GREG!!!! TRUE STORY.

allxsouledxout:

toocooltobehipster:

Best of good guy greg

Greg is a good guy.

*gasp* is this a thing?! I approve!

The convinces stripper to go back to school one is a bit icky. A lot of strippers ARE in school, have been in school or, you know, don’t need advice from strangers. 

Also, as backhomeincanada said, the drunk girl one is just “not being a rapist”. Why do men deserve all the cookies just for not being a piece of shit

Yeah, the stripper one and drunk girl one are both ick and problematic. Why couldn't it be "Goes to strip club, is a polite well paying customer"? That is the sort of thing dancers appreciate-- paying well/being upfront about your lack of money and not wasting their time, respecting boundaries, genuinely being friendly, etc. Not being given unsolicited advice from strangers. Nobody likes that.

You don't get applause, cookies, or kudos for not raping people.

I do like the rest of them though.

[bebinn]

Until Abortion Ends

[iexpectmore-blog]

bebinn:

I’ve been going through this website for a while now. The basic idea is to give up some trivial, bullshit thing (usually junk food) “until abortion ends,” as if your sacrifice of Taco Bell is so meaningful it will touch the heart of a scared college student or single mother of three who can’t even afford to be pregnant again.

Seriously, what the fuck is this bullshit? Who are these self-serving, self-important slacktivists who think their “addiction” to coffee means a fucking thing to anyone but themselves?

Well. We can get angry at the obvious privilege and narcissism of these people with webcams. We can rage at their ignorance, at the idea that they think they are “doing their part” by making minute-long Youtube videos about Pepsi, or…

…we can laugh. Because seriously, guys:

“We love taco bell, but its loss will remind us of the severity of abortion. We believe that some day we will take our children to taco bell in celebration of the illegalization of child-killing in America[…] Goodbye, for now, Taco Bell. But we will meet again.”

“Happily depriving myself of COFFEE until babies are no longer deprived of LIFE!”

“I’ve always, always loved Butterfinger candy bars. In fact, to this day, my parents still send me Butterfinger candy bars for my birthday. But until abortion doctors get their grubby hands off of our unborn children, I won’t lay another finger on a Butterfinger.”

“I’m Leah, the national co-director of Teen Defenders, and I’m addicted to ice-cream, but I’ve decided to give it up until abortion ends.”

“If there’s one thing I can eat without stopping, its sliced bread (not by itself). I could probably eat a whole bag by myself (maybe). With God’s help i commit to abstain from slice bread until abortion ends.”

“I have been chewing, dipping, smoking, puffing on tobacco products since I was young. Although no addiction has formed, I know what sacrifice and prayer can do to bring about good. I will sacrifice my tobacco habit and pray daily for the end of abortion.”

They’re giving up chocolate, Cheerios, Oreos, hot chocolate, beef and pork, M&Ms, alcohol, video games, sour Skittles, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, goldfish, and a lot of Coke. Their selflessness should be an inspiration to all.

I’m not honestly sure what the point of the campaign is. Are they intending to influence others here on earth with their enormous sacrifices of junk food, or is the sacrifice bit supposed to appeal to God? Because, really, I can’t imagine that a god who has not yet “stopped abortion” would be so moved by your decision to refrain from eating french fries. But hey, I’m not religious, so maybe I’m just missing something here.

Brb, laughing myself sick at the ridiculousness.

[obsessionfull]

[iexpectmore-blog]

harvestxvx:

melissikins:

The argument that if (marginalized group of people) would just (!) ASK (nicely, in just the right way using exactly the perfect tone and obeying all the unwritten secret rules) for (their human rights), they would be given immediately them by the innocent benevolent rulers who just didn’t know what they needed is so common that it should be in Derailing for Dummies Here’s what happened when one lawyer with low vision and superhuman patience decided to test that theory.

READ THE SHIT OUT OF THIS. 

This little mini-experiment is fabulous and details exactly how little awareness there is of accessibility in day-to-day life. This is the social model of disability, y’all. And I can’t stop thinking about how massively fucked up it is that society demands for people with disabilities to either 1) just be so good at not having access to things or 2) use time and energy and resources they don’t have demanding things that should be basic. This is indecent.

Please read this if you can.

[iexpectmore-blog]

[iexpectmore-blog]

yiduiqie:

telescopics:

knivesandpenis:

iexpectmore:

Australian intersex persons and female-identified transexuals who require anti-androgen medication must join a sex offender registry or take the very high risk of being refused a prescription.

Okay, well, this is factually incorrect and misleading advice. It has been refuted by several doctors and it is harmful to young Australian trans women considering hormone therapy that this should be continually reblogged without correction. Doctors are free to prescribe Androcur privately for any reason they deem medically necessary, and no registration is required.

There we go.

Also all the attention this is getting is hyping up my anxiety, going to go sit somewhere quietly now.

[iexpectmore-blog]

Australian intersex persons and female-identified transexuals who require anti-androgen medication must join a sex offender registry or take the very high risk of being refused a prescription.

EDIT

This has been debunked. Now if only people would stop reblogging. Wish I hadn't link-shared in the first place, this is too much attention for my anxiety to take even if none of it is directed at me.

[z4cs]

People are taking the piss out of you everyday. They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disappear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small. They make flippant comments from buses that imply you’re not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else. They are on TV making your girlfriend feel inadequate. They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it. They are The Advertisers and they are laughing at you. You, however, are forbidden to touch them. Trademarks, intellectual property rights and copyright law mean advertisers can say what they like wherever they like with total impunity. Fuck that. Any advert in a public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It’s yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. You can do whatever you like with it. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head. You owe the companies nothing. Less than nothing, you especially don’t owe them any courtesy. They owe you. They have re-arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don’t even start asking for theirs.

Banksy, from Cut It Out (via mexicobra, zaschell) (via twinmachines) (via lizardkitsch) (via srawr)

[clumsygoodbyekiss]

[iexpectmore-blog]

hickiesandhotpants:

youcancallmetiger:

Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, and her organization, Women on Waves, sail a ship around the world to countries where abortion is illegal.  Using a hotline for communication, the activists pick up women at the port and transport them twelve miles offshore, just outside of domestic waters, where doctors on board can administer safe and legal medical abortions at sea.  Their actions shock the church, infuriate the government, exhilarate the media, and provoke mass controversy and debate among the voting population, but they break no law.

They might, they hope, instead serve to save lives.

More information here

THIS IS THE COOLEST ACTIVISM EVER.

[bisexualr2d2]

WHY BEING A SLUT IS NOT OKAY

[iexpectmore-blog]

cydne-should-be-sleeping:

hermione-ganja:

Sluts killed the dinosaurs. That’s right. If it weren’t for all the short skirts and sexual active women, you could be riding around on a t-rex right now instead of just fueling your car with its remains

There is a direct correlation between the number of blowjobs being given at any time and the house you got sorted into on Pottermore. The sorting hat would’ve taken our preferences into account if so many sluts weren’t giving head at the time.

Boobies cause global warming. That is, boobies that are displayed in low-cut blouses and tube tops and slightly exposed nipples. None of this would even be a problem if it wasn’t for the ample bosoms of the world.

A slut once turned me into a newt. I got better.

Premarital sex cancelled Arrested Development. Just trust me on this one.

Wait, what’s that? None of these claims can be supported by actual facts and evidence, or even make sense? WELL FUQ YOU, THIS IS MY OPINION, AND OPINIONS DON’T NEED FACTS TO VALIDATE THEM. IT IS IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT I GET TO SAY WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT AND NO ONE CAN EVER DISAGREE WITH ME OR ELSE THEY’RE UNAMERICAN, SLUTTY TERRORISTS.

[givemyselfthecreeps]

[iexpectmore-blog]

longhorse:

tangowithchance:

Tom Ballard responds to this article.

TOM BALLARD FOR ALL THE AWARDS.

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST COMEDIAN

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST ACTOR

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST ACTRESS

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST DOG IN SHOW

TOM BALLARD FOR BEST TOM BALLARD

[theraconteurasaur]

[iexpectmore-blog]

nom-chompsky:

wtfox-:

alexandrahamilton:

theraconteurasaurus:

“These young people have no sense of community because they haven’t been given one. They have no stake in society because Cameron’s mentor Margaret Thatcher told us there’s no such thing.

If we don’t want our young people to tear apart our communities then don’t let people in power tear apart the values that hold our communities together.”

This whole “Russell Brand making sense” thing that’s been going on lately is kinda freaking me out.

Also quite relevant and highly accurate:

Why am I surprised that these young people behave destructively, “mindlessly”, motivated only by self-interest? How should we describe the actions of the city bankers who brought our economy to its knees in 2010? Altruistic? Mindful? Kind? But then again, they do wear suits, so they deserve to be bailed out, perhaps that’s why not one of them has been imprisoned. And they got away with a lot more than a few fucking pairs of trainers.

+10 to Russell Brand.

Nice.