feminist stereotype a la feministing

so i'm in love with this post about feminist stereotypes...because they abound, contradict each other on all sorts of levels and yet people still believe them.  thank you public education for allowing us to not become critical thinkers ;)

some i would add would be:

feminists just don't have a sense of humor and never laugh. unless, they cackle.

feminists are only women.

feminists are no longer needed and just have a chip on their shoulder.

any others y'all can think of?

Hip-Hop

As a black woman who was born in the Bronx and spent enough time there to call it the Boogie Down Bronx I carry a little cockiness with me about hip-hop. What bothers me about the critique of rap music is that individuals fail to examine all music as a form of entertainment and whether that music is a reflection of the culture or representative of the culture. The discussion is almost always about the problems with black music or to be more accurate the problems with black men and their continuous victimization of black women through images of bootylicious, light-skinned, long-haired, video vixens.

What is never discussed and doubly offensive is that rap music is the main if not only genre that is highlighted in the music industry as oppressive without acknowledgment that rap music although performed mostly by black male entertainers is controlled by white CEO’s, white A&R Executives and white radio.

There are things that have continuously bothered me around the discussions on rap music. This post is a response to a webinar I attended last week.

1. There is a very important and distinct difference between rap and hip-hop and using the two terms interchangeably is not only problematic but offensive. Rap or rapping is a style of flow, a form of lyrical expression. Hip-hop is the lifeblood of people, primarily people of color, who experience struggle. One’s pet dog can be taught to rap, but that in no way shape or form encompasses hip-hop. The passion and power that hip-hop music holds is what has become appealing to so many groups of people who experience struggle and in my opinion is the reason why now more than blacks are relating to hip-hop.

2. Why aren’t we having a conversation about the larger culture? Both commercial rap and hip-hop and arguably all music is a reflection of the dominant larger culture that is truly obsessed with violence, sex, addiction, and the victimization of women of all colors. Why aren’t their more frequent discussions about these issues as opposed to the “problem with rap music” or as I hear it “the problem with black people.” Furthermore, there needs to be a racial and economic examination of the control over music and how that affects the music we listen to everyday. When individuals who have never been violent, never lived in the “projects,” never been victims of drug abuse, never engaged in criminal activity are coerced to reflect these negative images as a means to sell records this further destroys not only black people but the reflection of blacks to other cultures. This is to say that white executives directly control and benefit from thug imagery to the point that being a womanizing thug with bling has been popularized and glorified in the black community. This to me is a criminal offense and I would prefer a forum on how we are going to make these executives accountable.

3. What the hell is “conscious rap”? Okay, I use the term myself to differentiate between artists I think are talented and artists I think are….WHACK! By its very definition hip-hop is consciousness. I am just tired of hearing the same old names of Talib, Mos Def and Lupe. The use of derogatory descriptions of women does not make an artist a “non-conscious” rapper. The truth is that the majority of artists are consciously reflecting their lived experiences from the larger culture and that may very well mean wanting to kill someone, wanting to demoralize women and wanting all the money in the world. Isn’t that what we have come to know at the American way?

legalizing drugs

so i came across a segment on the people's channel tonight that sparked my interest.

it was about a group called LEAP...Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.  It basically spoke to how the best 'accomplishment' the war on drugs has had on our nation is that of a ridiculously disproportionate amount of black men in jail and an underground market of drug cartels and gangs.  congrats to our federal government for that one.

their website is pretty interesting...go figure i'd never heard of them before...but i think it definitely falls into the realm of feminism.

take a look: LEAP

I am a Community Organizer

In response to the scornful comments made about community organizers at the Republican National Convention last week, bloggers have chosen to blog today on the hard, thankless, never ending, oh so important work of community organizers. In honor of all the contributors at I Am Suing Patriarchy and countless others I am fortunate to call friends and commrades, I want to take a moment give thanks for community organizers.

Community organizers have been at the root of any social change. While it can take many forms such as protests, petitioning, advocating, celebrations, canvassing, educating, registering voters, vigils, fundraising, marching, church meetings, neighborhood watches, government funded organizations, non-profits who rely solely on donations and volunteers, letter writing campaigns, feeding those without food, speaking for those who are not heard, listening to someone share her/his story, and many other ways, it always is done by working with people in the community. Community organizers are the first to respond to injustices that unfairly target certain groups of people. They are often from the community they are advocating for, providing an authentic voice in an ever-increasing world of meaningless quips and political banter. While politicians talk about their "real responsibility", it is the community organizers who suffer with the community when policies fail and promises are broken.

It was community organizers who first questioned the rule of England in what would become the United States. It was community organizers that developed the Underground Railroad and demanded that all be free in this country. It was community organizers who insisted that people of color and women have the right to vote. It was community organizers who advocated against child labor and for adequate public education. It was community organizers who saw a need to support the disadvantaged in our country and created social services. It was community organizers who fought for civil rights throughout history for countless groups. It was community organizers who demanded that women have a choice about their bodies and when they have children. It was community organizers who spoke out about the violence perpetrated on targeted groups. It was community organizers who protested war after war, and it was community organizers that advocated for veterens who were forgotten by the country who asked them to sacrifice all. It was community organizers who believed that everyone has the right to practice the faith of their choice and called upon our government to create a separation of church and state. It was community organizers who protected and supported when all others turned a blind eye. It was community organizers that fought for every right you have.

It will be community organizers that make sure you have your needs met should you not be financially able to. It will be community organizers that help you raise your voice high so that you are not forgotten about in our society and government. It will be community organizers that work to protect you should you be violently targeted for your identity. It will be community organizers who demand that your vote count. It will be community organizers who fight for your right to equal and adequate resources. It will be community organizers who demand that you have healthcare regardless of whether you can pay or not. It will be community organizers that insist on your right to age with dignity and proper support. It will be community organizers who work to ensure that you always have a choice. It will be community organizers who protect you from government corruption. It will be community organizers who will demand access to healthy and non-toxic foods and products for you. It will be community organizers who will fight for you when you cannot. It will be community organizers who stand by you when others walk away.

It would be easy for me to launch into a diatribe against the Republicans and promote the agenda of the Democratic party, but that's not what I want to do today. I want to take a moment to reflect on the deep saddness I felt when hearing government leaders mock the hard work and history of so many in this country. I think of all those people, both past and present, who never had a convention in their honor or even heard so much as a thank you from these leaders for doing the work that should have already been done by the government tasked with protecting us all. It frightens me that current leaders are so out of touch with the people in this nation that they would revel in their privileged status on television while many that night went to bed worrying about when they will get a job, where tomorrow's meals will come from, what to do if they get sick, or how to go on another day in a society that systematically denys them protection and equal rights. The remarks that night prove to me that there is still so much work to be done. No matter who wins the election in November, we must all continue to fight for what is rightfully ours and hold our government to the standards of nothing but excellence. Although we were mocked and disparaged that night, I know I am a small part of a great history of people who cared enough to do something when injustice occured.

I am proud to be a community organizer.

sexuality

i am sick of viva viagra commercials.  other than realizing that pornography is mentally, emotionally and physically harmful to women in particular but also to men and engaging in healthier forms of sexual intimacy...i'm pretty sure men don't need any help with embracing their sexuality.

HELLOOOO where are the sexuality related commercials for women???  i'd really appreciate a few "Best Vibrator" or "Women's Pleasure" or "Healthier Intimacy" commercials dispersed around CNN, ABC, Fox, etc. as much as I see those stupid viagra commercials.

get with it. for real.

ok, i'm done. for now.

here's a sexuality site that i find quite intriguing: yay learning about our bodies and relationships!

darkness to light

wow...so i JUST saw this Darkness to Light commercial on CNN.  sooooo needed. so creepy, but yet so true.

yayyy sexual violence awareness!  now we need a mass media campaign about date rape and how it's significantly more likely than stranger rape along with resources.

feminist art :)

so i created this :)  yay for Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes

thanks to kmstitchery.blogspot.com and Marilyn Frye's birdcage metaphor for inspiration!

feminist fun

you can't tell me these feminists (or if not, close enough) aren't hilarious and simultaneously geniuses.

love them.

Sarah Haskins, Nellie McKay and Kristen Schaal 

thank you feministing and youtube. :)

Racism: It Still Shines it's Ugly Head

I am a novice blogger, so I will try to keep it brief. Initially I wanted to discuss the racist and blatantly misogynistic budget spending policy revisions suggested on conservative radio host Mike Savage's show today, but that is too easy. Instead, I will share my sister's experience with a fashion designer in NY.

Most of you know that my sister, and her business partner have a showroom in NY. They also have a staffing venture where individuals interested in the fashion business can be placed with designers on a temp basis to either do a fashion show, trade show, etc. My sister hires the temps and her partner works with the clients to figure out what there needs are for the event. My sister typically interviews the temp, sends over a photo, resume etc. to the client.

Three weeks ago one of their clients, who has happily used their services before, called and said, "I am sorry to say this, and please don't take this the wrong way, but does the temp have a weave?" WTF? Partner responded very professionally saying I'm not sure and was curious as to why (this one temp we had, not sent by my sister's business, had a weave and she got hair all over the booth and I don't want that to happen again).

Partner: "I am not sure if she has a weave or not, when (sis) interviewed her she looked very presentable and if she does have a weave it has been done properly and I cannot tell."

Client"the Racist": Okay well thanks.

Fast forward to today.

Client"the Racist": "I hate to bring this up again, but I am from Chicago and the temp's area code is from Chicago, "the South side"
Partner: And?
Client"the Racist": the South side is the poor, "bad" part
Partner: (in shock)

So there are several things going on now. The client is not aware that both my sis and her partner are black women because they have always done business over the phone and now feels comfortable to call and be completely inappropriate, stereotypical and racist. My sis and her partner don't want to burn bridges with clients but as black women and dare I say humans who are not as ignorant as their client they can't let this be swept under the rug. They would like to cancel the arrangements and let her know that their business does not tolerate this type of behavior. The temp who is overly qualified, but needs the job is out of a gig that pays $500. My sis and her partner don't want to send the temp to the crazy client in fear of mistreatment, but don't want her to be out of a job this weekend. Now, they are choosing to tell the temp that for personal reasons they had to cancel the arrangements with that designer, but will pay her a % out of pocket.

It ain't easy or cheap trying to be a decent person.

human rights y'all

So...we DO have human rights!! it's just lots of people in power refuse to acknowledge them. take a look at article 2. and yes, the U.S. representatives played a huge part in signing this document.


now it's all making sense why i NEVER learned about these in school...and eleanor roosevelt rocks my socks off despite the fact that all you ever really hear about her is how conventionally unattractive she was...not how she was an awesome human rights advocate and uber intelligent.


now, all we'd need to do is update the sexist language and we'd be good to go.

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

hothead paisan

In addition to holding our patriarchal society accountable on this blog, we also wanted to create a space to talk about people or groups who are doing feminist/anti-oppression/radical/overall generally awesome work. I can't think of anyone better to start with than Diane DiMassa, the creator of "Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist."

Created during the first Bush administration, it is frightening how relevant this comic still is. Hothead Paisan is a queer, radical, riotgrrl feminist who has had it with society and all of its ills. She takes it upon herself, along with her yogi kitty Chicken, to correct the wrongs of our racist, homophobic, sexist, capitalistic world. As the title of the comic implies, Hothead has no problem using violence to exact her revenge, much to the chagrin of her friends such as Roz, often referred to as the "Zen Bhudda dyke", who would rather see Hothead gain some insight into her actions and find some inner peace. Hothead sees her response to the world as honest, real, and much needed. Hothead gets to act out a revenge fantasy against rapists, sexist pigs, white supremacists, and the like that most of us only entertain in our minds when it all seems to be too much. Reading "Hothead Paisan" is one of the most carthartic and entertaining releases I have at the end of a bad day, and it never fails to leave me with the sense that I am not alone in my anger at this world.

My favorite parts of "Hothead" aren't the acts of revenge, but the times when Hothead feels that 'fighting the good fight' is too hard. Hothead has moments of raw honesty in which she describes the despair that comes with awareness and the feeling that things will never change, no matter how many of 'em you dispose of. And that's the genius of "Hothead Paisan." Hothead truly only finds relief in her friends, family, and adorable sidekick Chicken. It's not the violence that liberates her, it's the connections with like-minded souls. Watching rapists perish? Well, that's just the icing on the cake.

So thanks, Diane. Thank you for helping this queer, radical, riotgrrl feminist find another connection in this world and feel a little less alone in the fight. As you put it best, "straight from the aorta."

also

love this quote:
"Because woman's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a "real" man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and "unfeminine" and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and...for lots and lots of other reasons we are part of the women's liberation movement."

masculinity

today i'm suing patriarchy for mainstream media depictions of masculinity as emotionally unavailable, violent, breadwinner, militaristic, unsympathetic, misogynistic, sexist, racist and inhumane. clearly, this creates a hostile world for all of us and i'd appreciate it if those in power would just stop and those of us consuming it would revolt and demand more humane depictions and examples because they do exist. thanks in advance. :)

patriarchy

for those who don't know, patriarchy exists.  

it is the system in place that makes our world male-dominated, male-identified, male-centered and male controlled.  thus, any other category of person is oppressed while those who find themselves in the male category are privileged.  this does vary however on what other social locations and categories one is identified as (ethnicity, race, class, sexual orientation, ability, etc.)

and as allan johnson said: "as long as we have this, we won't know what it means to be a human being."

additionally johnson comments about patriarchy (and other systems of oppression) "it generates an enormous amount of unnecessary suffering and an enormous amount of injustice.  and that alone is reason enough to do something about it."

i want unnecessary suffering to end and to know what it means to be human, my true authentic self. and i think everyone else deserves that too.

for me this blog will serve several purposes. 1. i hope to release some anger at the current reality for myself and others in the oppressed categories 2. laugh 3. provide insightful analysis and options for creating a post-patriarchal world and i'm sure i'll think of others later...

thanks for reading,

krista