There's No Place Like Home

The Wizard of Oz attempted to make me feel all warm and fuzzy about family and going home after being gone.  But this is not the case for me.  As a feminist and a lesbian going home is not the most pleasant thing in the world.  Not to mention my parents being on my ass about my weight.  So why should I go home for Thanksgiving? I will be trapped in my parents house, where they think they can control me, criticized over every bite that goes into my mouth and consistantly questioned or glared at. 
Recently as well I have gotten a couple facial piercings which I know my parents will not approve of.  I feel that I need to not go to avoid the bad experiences but I also really miss seeing my aunts and some of my cousins.  I think I'll go if B is going just because we can be the outcasts together, but I dont know if I am ready to take the amount of criticism, that is waiting for me.

Misogynistic Men on Monday: How do you know?

It can be hard at times to spot these types of men. There are a few things that can let you know but they are not always present.
The Basics:
-Hunter: any man who feels he has the right to kill anything he deems less than him is bound to have at least misogynistic tendancies. He may not try to hit or kill you but his respect for you will not be where it should be.
-Naked Woman Pictures: now there is a difference between having one or two playboys and having your walls plastered with grotesque pictures of surgically altered porn stars. This kind of guy will not appriciate natural beauty.
-MRA- the most basic. If he believes that feminism is evil and that it punishes 'good' men. RUN!!!!!!!!!

The Challenging:
-Football players: football is a sport that often encourages alpha male behavior and violence.  Not all men exhibit these symptoms of football but be cautious.
-Lifers: I believe in not getting tangled up with lifers at all because they are likely to not respect your body and your space. So before you ever have sex with a lifer, find out why they think that way and then make the decision based on that. If you are a lifer, why are you reading this?!
-Criminals: You would think this one would be easy, but its not.  Crime comes in so many levels. Never go near a sex offender but if they have a record for possession and are clean, there really is no problem. Do your research.

Good Luck:
-Cocky guys: this really depends.  A guy(or girl) may be cocky to cover up insecurities, this is not problematic.  If the guy is truly arrogant this is where the problem lies. Arrogance shows that he cares only for himself and not for you.

Feminist Crack!

At SCSU there is one word that acts like crack to feminists and that is "intersectionality."  You say that word around the feminists here and they go balistic.  Everything they do is about this or relating in some way back to it.  I find this thoroughly messed up. Feminism used to be about women, women's issues, being female, that stuff. Now we have to go out of our way to help men and all peoples(even the ones who take our rights away) WTF! Last time I checked each oppressed group had their own movement and none of them were focusing on 'women' as a special interest.  Why should we be taking away from our movement to help others when they are not helping us. 
I can accept being aware of touchy feminist issues within other minority groups such as ability/fetal health-selected abortions will not go well with the disability activist groups. But along with that shouldn't a woman from a feminist-only perspective have the right to abort her fetus for ANY reason? Feminist crack makes these intelligent women not only go on a sped up rampage but it clouds their feminist minds in a way that does not support a full feminist agenda.  And fuck anyone who thinks religion has a place in feminism! I've said it a million times, if you are pro-life(LIFER) you are NOT a feminist! But under the grounds of intersectionality this is acceptable. Men can be feminists apparently. I got and burned that memo. 
People look down at the radical feminist movements and I want to know why.  Radicals get shit done. Its just a fact; yes, they may seem less caring but they are not supposed to be touchy feelly.

Basic Bigotry

I was in evironmental sociology class today and we watched a film about Evangelical Environmentalism, which alone is enough to make me laugh. But my tipping point was when he talked about stewardship over the environment and animals while being surrounded by deer heads.  I find that this attitude is similar to that of pro-life feminists.  We want to help women, or in that case, animals, but we are still taking away their rights. How does this make any sense?
By the way, there are few things that piss me off more than pro-life feminists and really its just men and anti-feminists.  But in my book being pro-life makes you ARE an anti-feminist.
More importantly, she defended the hunters when I pointed that out, saying that you can be a conservationist and a hunter? HOW????? Is that like being a pacifist in the military?

Misogynistic Men on Monday: College guys

I wish I had a picture but alas, I do not.  There were a number of different signs and banners on move in weekend.  But I feel the cake is taken by "Freshman Fathers Thank You for Your Daughters." I have difficulty describing my feelings here. I will start with a list of my concerns and elaberate from there.

• RAPE! SEXUAL ASSAULT! HARASSMENT! okay so it's a lot harder than I thought to move away from this one.
• Fathers...so alone fathers are responsible for producing women for these men to rape(see I cant get away from it).  If I remember correctly from biology and well being a woman, there is this thing called pregnancy and it can be done without fathers.  Many women are single parents by CHOICE!
• The fact that this sign stayed up long enough for me to see it shows me that this campus's "commitment" to reducing sexual assault and harassment.
• There were women THERE! Other women were aiding to this! I can't handle that.
• Alright so I am going to play the HUMANIST card and say that this insults the one guy(who dates women) on campus that I know that would NEVER hurt a woman.  It is sad to say that I only know one for sure.(because the other three moved)
• And lastly, WOMEN ARE NOT PROPERTY! Men cannot give away or trade women like baseball cards. (Though many treat baseball cards better than women.)

Alrighty, so we have the blatent sexual assault invitation right there for the world to see and women go there.  I dont ever mean to be harsh on women but come on! I may not be good a picking men but I can see thats bad. And what ever happened to the fathers and their guns protecting their daughters? I know that sign was up for at least a half hour but I suspect it was there all day.  And no "freshman fathers" came to give these men a talking to?  Because if you look at it, it is insulting them as well. What father in modern society throws his (hope to be) virgin into the volcano? With the rise of purity pledges I suspect very few.  And on the other hand a least a few of those guys have to have had sisters.  Would they want someone doing that to their little sister? 
As I said this insults the few decent men on our campus.  Actually the guy I knew is very involved with the Mentors in Violence Prevention and Students for Sexual Consent.  I am sure that he would no be thrilled to see a sign like that representing his own gender.
On to the participating women, I know all through society people who are discriminated against for the same reason can join the dominant side in discrimination to gain power. It happened during slavery, in sex trafficking and internalized homophobia; but that doesn't mean I understand it.
My biggest issue, well next to rape, is the issue of women as property.  If these men only seen their female classmates as objects to be gifted to them, how much further until they are running a brothel for sex trafficking? It may seem like a jump but it really isn't that far.  

My question is how did they get this way? What did we do to make these men turn out to be what they are?

Fabulous Feministy Females: Taylor Momsen

I rag on men a lot. I know it and I dont care.  But I need to give credit to all the fabulous womyn that also get ragged on by men and prudes, like the amazing Taylor Momsen!  She's 17 and she juggles modeling, singing and acting careers all at the same time.  But other than her being a workaholic, she is in many ways like the Riot Grrls of the early 90's.  Her inspirations include the band Garbage, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. But more on Riot Grrrl Taylor.  She uses fashion as a definate means of expression, bordering on provactive but sexually reclaiming at the same time.  She has a dark style with touches of hot pink and glamour.  Her music is even darker than her eyeliner, with topics of: drugs, religion, sex and relationships. Her song 'Goin Down' is about the child molestation in the Catholic Church.  For a 16-17 year old, to write something like that is impressive.

She has also spoken openly in interview about her style, career choices and sexuality. She states that she wears what she likes and is inspired by music and people.  Music is her life and she feels it saves her, and I cant think of a better way to get out anger and teenage angst then announcing it publicly in a song. And in response to sexuality, she takes care of herself. What is more feminist than choosing a vibrator over a man?

When Taylor wants something she goes after it. She doesn't do drugs or party.  She may be wild but she's smart, and that's what makes her a Fabulous Feministy Female

Hijacking the Movement

I have several pet peeves when it comes to feminism.  It is my religion and I act like a Christian when someone says "god damn."

1.) Men claiming feminism.  Feminism was created for and by women.  Men can support the movement by say, doing what women tell them.  Too many men seem to think that they can have an input or ideas.  Worse, some men even expect feminism to help them--to fight 'men's issues.'  If men need reform, they are the ones in power, they can change it themselves.

2.) "Myths of Feminism"  All too often I hear that its a myth for feminists to hate men, not shave, be ugly, etc.  Well, though not all feminists are these things, many still qualify.  I identify as a man-hater and a feminist; I shave when necessary and I dont think I'm pretty.

3.) Humanism parading as Feminism.  This new craze is to call movements for LGBT rights, disability rights, multiculturalism, and even 'men's rights'.  If you want equal rights for all people call yourself a humanist, NOT A FEMINIST.