If you’ve ever wondered how exactly the kyriarchy hurts men, you’re in luck! The Obama administration has given us a clear-cut example. http://www.juancole.com/2012/05/how-obama-changed-definition-of-civilian-in-secret-drone-wars-woods.html The article is about drone attacks in general, but the key paragraph reads as follows: “Mr. Obama embraced a disputed method for counting civilian casualties that did little to box him…
Who Are Your Real-Life Heroes?
We are constantly bombarded with different messages of how to “be a man.” The phrase “Real Men do _____” is often used to shame men who don’t conform to this ideal. The fact is that we are making this up as we go along, looking to those who came before. There are no shortage of…
Can’t Geeks All Get Along?
(TW for mentions of violence, bullying and suicide) About a year and a half ago, a story broke about a little girl who was teased for having a Star Wars water bottle because Star Wars “is for boys.” The geek community rose to her aid, informing her that she shouldn’t let her tastes be dictated…
Broetry in motion
The humor section of most bookstores is the last place one would look for enlightened views on gender. From Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche to Everything Men Know About Women (SPOILER ALERT: it’s a blank book! Geddit?) humor books rival TV commercials and greeting cards for male-bashing and gender policing. The latest thing in humor…
Fear Of Music: “Realness” and Rock Vs. Pop
I apologize to any KISS fans out there, but I’ve never had much respect for Gene Simmons. From his constant philandering to his obnoxious Islamophobia, Simmons has always had an aura of sleaze in my book. So his recent takedown of Rihanna and others as “fake” music is simply par for the course. It was…
You Are Not A Trope
In the two decades (!) that I’ve been on the Internet, I have been branded racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynist, a rape apologist, a fundie and a Nice GuyTM. Oddly enough, I have also been called a faggot, a socialist, a terror apologist, and, of course, a troll. I can’t comment on which, if any, of…
Heroine Worship: Men and Female Role Models
It’s been over 30 years, but I can still remember my first action figure. Breaking open the package to reveal the molded plastic beneath, making sure not to drop the accesories. I can still recall the white outfit contrasted by the dark brown hair in the distinctive “cinnamon bun” do. Even before I found Han…