Trigger warning for descriptions of bullying. Hey, everyone, remember how Mitt Romney is a femmephobic, queerphobic doucheface? A few days later, Friedemann entered Stevens Hall off the school’s collegiate quad to find Romney marching out of his own room ahead of a prep school posse shouting about their plan to cut Lauber’s hair. Friedemann followed…
Monday Roundup
Ozy Frantz I guest-post over at Captain Awkward’s about my (TW for description of suicide attempt and mental illness) experience in a mental hospital! Don’t miss the comments, which have a lot of other people describe their experiences, many of which were far different and less positive than mine, and provide more advice. …And neither of…
Sandusky Found Guilty
Trigger warning for discussion of rape. Jerry Sandusky has been convicted of molesting ten boys and found guilty of 45 of 48 counts of sexual abuse. He faces the possibility of life in prison. Justice has been served. Despite Penn State’s enabling and coverups of his crimes, despite the apologism of far too many people,…
It’s Time For Everyone’s Favorite Game, Pick On The Random Stupid People
Hat tip to Jonn, who also mocked it on his personal blog. Trigger warning for brief mentions of rape. Is making fun of this picking on someone who has absolutely no relevance to anything, and hence rather pointless? Probably. But it’s Friday night and I’m indoors listening to the Sohodolls and drinking pomegranate tea like…
Open Thread, Football Edition
This open thread has been brought to you by Kate Beaton.
When To Speak Up, When To Stay Silent
Trigger warning for description of sexual assault. Also warning for this Serious Post being illustrated with So Many Humorous Gifs. So, you know, skip it if you have a slow connection or just don’t like that kind of thing. This weekend, at a convention, I met my boyfriend’s high school friends. I wanted to make…
Fuck You American Action Forum
Trigger warning for rape. The American Action Forum is in support of balanced budgets! That’s cool, I think we can all be in support of balanced budgets (although we might disagree about how and when best this is implemented). However, they are also in support of rape, which is possibly a little bit less cool.…
Assorted Incoherent Thoughts on Educating Oneself
If I could ban the phrase “go educate yourself” from the world I would. The argument “the oppressed should not have to explain their oppression to their oppressors” is stupid. Sure, but (some of) the people who know that the oppression is happening certainly need to explain that it’s happening to people who don’t. Otherwise…
A Few Common Feminist Misconceptions
And it’s time for Ozy’s five least favorite reasons that some feminists believe that if they talked about men’s problems ever that their copy of Gender Trouble would light itself on fire. I don’t think most of these are well-thought-out positions; I think they’re things people tend to say without thinking, often when someone is…
Monday Roundup
Noah Brand Noah says things at the GMP! Video games and misogyny. An interview with Tim Krieder that made Noah so happy because he basically hero-worships the gentleman. Why Noah is not a dad. Odd omissions in an NY Magazine article about submissive men. Racism and how it relates to tribalism (not how you think). Ozy Frantz…
That’s My Boy
Trigger warning for abuse and rape. Waaaaaay to welcome me back from the con, assholes. [Transcript: Suck suck suck horror suck horror suck suck oh God is there a single JOKE in this trailer strippers drunkenness abusive parenting suck horror suck. Title card: Adam Sandler’s That’s My Boy.] Adam Sandler has perpetrated his latest abomination…
Rape Hurts Men Too
Hat tip to jnakabb, trigger warning for rape. I hate picking on people who are trying. I really, really do. But seriously? Writing an ENTIRE ARTICLE about how rape hurts men that doesn’t mention that, you know, men get raped? It’s like she’s begging me to teach her some shit. According to the CDC, approximately…
Happy Father’s Day
Today, for Father’s Day, I’d like to thank fathers. Let me be clear here: I’m not talking about the accident of biology kind of father here. Lots of people can help make babies, but it takes a special man to be a real father. I’d like to thank the fathers who go beyond the occasional…
RIP Junior Seau
Trigger warning for suicide. A month and a half ago, Junior Seau, a star NFL linebacker, committed suicide. “Junior is a warrior. He played 20 years in the NFL as a linebacker. You have to be a warrior. Warriors conquer problems they face and they run at them,” [former San Diego Chargers safety] McPherson said…
Quote of the Day
One of my goals in thinking about redefining the way we view relationships is to try to treat the people I date more like I treat my friends—try to be respectful and thoughtful and have boundaries and reasonable expectations—and to try to treat my friends more like my dates—to give them special attention, honor my…
On Sexual Aggressiveness
Nahida makes an interesting point about male sexuality: Male sexuality has been socially conditioned to comprise of the same components as sports: it is aggressive and domineering, and it views women as “opponents” to defeat in order achieve high status within a male social order. Boys are taught to drive forward to see how far…