Moderation note: this article is about feminists and Nice Guys ™. Please note that I will be actively deleting stupid comments. Clarisse Thorn, Danny, and I were having a conversation on Tumblr during which I was cruelly forced to discover the existence of a feminist who, although she no doubt has many other sterling qualities…
The Codes of Gender
[Transcript available here.] It’s a common sociological truism that gender is not just an identity but an action. Through their dress, appearance, mannerisms, speech quirks, and behavior, people convey that they are male or female, masculine or feminine or androgynous; other people “read” them as a certain gender (and may get quite embarrassed or offended…
Feminism Doesn’t Suck
[Transcript on YouTube.] This video made my day. Seriously, this is my feminism. I believe in a feminism that realizes that patriarchy hurts and limits everyone. I believe in giving people the freedom to do what they want to and what makes them happy regardless of their gender. I believe in intersectionality– noticing the ways…
Condoms!
Cis dudes! I would like to have a discussion with you about condoms.* Namely, when having sex, you have to wear them, unless you are in a monogamous relationship in which both partners have been tested for STIs (and remember that many STIs have an incubation period of up to six months). Okay, that’s really…
Monday Roundup
Ozy Frantz I wrote about 11 Ways Men Can Be Better Feminist Allies over at Role/Reboot! It was very refreshing, actually, to get to talk about how to help women as opposed to the other way around. Ah, someday I’ll get to be all outraged about the War on Women… Noah Brand In other bits of…
Bill Bennett Uses Aurora Shooting To Reinforce Own Bullshit Ideas Of Gender
Bill Bennett, Bill Bennett, Bill Bennett. What will I do with you? The three men who sacrificed their lives for their girlfriends are not great men because they sacrificed their lives for women; they’re great people because they sacrificed their lives for people. When it came down to the line, they chose to give up…
News That Happened While Ozy Was Away
Hey guys! Vacation was fun. Stuff, unfortunately, Kept Happening while I was gone, which was deeply insensitive of it, so I’ll just round up the shit that happened with my commentary. 1) Chick-Fil-A, in a move that surprises no one, fucking hates gay people. The Jim Henson Company has severed all ties with them! So…
Ozy is On Vacation
I’m going to New York City this week! No promises about whether I’ll be able to post. Try not to trash the place.
Boy Scouts of America, You Suck
Apparently the Boy Scouts of America do not want sexuality to be put in Scouting, which is why they’re kicking out LGB scoutmasters who happen to have the temerity to be out of the closet. Look, people. I think we can all agree that eight-year-olds should not be exposed to adults having sex. But having…
Open Thread, Bunny Edition
This Open Thread has been brought to you by small fuzzy adorable animals. May the victims of the Denver shooting rest in peace; may their families and the survivors find peace and comfort, and may the shooter find justice.
Bronies!
I just realized that, like, this entire week has been about rape and murder and prisons and depressing things, so I’ve decided it’s time for a happier topic: PONIES! (Also, gif warning, epileptic people!) Are bronies changing the definition of masculinity? [Video summary: Dude talks at a camera. He defines “brony” (adult fan of My…
Zimmerman Interviewed By Sean Hannity
Moderation Note: Discussion of Trayvon Martin brings all the racist fuckwits out of the ether. Do not feed the trolls. Just ignore any racist comments and I’ll be by in a bit to delete them; if you don’t ignore them I’ll feel obligated to leave them up so everyone can know what you’re responding to.…
Louisiana: First In The World For Prisons
Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate of anywhere in the US, which means that it has the highest incarceration rate of anywhere in the world. (Exception: North Korea does not technically report its incarceration rate.) One out of every eighty-six Louisianans is currently in prison. A random Louisianan is five times more likely to be…
Interesting Links!
TW for eating disorders. Manorexic Manatee. (*sigh* My quixotic, one-person quest against the word “Manorexic” is defeated again.) ProPublica has a roundup of the best reporting on the US prison system. Short version: it’s pretty fucked. AlterNet’s discussion of ten mind-blowing discoveries this week includes a discussion of a male birth control gel that might be the…
On Prison Rape
TW for, obviously, rape. Also gif warning for people with epilepsy. I have decided today is the day to talk about prison rape, which some people think is still not an issue. (Note: if you think prison rape isn’t an issue, especially after reading what I have to say about it, please leave my blog…
Stop-And-Frisk News
Apparently the NYPD finds most guns outside of the areas where they’re allegedly looking for guns with stop-and-frisk. The NYPD, being the NYPD, has decided that this proves that stop-and-frisk is working because people are carrying guns where there isn’t a heavy police presence! …Yes, really. Guys, have you looked up something called “falsifiablity” lately?…