April 2012
57 posts
“Many believe that the U.S. is at the pinnacle of social and political evolution. One of the consequences of this belief is the tendency to define whatever holds in the U.S. as ideal and, insofar as other countries deviate from that, define them as problematic. For example, many believe that women in the U.S. are the most liberated in the world. Insofar as women in other societies live differently, they are assumed to be oppressed. Of course, women are oppressed elsewhere, but it is a mistake to assume that “they” are oppressed and “we” are liberated. This false binary makes invisible ways in which women elsewhere are not 100% subordinated and women here also suffer from gendered oppression.”
—Defining Women’s Oppression: The Burka vs. the Bikini (via sociolab)
“After nineteen years working tirelessly at Goodyear tire factory, Ledbetter received an anonymous note in her mailbox at work. The note revealed that Ledbetter was receiving thousands less than her male counterparts for the same work. After years of sexual harassment and intimidation at Goodyear, this was the last straw. She filed a lawsuit against Goodyear and, initially, she was awarded $3.8 million in damages by the lower courts. Goodyear appealed the decision, however, and her case was taken up to the Supreme Court where the majority devastatingly voted against Ledbetter. Ginsburg read her dissent on the stand that day, urging Ledbetter to keep fighting for justice and fight she did. In January 2009, the first piece of legislation President Obama signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stipulating that each person is entitled to 180 days after each discriminatory paycheck to file a claim–not just 180 days after the initial discriminatory paycheck was first received–which is what makes much more sense.”
—The Feministing Five: Lilly Ledbetter (via mydaywithd)
“The absence of language to provide a name for those who are not trans meant that there was no structure to illuminate the processes that give rise to trans exclusion. Specifically, of course, I am referring to the growing use of “cis” to define those who are not trans as well as the advent of the concepts of cisnormativity and cissexism. Being able to illuminate the privilege experienced by those who are cis, or more accurately those who access cis privilege, helps us understand the ways that those who are trans, in particular those most visible as such, experience marginalization.
Without these words, the rest of my talk, and everything each and every one of us said today would be impossible.” —
Without these words, the rest of my talk, and everything each and every one of us said today would be impossible.” —
Drew Deveaux | Jan 2012 | No More Apologies Keynote Address | Toronto, ON, Canada
I think this is so true for my own work, and so important when talking about the the experience of trans people as targets of oppression. I am shocked that “trans theorists” are still pumping out work that doesn’t acknowledge cissexism, cisnormativity, cis privilege and all the other ways cisness is systematically structured and institutionalized into our society. To me, this is like trying to talk about the oppression of people of color without talking about racism and Whiteness, or the oppression of women without talking about sexism and patriarchy. I suppose it can be done, but why would we want to limit ourselves by going without such powerful analytical tools?
(via transfeminism)
“Slut” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “yes”. “Friendzone” is how we vilify a woman for exercising her right to say “no”.”
—via avid (via sexpositive)
“Women are expected to be nice and sweet, to make other people feel comfortable. A woman who says ‘hey, I think there’s a problem here’ is being ‘negative.’ A woman who doesn’t smile while she’s being harassed is ‘humourless.’ A woman who prefers to stay focused on tasks is a ‘cold bitch.’ Significant gendering is involved here; women have an obligation to look and act a certain way and when they don’t, they need to be hassled until they do.”
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Unknown (via grrl-meat)
i want to print this out and give this to my mother.
(via theoceanandthesky)
I want to show this to everyone who has ever said any of those things to me.
(via themindislimitless)
“A study done at the University of Central Florida found that on average, women’s deodorant costs 30 cents more per ounce than men’s, even when the only difference between the products was the smell. The study’s coauthor, Megan Duesterhaus said, “These companies have us convinced that men and women are so biologically different that we need completely different products, as though we are a different species.”
—Turns Out Being Born a Woman Is a Major Financial Mistake (via sociolab)
“The very thought, possibility of a strong, fearless woman scares a petty, greedy man. Do you know why? Because it means she won’t take his abuse of ANY kind. She is NOT his toy or his property. She is a human being who can and will decide for herself. That scares any man with a slightest bit of hate and disrespect for women. And that’s good. Keep scaring those men, ladies.”
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Mom. (via mehreenkasana)
cool mom = cool mom
(via fromonesurvivortoanother)
