Best response to the “are you on your period?” question goes to Leonardo DiCaprio
Using this answer everytime I get asked that question from now on.
this is how I usually respond
It’s important to ask whether the violent reaction was caused by a genuine dislike of the sexist remark, or because of the fact that Leo’s character was being equated with a woman, which is seen as demeaning .
Breaking Down “Non-Transphobic Radical Feminism”
Let’s critically examine the statement of beliefof someone who is currently being held up as an example of a “radical feminist who is not transphobic”:Radical feminism aims to challenge and overthrow patriarchy by opposing standard gender roles, the oppression of women and calls for a radical reordering of society. What sets radical feminism apart from other feminisms is that it calls for action, not simply belief. In order to be a feminist, one must transform their consiousness, and once that’s established, one must act on it every single day.
She starts by exalting radical feminism as the one true feminism and deriding all other forms of feminism as “do-nothing”. This is blatantly dishonest: there are many forms of feminism other than radical feminism which call for action, and there are countless feminists outside of the radical feminist movement who are out there every day working for women’s rights.
Intersecrtionality (aka- intersectional feminism): Is a methodology of studying “the relationships among multiple dimensions and modalities of social relationships and subject formations” (McCall 2005). The theory suggests—and seeks to examine how—various biological, social and cultural categories such as gender, race, class, ability, and other axes of identity interact on multiple and often simultaneous levels, contributing to systematic social inequality. Intersectionality holds that the classical conceptualizations of oppression within society, such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism do not act independently of one another; instead, these forms of oppression interrelate, creating a system of oppression that reflects the “intersection” of multiple forms of discrimination.
This is a pretty standard and non-controversial definition of intersectionality. We do note that she fails to mention that the overwhelming majority of radical feminists explicitly reject intersectionality and insist that sexism against women is the sole root of all discrimination in all societies. Accepting intersectionality is a radically unorthodox position for anyone who identifies as a “radical feminist”.
Trans* Folk- I realize how tumblr radical feminists have tainted people views on this, how very often radical feminism is used to illustrated hatred and transphobia on this subject. So, to the ill-informed and ignorant, my support seems unrealistic. Truth is, like LBGTQQIA rights, my support is not needed. My opinion is unwarranted. In addition, I find it hypocritical to believe that gender is a social construction, and then uphold it as a binary.
Here’s where things get really nasty.
First, we have a claim that transphobia among radical feminists originates exclusively from “tumblr radical feminists”. This is simply not true — transphobia has been an integral component of radical feminist philosophy since its inception. Virtually every prominent radical feminist intellectual has explicitly advocated extreme transmisogyny in her writings, and there are no notable radical feminists who have ever spoken against this viewpoint.
Second, we have an offhanded dismissal of all trans people’s criticism of radical feminism as “ill-informed and ignorant”. She’s saying that as a privileged cis person, she understands transphobia better than trans people do and so people should listen to her over trans people.
Third, we have a declaration that equal rights for trans people are something this person does not support because she feels that she shouldn’t “need” to support equality beyond the theoretical belief that everyone should have equal rights. She also accuses trans people of upholding the gender binary, which is standard transphobic bullshit.
Yeah, the idea that this individual is not transphobic, really! is utterly laughable.
I seriously still do not get how radical feminists can be so stupid.
Fine, I give up, I’m not a radical feminist. I’m a feminist who is radical.
So whenever someone would guess who I was dressed as today it usually went like this:
Them: “Librarian?”
Me: “No”
Them: “…Sexy Librarian?”
Me: “No”
And while this is inherently funny (apparently I’m sexy), it shows how deeply rooted the sexualization of women’s costumes are (to the point where a man dressing up as a non-sexualized woman becomes sexualized as if her were a woman).
Damn it world. Cut it out. Emma Goldman doesn’t want any of your shit.
I need feminism because individuals feel this awareness poster is appropriate. Breast cancer is not about any sexual advances towards women and in bringing awareness you should be able to use the correct anatomy terms.
This.
Equal wages for equal work to either sex are, until abolished in general, demanded, as far as I know, by all Socialists…. [Yet], It is my conviction that real equality of women and men can come true only when the exploitation of either by capital has been abolished and private housework has been transformed into a public industry.
“If it’s about equality why is it called feminism? Shouldn’t it be called something that has to do with both genders?”
Well, golly gee, I guess you’re right. The word “feminism” does does come from feminine implying that it’s about women. I guess we should change that…oh wait.
Mankind
Policeman
Mailman
Woman
God the Father
He being used as the default in every language ever.But you know, you’re right, we really should get around to changing the word feminism to imply it’s about equality and not just women.
YES. THIS. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS!
This seems obvious, but it’s one of the most common misconceptions regarding feminism. If you’re skeptical, for whatever reason, there have been studies that show that feminists don’t hate men. In addition, if you ever happen to talk to a feminist, you will find that they do not hate men. Fighting misogyny and hating men are two different things.
Understanding that the patriarchy runs counter to the best interests of both men AND women is the biggest hurdling point for a lot of people. Equality is not something to be feared unless you have some privilege to lose, which should give you a rough picture of the kind of people who bash feminism. Internalized misogyny however unfortunately effects not just men, but also women, and thus - paradoxically - the line drawn between those seeking practical action towards gender equality, and those who oppose those actions is not one exclusively based on gender.
Being a gentleman for vested interests like this is the antithesis of feminism. Being a gentleman because you are treating people politely with no ulterior motives is compatible with feminism… regardless of how gendered the term “gentleman” is, the idea behind it is sound.
See that, those of you feminists who said men didn’t suffer from any social inequalities?
Here’s an example, dumb fucks.Not calling all feminists that. Just pointing out a few particular ones.
The sexist assumption here of course being that all men are good at fixing cars and all women are good in the kitchen. Can you say patriarchal gender roles? Poor example to support your claim Cosette.
Reiss
I still don’t think their attacks were justified at all. I never said that equal work needs to be done on each gender in order for equality to thrive. I’m saying that we can’t leave men in the dust.
Their ad hominems were uncalled for, but their attacks on your arguments were valid. And it’s a good thing feminism doesn’t advocate leaving men in the dust… do you really think I’m that masochistic to subscribe to something that would screw me over?
Cosette.: Reiss, again →
You’re sorta proving my point. Always referring to the patriarchy instead of gender inequalities. I’m not saying we don’t have patriarchal tendencies. I’m saying you’re narrowing in on one area.
And to all the feminists bashing me, I fucking support equal rights, so don’t tell me I’m probably homophobic and racist too. Because I’m not. Jesus. You people assume because I don’t identify as feminist that I hate all who are different than me. I AM A HUMANIST. I WANT EQUALITY FOR EVERYONE. I fucking know what feminism is. I’m saying it has good intentions, but is somewhat narrow minded.
Fuck.
The reason I’m always referring to the patriarchy is because THERE IS NO MATRIARCHY. The patriarchy is responsible for the dual repression of women AND men. It is not narrow minded to focus on a practical, pragmatic, and very real threat to equality. Indeed, it is one of the largest preventative measures holding us back from real equality.
You say you are a humanist and that you want equality for everyone, but I don’t think you grasp that by concentrating on combating the patriarchy is a good thing. It focuses effort and increases the chance of success. And when the hydra like patriarchy, which permeates and infects all aspects of our society, and afflicts men and women alike is the target, everybody wins.
I think a lot of the problem you have is that you think there needs to be a catch-all word that means “combating all the worlds problems”. Feminism doesn’t claim to combat all the world’s problems, but the ones it does combat are very real, very serious, and very big. Many socialists are also feminists, hence the term socialist-feminism. Obviously a descriptive combination of words, but it doesn’t need to be replaced with a single word. What do you call someone who is against homophobia and against sexism? …someone who is against homophobia and sexism. There are words that can incorporated these meanings (such as humanists, in some contexts), but these two definitions transcend any other labels and can be applied to any people.
And these people who are bashing you obviously don’t know you, so can be forgiven owing to the proliferation of racist, sexist, homophobic trolls on the internet. You most certainly aren’t homophobic, that’s for sure. However their critiques of your stance on feminism in particular stand.
You see feminism as narrow minded. If by narrow minded you mean it is focused, then yes it is. If by narrow minded you mean ignorant or somehow ‘missing the point’, not it is not. Because to miss the point you have to define the point. And what, pre tell, is “the point” to you? If it’s equality, I don’t see how you can be opposed to feminism when it is all about equality. You seem to be putting the cart before the horse, or to use a better analogy, you are advocating that men remove the splinter in their eyes before women remove the plank in theirs, or that at least that they do so with ‘equality’.
This I think is the biggest flaw to your argument; that you conflate equality of effort, with equality. You do not need to make equal effort on two things to achieve equality, because then all you achieve is privilege for one thing. The point made about affirmative action is important, where do you stand on it? Because this conflation of equality of effort WITH equality itself could easily be applied to an anti-affirmative action stance. I hope you can see why some people freaked out on you now.
This is from the slut walk. One of the arguments is that girls ask for rape because they wear slutty clothes, short skirts, tight, low-cut tops. This girl is an example of the fact that rape victims can look like anyone, you, me, this girl. Rapists. Dont. Discriminate.
I promised a long time ago that I’d reblog this whenever I saw it on my dash. No regrets, it breaks my heart every single time.
an incredibly important message, rape is rape. no one is ever asking for it. a woman has the right to dress how ever they want - it is society that identifies risque dressing as ‘asking for it’, and in my opinion, that way of thinking needs to be diminished.
always reblog
That way of thinking shouldn’t be diminished: it should be destroyed.
always always always reblog.
very powerful.
Forever reblog <3 And to the girl in this photo, if you ever see this. You are my hero.
Reblogging this helps smash the patriarchy.
Rabies: Reiss →
I’m not gonna get into this argument again, but feminism isn’t important. Gender equality is important. GIVE BOTH GENDERS YOUR ATTENTION. Men have problems too.
Feminism is about gender equality!
…
This isn’t about rubbing salt in any wounds, it’s about another good commentary.
