I wrote Sony a while ago when I first saw the ads and told them I found it both offensive and irrational. I just plain didn't get it. Are men and women supposed to look for something different in a TV? If so my husband and I (who actually are looking to buy a new TV) must be doing something wrong.

1. Don't get me started - both Kia and some other unremarkable car company keep airing these ads with frumpy, unattractive men and thin, hot women. YAWN. As far as the Bravia, everyone knows plasma is superior to LCD. DOUBLE YAWN.

2. If I hear of one more person telling me that shaving my cooch is indicative of a desire to appear pre-pubescent, I'm gonna scream. Some of us, girls and dudes, just like the sensation. Get over it!

I'll reluctantly admit the "animal rights terrorist" art is of better quality than the usual right wing MSPaint fare.

3. Hell, most countries other than the US seem to be years ahead of providing pretty much any kind of over-the-counter meds! Why can't I be trusted to buy Beconase or Codeine here?

4. Why are people still paying attention to Adam Corolla?

Maybe it is because of more restrictive abortion laws that Latin American countries have better access to Plan B. The fact that abortion laws are legislated, not court-determined, helps, because lawmakers can make more comprehensive laws - i.e. no abortion, but you get access to birth control & EC.

Well, I'm not sure what gender role ad target this is, but my experience is that everything Sony makes is a peice of crap.

They like to make up standards that are incompatable with everything else (Betamax, NT casset, memorystick, Ruvi video cartridge, HiFD, ATRAC, minidisc, UMD...a whole bunch of other shit barely anyone uses), they're bugging (Sony PCs), they fall apart (pretty much everything, particularly game systems), they waste electricity (pretty much all of their products, especially TVs), they hate customers ("DRM" that controls what you do with you files, CDs that install trojans on your computer, they expect you to pay $599 for a ps3 and like it) and all of their stuff is overpriced and underquality.....but them being sexist doesn't help either.

Now I deffinately won't buy anything from Sony...I also have a problem with electronics marketing and stores in general, they have huge sex roles.

Men: Grr..want big ass tv that cost 10K....grr....I need the best picture...grr...I want 13 speakers and a 900W amp...grr....my penis makes me need a fast computer...grr...wife should buy big new stainless steel fridge to hold my beer...grr

Woman: teehee...that digital camera is so cute...teehee...Oh! A new blender, just what I need...teehee...I can have "high tech" stuff like TiVo, too, cause my hormones require that I watch series shows, soaps, and figure skating...teehee...I have no idea how to operate any of these things and barely know what they are...teehee...I need a stereomawhozit that matches the carpet.

Both: We both need to buy all of your things.

Ok, rant over, I don't think this is the most imiportant issue in the WFR, so carry on.

The mention of feminist health care clinics got my mind wandering. Why is there not some sort of doctor referral or association that gives people a clue about the doctors leanings toward feminism or reproductive rights etc?

I have ended up with so many doctors (both male & female) who had some very screwed up world views about women, reproduction etc. and it made it hard to get decent care. It is not always possible to get a referral from someone you trust either.

BTW, The Kansas prosecutor story is probably one of the most under-reported stories out there. In essence what they did was take women's private medical records and handed them over to Operation Rescue.

It's been a while since I was at the Sony Bravia website and I don't think it's up anymore, I tried to find it and couldn't, but as soon as I saw the horrible ads I went to the web-site in a "WTF" mood and the thing about it was that the TV was seperated into two halves: blue and pink (get it? cause that one went right over my head [/sarcasm]) and when you would take the cursor over either section it said the exact same thing, features wise, that men and women wanted in a TV. Bascially, they were saying men and women looked for the same thing, they just did in in a really sh*tty way (pink and blue? Go F*ck yourselves Sony)

The commericals were horriblly stereotypical though, the guy wanted guns and violence while the woman wanted romance in their entertainment. Quite frankly I'm happy to not be seeing them anymore.

And a_human, you can't blame the people who charge absurd amounts for useless products, you blame the people who keep buying the sh*t. A fool and thier money you know...

*inhales deeply* Wooooooooooooowwwwwwwww. It has taken me about 2 hours to read all of that, process it, and think of something to say about it.

I don't like sony at all. not because their sexist, or because their stuff sucks. I just don't like sony. the word irritates me for some reason. And they just look like pieces of crap.

I loathe Adam Corolla with every fiber of my being. I watched the Man Show once because I was a touch drunk, and the whole concept of it made me want to hurl my TV out the window. Girls on Trampolenes (sp?) Advice from a porn star. WTF dude? And then he did that one show with Dr. Drew. If you don't have anything intelligible to say about a topic such as sexual acts, then shut your fucking mouth.
I love what Shakes had to say about it. I'm going to book mark her blog because she says interesting things too. The kind of intolerant bullshit that spews out of his flapping gums can destroy some people's self esteem. I'm voluptuous and proud of it. I have no problem flaunting what I have been given. Plenty enough men want me. So he's just spewing mindless dribble. And about the Trannys... I have seem some drop dead gorgeous trannys and I've seen some that you would never have guess were men to begin with.

Does anyone else want to stop shaving? I have never really thought about the concept of shaving as something that defines me as a woman. I've always shaved because I find hair (and not just in the nether regions) uncomfortable. I take it easy during the winter because, well I just do. I wear long skirts or pants all of the time. But I'm considered "evil" by so many other reasons, I'm tempted to just add another notch to the rope. It's like being a vegetarian because you hate the fact animals are slaughtered. Why not be a vegetarian because it is a healthier diet? Why does it all have to be a political statement? Why not just do what feels good because it feels good?

As long as the wing nuts preach against EC, we're going to have a very difficult time having better access. And if the pro lifers ever get their way and end abortion, we're going to have a lot of dead women and an a lot more broken homes. They're going to have to realise (once they get their heads out of their arses) they can't have it both way. You can't thump a religious text and expect people to listen to you--- especially when there are people out there who are not of the same faith as you. In MY faith we are told to be responsible-- take birth control to avoid pregnancies, and be responsible. I support the right to choose to have an abortion. I chose not to have one when I got pregnant with Tyr. I have told my hubby we're not having any more. Even if, we're not having anymore.

I'm happy Joya is getting support and that they are ensuring she is safe.

It is sad Nazenin Fatehi was going to recieve a death penalty for defending herself from a traumatic experience. However, at least she received support and they are retrying her.

As far as Malak Ghorbany
goes, I really hope they don't stone her to death.

I don't even know what to say about Kline and all of that. The whole thing is so wrong.

And it's good that women are finally able to gain power in capitol hill. I think a lot of good things will come from this, and hopefully we can get up there with Rwanda and Sweden. Even better if it would help out with the Feminist Health Care issues.

Ok, I feel better, I really had to get that off my chest. And now... to bed.

I think the lady bashing Adam Corolla might have a leg to stand on if she'd actually *listened to the fucking show*.

"Having not heard the radio show in question, I can only imagine it went something like this:..."

Coming from someone who says she's already hates the guy, wow, it's really shocking she figures he would phrase things the way she does.

Personally, I LIKE Adam, I think he's funny. Sometimes I think he's also terribly insensitive, ignorant, and doesn't even try to be politically correct. Oh well, you know what else? Sometimes he has a point.

I love my feminism and there are things I would debate with him, but personally, I think some people are way too sensitive, and since that person has absolutely no quotes from the show to back up his "trashing transgendered people" I see no reason why it's news. Unless you already hate him of course.

Why are people still paying attention to Adam Corolla?

Because he said "Fuck off" to Ann Coulter on air. No one can compete with that.

I can't get past how Ramesh Ponnuru used the word 'slattern' in dead seriousness in his comment with respect to Scrubs at the above link.

"Why not be a vegetarian because it is a healthier diet? Why does it all have to be a political statement? Why not just do what feels good because it feels good?"

actually, its funny you say that cuz i never understood people who were vegetarian for political reasons...it would make more sense to be vegan since the dairy industry is just as fucked up. i know its harder to be vegan but if your doing it for politics then thatd be a little hypocritical to not.

Actually, there's plenty of evidence that it's unhealthy to be vegan, too. Just think of all the refined carbs you're eating. What about the chemicals in your veggies? It'd be absolute best to have a normal diet, but have it organic. Meat and all.

Everything we eat and drink is unhealthy. And the air we breathe. Ever looked up some of those chemicals and dyes in your shampoo? Disturbing, to say the least. But the thing is, only rich people can afford to have everything organic and natural. The rest of us are stuck with shit that gives us gods know what kinds of cancer and various deficiencies, illnesses and syndromes. Many modern human illnesses may actually stem from the chemicals we ingest.

And veganism/organic veganism (or vegetarianism) for politics? Don't make me laugh. There's so many things wrong with the "animal rights" aspect of that when you stop and really think about it, I don't know where to begin.

arguably, vegitarianism is better for the environment and world hunger, so it can be political without being focused on cute fuzzy aminals.

yes tokaia, i was just talking about the political aspect though.

some people just dont feel comfortable NOT being vegan/vegetarian because of there political views. even if its hypocritical or not perfect, i still think its better to do something than nothing.

The EC in South America is interesting. I remember going on a tour of a botanical garden in Colombia, by pure chance, our driver's grandmother was an Indian, and she'd taught him all about plant medicines.

He was telling us about them, and one plant he pointed to and he said the fruit was delicious, but if a woman wanted to have a baby she should not eat it, because the fruit of this tree "brought on" a woman's period.

If abortefacients were integrated into the pre-Colombian culture, it's maybe an explanation of why EC, which is not an abortefacient, has been able to find a place to fit in--there's a historic acceptance of post-sex contraception already, in a limited window.

Interestingly, this acceptance was denial based. It seemed that it was OK to "bring on" one's period if one was off-cycle, and it basically ducked the question of WHY one was off-cycle.

It was just an interesting thing.

I just have an anecdote about all of the anti-feminist health care I've received from my general practitioner (who I've since stopped seeing).

When I was 18 years old, I had to go to the doctor to get a physical for college. Mom told me there might be a gynological exam, and that when that happened, she would wait outside (at that point she still came inside with me when I had exams). During the exam, she asked the doctor if he would be giving me a gyno exam.

The question he asked next was, "Well that depends. Will she be having premarital sex?"

Since my mom was in the room, I said no. But the fact is that I had already had sex. Also, I had abnormal periods, which apparently didn't matter to the doctor.

So I didn't get an exam that day, and ever since then I've had three gyno exams at Planned Parenthood, because I was afraid to use my parents' insurance for a regular gyno.

A few weeks ago, I went back to my doctor (I switched doctors but was still at the same private practice) for another physical. This time I was alone. The nurse asked me when my last pap smear was, and I said about two years ago at Planned Parenthood, and that I wasn't going to be getting one today because I wanted a female doctor.

I had to strip down to my underwear and wear one of those awful paper gowns. The doctor came in and did his part of the exam and remarked about my good looks (which isn't something I want to hear in a paper robe, thank you very much). He seemed a little surprised that I wanted a female gynocologist, but whatever.

A week later I got my exam results in the mail. Tucked in the middle of the papers was a pamphlet that said "WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND ETERNITY?" and it was all about repenting my sins and accepting Jesus and blah blah blah (the normal extremist Christian dogma). My parents, who have been seeing this doctor for years, have never gotten this pamphlet before.

I know I got it because I said I went to Planned Parenthood for my exams. Ugh. I felt so violated at that point. I am really glad that I decided to wait for another doctor to check me out. Ugh.

Mary,

When I was 19, I went to my gynecologist because I was having irregular periods, most likely stress-induced. She found a breast tumor. So yeah, virgins can benefit from gynocelogical exams, too - and had I not gone for another reason, my life would be a lot worse right now.

Not to sound bitchy, but "Planned Parenthood" is often TMI. If you were in college at the time, just say that you last went for an appt two years ago while you were "at school." They don't have to know that it wasn't the student health center. ;)

Tokaia, you totally convinced me to stop being a vegetarian for political reasons. Mmmm hamburger.

Actually, there is plenty of evidence that a vegetarian can have a healthy, balenced diet, and that most Americans in fact eat too much protein. I am not trying to say that a little meat here and there in a diet will somehow send a person tot he hospital, but, given the way Americans tend to eat, a vegetarian diet will usually be healthier.

And there is nothing wrong with wanting animal rights. For me, it fights into my belief system and is consistant with the other things I fight for- empowering those who cannot are are otherwise forced not to speak.

I just wanted to say thanks for specifying "usually," Jen (hey--I know a real-life Jen who loves ponies. I wonder if you're she?). Too often, I find myself rolling my eyes at blanket assertions of vegetarian healthfulness by people who can't quite wrap their minds around the fact that metabolisms differ greatly and that for some of us, eating meat is the best way to go.

Why is avoiding certain foods because you feel bad for animals considered not valid, wimpy, or inconsistent? I don't eat red meat because it makes me cry to think of cows and pigs being slaughtered. Why isn't that a good enough excuse? Diet is a PERSONAL CHOICE. It can be influenced by many factors, and everyone has their (not "there" or "they're," my friends) own reasons for choosing which animals they do or don't eat. Empathy is an important part of the human experience, and I'm sick of people denying their emotional connections. So you "don't care" that hundreds of minks had to die for your coat? And you say, to avoid being called a hypocrite, that you wouldn't care if it was your own pet? I don't believe you. We are all socialized to think of various animals as acceptable or unacceptable to eat, wear, or put to work, and they are not interchangeable.

Who the hell is talking about mink coats? Nobody's said anything about them.

yea, that kind of came out of the blue unrelatedwaffle. im sure no one here is advocating animal cruelty in any form or saying vegetarians are "wimpy".

soooo much stuff has animal products in it (silver jewelry?, film??) thats it pretty impossible not to live without slight hypocrisies here and there..i just think at least making an effort not to contribute to such things is good but it still bothers me

by people who can't quite wrap their minds around the fact that metabolisms differ greatly and that for some of us, eating meat is the best way to go.

I consider myself pro-choice on the subject of eating meat. For me, being close to vegan makes my body happy; supposedly, that's a consequence of having Type A blood. Then again, I know a lot of people who feel like absolute crap when they don't get their daily meat. Some people's bodies simply cannot assemble amino acids into proteins as well as others. Some of my best friends have severe food allergies, Celiac's, and Chrone's. I really don't give a flying fig what they eat!

No more would I try to micromanage someone's dinner plate than allow someone to micromanage mine "because a little bit of meat won't kill you."

Mary,

Your experience sounds awful! I've always been uncomfortable with the notion of having a male check me out down there. That sort of a checkup requires major sensitivity and I find that male doctors just aren't terribly sensitive (a prime example of this is my father). I've been going to female gynos since my first pap smear. It's completely bizarre that your doctor didn't think you needed one unless you were having sex; I told my mom I wanted to start getting mine done, and legitimately at the time, it was just because I wanted to make sure everything was in working order. Mom thought this was perfectly sensible -- and I come from a very religious, very conservative family.

The only time I've seen a male doc was when I scheduled an emergency appointment and couldn't get a female doc. I had an STD scare (fortunately, just a scare -- and one that taught me a VALUABLE lesson about safe sex) and this man made me feel so dirty and disgusting and alone. In honest truth, I'm STILL feeling the effects... he wasn't even mean -- he was just insensitive. He didn't seem to know what he was talking about and had no concern for reassuring me -- instead he started talking about the young women he knew in an HIV support group (!! -- I was not there for an HIV test) who had "gotten themselves infected" by not being careful enough.

I will never. Ever. EVER see a male doctor again. EVER. I found a new doc at a new place and she is splendiforously marvelous. She treats sex like the GROWN UP fact of life that it is and doesn't make me feel like a dirty disgusting whore for having it. STD testing is run of the mill to her and just a regular everyday part of exams. When I got the first of my three HPV vaccine shots she complained a little about how she can only give it to women under 26 -- she thinks they should give it to everyone, men and women. She's just awesome and level-headed and UNDERSTANDS the sort of attitude that's appropriate for a doctor to have toward her patient.

I'm so sorry for your horrible experience with that awful doctor. Good for you for requesting a woman. Each of us has the right to insist upon whatever makes US comfortable during this incredibly uncomfortable procedure. No one has the right to judge us for wanting to be made more comfortable in that situation.

Oenophile, I appreciate a vegetarian/vegan bringing up blood types. I have old skool 0- blood. I happen to be drawn to a lot of vegetarian fare, but sometimes I crave an order of steak tartare. That's just how it is, and no one is going to change my mind. Respect for your fellow universal donors! ;)

Yes, TLF is absolutely right. My sympathies on your dreadful doctor as well, Mary.

I've always stuck to female GYNs, and unfortunately, I've run into a couple of insensitive creeps, though nothing as bad as you've gone through. I did have a female doctor once tell me that the reason the speculum was hurting me was that it had been a long time since I'd had sex--God forbid she should just slow down. Yeah, funny, since I switched doctors to my beloved current GYN, it hasn't hurt.

Really, Jane and oenophile? Blood type? Fascinating. I wonder what mine is.

oenophile:

Thanks for the kind words. The only reason I told them I went to Planned Parenthood was because they specifically asked where I got my last exam. I like to keep the fact that I went to PP private because it brings along with it all sorts of judgement.

TLF:

I'm glad I'm not the only one with bad male doctor experiences. I pretty much decided since I was a young girl that I wasn't going to see a male gyno. I think I read an article about some male doctors annoyed at the fact that women actually prefer to see women.

Also, EG, I freaking hate the speculum! I always have to take an advil afterwards. Definitely one of the signs of a good gyno is someone that warms up the speculum with their hand first.

Totally agree with you ladies about female gyno's. I could never go to a guy for that either. And I would have been appalled if my doctor had commented on my good looks while I was practically naked!

I became vegetarian in '98; felt healthier immediately; read about this in 2000ish:
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/blood_group_diet.htm

Jane, if you eat and are left unsated, you've missed the purpose of eating. :) Hence the reason why I don't get up in arms about people eating meat - if that's what they need to do to nourish their bodies, great.

wow, i didnt know male gynos were such a disliked thing. mine is awesome, hes a little old russian man who saw me wearing a newsboy cap the first day i went to him and got excited at the prospect that i might be a communist (apparently communists wear newsboy caps?) granted, he asks questions the wrong way (instead of saying a simple "do you smoke?" he says "you dont smoke do you?" like if i said i did hed make me feel bad haha) but i would never go to anyone else...who else would apologize every time they put there finger in your butt haha (psh so what, TMI, weve all had it done if you go to a gyno and gotten a full exam)

I don't have anything against male gynos, but I've only used females. I have to admit I'm curious about the motivation for a fella to make this his specialty (maybe it's a second choice when you can't get into the preferred field?)...it's understandable if the emphasis is in 'OB" as opposed to "GYN," but to each his own I guess.

I definitely think there's something to the blood type diet, since I do feel better overall when avoiding wheat and dairy and include lots of fish. I'm the kind of person who will crave foie gras one day and a macrobiotic meal the next day, so I love pretty much everything. Unfortunately, if I try to follow a super vegetarian or vegan diet for a length of time, it's really rough on my digestive system...my friend did turn my on to Sunshine Burgers, which are essentially seeds!

Basically, as long as I get my daily requirement of umami, I'm pretty happy.

Mary B, I have read that many religious proselytizers have taken the tactic of adding religious propaganda into their employers' bulk mail or into bill envelopes that they mail for their bosses (or, for that matter, use to pay their own credit card bills, etc.)

Since I am male, I have not had the experience of dealing with a creepy gyno. I am of the age where urological health concerns have begun to get real, and I would feel uncomfortable with a women urologist, out of my own sense of privacy and awkwardness. If her clerk sent me a "bend over and cough for Christ" pamphlet with my bill for the copay, I would never set foot there again.

RE: male gynaecologists:

1) Back in the day, if men didn't do it, no one would. So yeah, as for men of a certain age, I'm glad that they went into the field.

2) Modern men? I think they split between two camps - incredibly in touch with their emotions and downright creepy. I've met (socially) one of the former, who graduated a few years ahead of me. He really wanted to do the OB part, which requires the GYN part. He had delivered the baby of one of the women who was there - and she said that he was a great doc.

Speculation: the GYN part may be, for some men, a lot like being a PCP - good contact with the patient, develop a relationship, etc., and then they also get the OB part, too.

My problem with male gynaecologists is less emotional: they simply don't have a baseline of "normal." A healthy physician knows, intuitively, what "normal" is.

I've had a male GYN and he never did anything creepy or uncomfortable, I just didn't like having a male. It's like going to a mechanic who has never owned a car.

I had a similar experience with my PCP (male) when I was a freshman in college. I came down with a bladder infection (not from sex), but he was convinced I had sinned and spent twenty minutes telling me I was going to burn in hell for eternity for not keeping my legs crossed until marriage.

But I've never been what you'd call "meek," so when I had had enough of this prick railing at me for being a slut, I shouted down the hall to the (full) waiting room, "Ma! The doctor keeps calling me a whore."

That shut him up. I never went back.

Also, my gyno is male, and I am going to be crushed when he retires. He has never been anything but gentle, caring, understanding and thorough in his care. Nothing creepy.

First, anecdotally, I question the Pill not repressing the libido. I took the pill for two years and had a nice quiet sex life with my man. Then I ran out of money for pills and Dr. appts so I went off them and went to condoms and my goodness, after about 2 months I got more turned on, more often, and had better orgasms.

Also, previously, I had been on Depo and I didn't have sex with my live in boyfriend (who admittedly I didn't really care for but that never stopped me before) for almost 9 months. (3 cycles) Now, I left him and came off Depo so this is probably a bad control but I must tell you...I had NEVER been SO desperate to do it and to do it with almost anyone. It was like all the repressed hormones came running to the surface screaming FUCK ME!

Next, male gyn. I've had creepy males and horribly awful mean females. But truthfully my favorites so far are this sweet Indian man with the most pleasant demeanor, tiny hands, and really caring laugh and my midwife who delivered my son in MN and then was subsequently my gyn until I moved back to CT. As long as they are caring, gentle, and easy to talk to I don’t have any trouble with either gender. MY worst horror story was actually from a female doctor who felt that the best way to deal with my extreme fear over a possible STD was to lecture me on sex outside of wedlock until I cried.

Shaving. Yes, I do it. No, I don’t do it. It really depends. There are times I HAVE to shave because I perform and when you get cast you do what the director tells you. I find it no more offensive than when a director tells me that my character has short hair and she’s blonde. I almost always shave my legs because I like the way they feel when I lotion them up real nice. I shave under my arms whenever I wear a tank type top on stage, but not in my real life. And I work in financial management. Apparently I am so good at what I do that the typical white conservative male that dominates my work contact probably 5 to 1 only briefly raises his eyebrows and then chooses to ignore my furry pits. And I am a fan of the silk tank top with a skirt so it’s no secret. Plus, my husband has a FIT whenever I shave under my arms. Pheromones and soft place to put his cheek, he tells me. He hides the deodorant on me all the time too. And my coochy never! My goodness why would I want to mess with a perfectly designed part of my anatomy? I did it once and after getting past the ingrown hair, screaming red razor burn portion of it I found that all that good wet stuff that happened during sex just didn’t get where it needed to go and I had a harder time having an orgasm and those I did have weren’t nearly as good. Maybe it was all the thinking, avoiding, and maneuverings I had to do rather than just letting go.

Wow, this turned out long. Sorry for the ramble but here they are my two cents.