A slightly shorter list than usual, 'cause it's Labor Day weekend...
Jack and Jill Politics: When Will This White House Learn You Cannot Negotiate With Terrorists?
Tiger Beatdown: Sexist Beatdown: Not-Yet-Nude Levi Johnston Edition
PostBourgie: Does It Pay to Play Hard to Get?
Feministe: 287(g): Can White Privilege Ever Be Exercised for Good?
xkcd: Anatomy Text
Jezebel: Coming This Fall: More Naked Fat Ladies In Glamour!
Pandagon: Sailors subjected to sexual harassment, gay-baiting--and it was encouraged
Sociological Images: NSFW!!! More Clothed-White-Woman/Naked-Black-Woman Images
RaceWire: Das Racist's Politics of Dancing (at the Pizzahut Tacobell)
Young Fat and Fabulous: Beth Ditto Vs. Karl Lagerfeld
RH Reality Check: Women Need Rights, Not Rescue
Jezebel: Is There Feminist Discourse Beyond The Veil?
WireTap: Moonshine and Rainbows: Queer, Young and Rural
Isak: What? Two Women Are Major News Anchors?
Ad Age: Creativity Knows No Gender, but Agency Creative Departments Sure Do
Dying for a Public Option: Specifically, Women
Tapped: Kennedy's legacy on abortion and disability.
Angry Asian Man: Nip/Tuck promo's super sexy asian sweatshop
Submit a feminist joke to Bitch, enter to win a copy of Randa Jarrar's A Map of Home.
Help out some researchers who are studying mothering and feminism by taking their survey.
What have you all been reading/writing this week?
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Manly Men Drink Beer: why do we associate men with beer and wine with women and sometimes gay men?
I had two Movie Monday posts on Taking Woodstock and Sunshine Cleaning.
Secret Life Says Its Ok to Talk About Your Period: as much as I find the show problematic, Secret Life of the American Teenager does have some good qualities. Emphasis on some.
The Doll I Always Wanted: a look at the new pole dancing doll.
When Women Ask the Questions [Women's Studies Wednesday]: a review of a book about the history of women's studies.
The Morality of Dexter: one of the reasons I really like the show Dexter is because it pushes on the viewers sense of morality.
Problematizing Buffy: as much as I love Buffy, there are some problematic things about the show.
Disney and Marvel: The Perfect Marriage?: if Disney is for girls and Marvel is for boys, does that make the recent purchase of Marvel by Disney the perfect marriage?
Some Girl Loses her Outfit in a Bet: a further analysis of the KGB commercials.
I also have a call for guest posts. Anyone interested?
This week in Evil Slutopia:
~Since we're obsessed with True Blood, a quick post on Anna Paquin's recent quote about the fact that so many people make a big deal about nude scenes while ignoring violent ones.
~Comedian Jessica Bern channels Aunt Flo to help raise money for ovarian cancer research: Let's Talk...Period
~In honor of marriage equality coming to Vermont and the fact that we're gearing up to start the fight all over again here in New York, our September pick of the month is our Straight For Equality store.
~A very mature review based on our recent trip the the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The ESC Does the Met
~What does this say about me as a parent?
~Marie Claire magazine has been on to some 'interesting' stories this month - they've decided that the "new" trophy wives are Asian women, that widowers should be our "crush of the month", and that we should avoid locker rooms because there might be some unattractive naked women in there.~Family Circle gives some sensible advice about virginity pledges.
~Our Arts Editor Chiquita has a rant about something most of us have dealt with - annoying and inaccurate email forwards from relatives. She got one from her grandma about the secret liberal agenda of Snopes.
I just read about yet another example of DV that has more racist/sexist comments: Apparently, Tila Tequila's football-playing boyfriend beat and strangled her.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10031914/Cops:-Merriman-accused-of-choking-Tila-Tequila
Naturally, the severity of validity of the conviction is being doubted because people perceive Tila Teqila as being "trashy," and thus deserving.
This week at The (not so) Little Things:
No, You Don't Need to Speak with My Husband: This week, Starr C. of Suburbtopia's post about a realtor who thought her husband was more qualified to deal with selling their house, reminded me about filing taxes as a married couple for the first time and the assumption that with marriage comes forfeiting your economic power.
You Can Tell a Lot from Behind: My thoughts about what alleys can say about socioeconomics.
Dan Savage, Racism Has Its Rewards: Looking at why it is problematic to give Dan Savage his own HBO show considering his racist commentary.
Malawian Child Labour and the True Cost of a Cigarette: Looking at the child labour involved in making cigarettes for North America.
Who Is Chris Brown and What is a Rihanna?: Looking at his recent interview with Larry King and the ways in which his lawyer and his mother were quick to make excuses for him.
Multiple Sites Of Oppression: The Myopia Of The GLBT Community: Looking at the ways in which the GLBT community refuses to use intersectionality in its organizing.
I thought a part of activism was calling out everybody that held prejudices.
Dan Savage called out the Mormon Church for its homophobic support of prop 8. No qualms from you there.
He calls out large portions of the country and world for being homophobic, no qualms there.
But when he is not to happy with homophobic African Americans you get pissed?
He looked at the exit polls and saw that some 70% of African Americans that voted in Cali voted for prop eight.
And what did he say that was so offensive? That African Americans as a whole are a huge problem for gay rights than white people are for minority rights.
Now in you post you mention a few public black people that are for LGBT rights. But from Prop 8 in California to the Washington D.C. council voting to acknowledge gay marriage you see black activist coming out in against gay marriage from coast to coast.
It is not sexist to say that men commit three suicides to one female suicide in the United States. Its a fact. A positive statement.
And when researchers control for all other factors (income, education, religiosity, etc) African Americans are opposed to gay rights at a higher percentage than other racial groups, and whites specifically.
And judging by California, it is a positive statement that over a super majority of African Americans do not support gay marriage. You could call that homophobic, or couch it in more politically correct terms, or be so politically correct that you don't even mention this truth.
The problem isn't necessarily that he stated that fact; the problem is that he thinks it's appropriate to use that data to pit the gay and black communities against each other, alienating gay black people (as well as liberal black people who support gay rights, and people like me who are neither gay nor black but care about the rights of both and just don't think that's cool). Saying that gays "have it worse" than blacks right now is unnecessarily divisive, and completely discredits the experiences of black people. There also seems, among people who insist on "calling out" black folks' homophobia, to be a pervasive attitude that "we gave you your rights, and this is how you repaid us." I don't appreciate that black people or anyone else voted for Prop 8, but the idea that they only "deserve" the rights that white people "gave" them if they vote the way we want them to makes me slightly ill.
Also, the Mormon Church came out against gay marriage as an organization, so I consider it acceptable to call them out as such. Plenty of black people spoke out against gay marriage, but they didn't do it as a Representative for All Black People Everywhere, and it seems unfair and, frankly, racist to treat them as such.
Finally, throwing around "politically correct" as a pejorative when someone critiques the way a particular minority group is being portrayed? Really fucking old.
Dan's words did not pit the gay community against the black community. His words acknowledged that there is a large portion of the black community pitted against the gay community.
And Dan was not talking about who had it worse, he was talking about who had it in for the other worse. An important distinction.
Further:
Plenty of black people spoke out against gay marriage, but they didn't do it as a Representative for All Black People Everywhere, and it seems unfair and, frankly, racist to treat them as such.
I am the ones working with the numbers here... 70% of the exit polls, research analysis that controlled for other factors...
Saying that 70% of African Americans voted against gay rights is not a condemnation of black people everywhere, it is an acknowledgment that there is a cultural homophobia in the black community. Specifically indicated by the 70%.
That 70%...
70%...
Why am I repeating 70%? Because when I do that I acknowledge that about 30% are not homophobic when it comes to voting for gay rights.
And the whole politically correct thing...
It is old but it is true. It is not politically correct to point out that some minority groups are just as hateful, bigoted, narrow minded and insensitive to the plight of others as the establishment.
Just like about 70% of African American Cali voters, or however many people that came to march in the Washington D.C. council vote, oven when my local city assembly tried to put prohibitions against LGBT discrimination in the city ordinances.
You might want to check on those poll numbers though. I'm not saying homophobia in the African American community isn't a problem, but it appears too many people are basing their arguments off dubious claims.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/11/mythbusting_the.html
“Dr. Fernando Guerra of Loyola's Levy Center for the Study of Los Angeles did a far more extensive poll than CNN and found that the 70% figure was way too high. The figure is closer to 57% (still not acceptable) but a long way from the 70%. Other models that I have been running in an attempt to get the facts and not the emotions show the latter a more likely figure."
http://www.letcaliforniaring.org/site/c.ltJTJ6MQIuE/b.4863891/k.35FC/Driving_Factors_of_Prop_8_Vote.htm
"An in-depth analysis of the Proposition 8 vote released today shows that party affiliation, political ideology, frequency of attending worship services and age were the driving forces behind the measure’s passage on Nov. 4. The study finds that after taking into account the effect of church attendance, support for Proposition 8 among African Americans and Latinos was not significantly different than other groups. Through a precinct-by-precinct analysis and review of multiple other sources of data, the study also puts African-American support for Proposition 8 at no more than 59 percent, nowhere close to the 70 percent reported the night of the election. Finally, the study shows how support for marriage equality has grown substantially across almost all California demographic groups — except Republicans.
The study was written by Patrick J. Egan, Ph.D., assistant professor of politics and public policy at New York University, and Kenneth Sherrill, Ph.D., professor of political science at Hunter College, CUNY. Egan and Sherrill reviewed pre- and post-election polls, and precinct-level voting data from five California counties with the highest number of African-American voters. The study was commissioned by the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund in San Francisco."
Exit polling does come with its own bag of problems, small sample size, and people may not report how they actually voted because they want to give a socially desirable response.
And the socially desirable response for African Americans was to be against gay marriage. That in itself is an important sociological fact and is worth commenting on.
Also, in various studies demographic information alone (such as being African American) has been correlated with an increased opposition go gay rights... ceteris paribus.
Education and religiosity are also predictors and they have a higher influence, but the fact remains that ceteris paribus African Americans are more homophobic than whites*.
And then when you throw in the religiosity and lower education the differences between the two populations are distinct.
* http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/01/14/8062
whoa, whoa, whoa. I need to call bullshit on this. You're getting your facts wrong, and I'm getting the sense that you're doing it on purpose.
Here's what actually happened: all the numbers i read saw that white Californians voted more or less down the middle on Prop 8 (48%), a majority Latin@s voted for it (59%) and black people voted for it a rate almost equivalent to that of Latin@s (58%). (Black people also made up only seven percent of voters in Cali last November and among those who attended church weekly African-American support for Prop 8 was lower than amongst any other ethnic group.)
What was that you were saying?
You're asserting that this(roundly pilloried) exit polling data represents the "pressure to be homophobic among blacks" even after admitting that exit polling data is notoriously shitty. But you're using exit polling data because that supports your thesis about the relative homophobia of blacks.
This is shoddy work. It's also transparent.
Aim higher, dunny.
I wrote about losing a friend of 22 years because we disagreed about health care reform and white male privilege: Racist.
My side project about sexuality education has a brand-new design: Beyond the Birds and the Bees.
I'd love to have your submissions for the Feminist Carnival of Sexual Freedom and Autonomy which I'm hosting later this week. Read more here.
A call for help for my new psychology class
http://mzbitca.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/call-for-help/
A post on the way the california wildfire survivors are treated compared to katrina
http://mzbitca.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/the-difference-in-our-society/
My frustration with having to choose between a) loving and supporting professional sports and b) condoning violence against women.
In lieu of Shawne Merriman's arrest this morning.
http://noticingthegap.com/2009/09/06/690/
Tuesday I made a little post about Comfort Food.
Yesterday I posted a great video about Universal, Socialized, Call It Whatever You Want Healthcare.
Oops, don't care: another of those posts about Chris Brown and how I don't care that he's "sorry."
McDonald's Japan uses a wacky American foreigner as a spokesperson. and i'm not offended in the least.
Only pretty women should be murdered in a jealous rage, apparently: the extreme of women judging other women, discussing the murder of Jasmine Fiore.
it's for "her"; says so right on the can: that's right, ladies. we get an energy drink special for us. and it just proves how clueless people are when it comes to marketing to women.
Gender, sexuality, and objectification in Lil Wayne's live performance of "Lollipop": i think that the title pretty much sums it up.
Fuzz Therapy: more pics of my fluffy kitty.
and the most adorable gay marriage ad
Your cat is super cute!!
It's lovely that you're not offended by Mr. James, but your views might carry more weight if... you know... you actually lived there and had to experience the stereotypes.
It's a great ad for Americans in American. Not for foreigners in Japan.
As a result of the many wonderful topics for discussion raised by this site, I found a very interesting, very pertinent quote.
Quote of the Week
And as whether pays to play hard to get, I almost wonder sometimes if giving off a vibe of being needy or at least desirous is not nearly as attractive as someone who seems emotionally detached. Perhaps this kicks in our desire to want something that is not easily attainable.
In a related note, I notice that when I am taken, I end up getting ten times the attention of when I am single. I'm not sure whether that's a matter of being happy that I'm in a relationship and that being an attractive quality, or whether it's purely a matter of perception.
I wrote about Ashley and Tom Colicchio's comments about gay marriage on last week'sTop Chef.
Recently on Women's Glib...
Am I a Spanish Barbie? Ruth on gendered scripts in second language education.
Calling All NYC Pro-Choice Activists! NARAL Pro-Choice New York wants you to join the incredible Activist Leadership Circle!
Washington Post FAIL! Criticizing Michelle Obama for wearing shorts? On her vacation?! Are you serious? (A guest post by Joel.)
Kyla's thoughts on living without a mirror's influence.
Grinnell Fun Facts: Ruth finds remnants of her college's overtly sexist history.
African American Obama official Van Jones has resigned following a right-wing witch hunt.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/06/obama.adviser.resigns/index.html
His crime? Apparently indulging in a bit of anti-Bush criticism back in 2004, that Glenn Beck paints as trutherism.
The thing is, a whole bunch of people were questioning Bush's competence in regards to 9/11, when Bush had gotten a prophetic report on al Qaeda's intentions just a month before. There was plenty of reason to seek investigations into it. And there is nothing to indicate Van Jones was a full-blown truther crazy other than one petition signature. Where were his comments? Where were his appearances next to Ron Paul?
Oh, that's right. Ron Paul is a member of the correct race and the correct party, so he gets a pass.
Yeah -- see the Jack and Jill Politics link.
A sampling from Bitch Magazine's blog...
Hateraid: People of WalMart Edition, this site is an example of what happens when people fail to have class consciousness, folks.
Hateraid: International Commercials Edition, a response to my disappointment with the lack of creativity on the part of advertisers, feeling of boredom with their attempts at sensationalism, and surprise at the lack of sensitivity regarding a recent act of terrorism that has had global repercussions.
Newsflash: Summer Flings Also Appropriate for Fall, Winter, Spring, Glamour has a "helpful" article in their latest issue that helpfully promises "6 ways to turn your summer fling into the real thing."
Ella Es El Matador, exploring the world of bullfighting through the eyes of female matadors
So This Feminist Walks into a Bar... And Enters a Joke Contest!, book giveaway in exchange for a little feminist humor
Passivity in domesticity: Is clipart the new female nude?, the connection between women, domesticity, and submissiveness in web images.
Out in the Country: Youth, Media, and Queer Visibility in Rural America: The city, however, was not the activist paradise I'd imagined it would be. I did find a lot of feminists and socialists and anti-racists and queers with whom I could link arms and "fight the good fight," but I lost that sense of community I'd always known at home. What good was knowing someone would show up at a protest if you couldn't count on them to show up when your car dies and you need to get to work?
Clit Fest – Chuco’s Justice Center: Inglewood, CA (8/7/2009): I often grapple with whether or not I should be critical of an event put on by other feminists in an effort to bring people together, share ideas, and have discussions. It reminds me of a conversation I had with another woman about the presidential elections. She was horrified to learn I was voting for Obama instead of Clinton. I’m of the opinion that it’s a step in the wrong direction to vote for a woman simply because she’s a woman.
The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East: Westerners tend to view the Middle East monolithically, as a vast expanse of violence and extremism. But, as MacFarquhar illustrates, the region consists of competing philosophies and contradictions. For every cleric who believes that politics should serve Islam, there is another who would twist Islam to serve politics.
Youth Knows No Pain: McCabe is obsessed with her own image, and there are no fewer than forty shots of McCabe gazing into mirrors or taking photographs of herself. McCabe admits she spends exorbitant sums on wrinkle creams, despite $70,000 of debt. She also says she would happily let her health insurance lapse so that she can afford salon visits every six weeks.
The Jack and Jill piece speaks to a lot of my frustrations. Glen Beck is doing his job--being an ass. I love Audre Lourde but in a street fight you have to be willing to use any tool you are able to pick up.
So Levi Johnson didn't criticize Palin while she was running for VP, pssht. I am ALL for Levi Johnson being nude or semi-nude.
Aw, late to the party but thanks so much for the link! If you're interested in health care reform, today, September 9th, is a big day and you can call your senators and representative at healthcareforamericanow.org -- give the progressives love, the fence-sitters a push, and the Republicans a little whatfor. HR 3200, the House Public Option proposal, is the ONLY plan currently in Congress that would do anything to address the inequalities our health care system causes in marriages, families, and same-sex relationships.
In an unrelated note, I think that the administration publicly disassociating itself from trutherism is a good tactic in their fight against the birfers, although the question as to whether it's worth the loss of a gifted public servant is a tough one.
Thanks again for the link!
Nick from publicoption.blogspot.com