news

From the um duh department: Chore Wars: Husbands create an extra seven hours a week of housework for wives, according to a new study. But wives save husbands from about an hour of housework a week.

From the most inspiring best article ever department: unabashed broads, including a librarian tidbit

I'm still thinking about how funny the Office was last night. I even rewatched it today at work!

Introducing my new pet project

The past few months I had this idea bouncing around in my head. Some of you may already know that I got accepted into a Women's Studies graduate school in San Francisco, but turned down my admission to move to Chicago. While I don't regret moving to Chicago, I do regret that I skipped out on a super-affordable master's program. The two schools that offer this in Chicago aren't all that hot and they are very pricey. So, no Women's Studies masters for me. But that doesn't mean I can't read the texts and learn on my own does it? Who cares about some degree I'll tuck away and never use in my 'real life' as a librarian? Since leaving Madison, I've really missed discussing feminist issues with friends, peers, strangers, dissidents, etc. And maybe none of you want to talk about those things, but if you do, I've started a new web site.

Glass Ceiling U will be my DIY masters degree. I want it to be more than just a book club of women's texts, but for now its basically me reviewing book chapters and thinking about the implications of what I've read. I really want people to join in, so if you know anyone who may be interested, please let them know so I can get a dialogue going in the comments. Or if you are super super excited, read along with me! I'm really excited about this. It may not be art or a band, and it won't make me any money, but it's mine and its near and dear to me. And that's enough reason to blab to all of you about it.

So, thanks Graham for the name, thanks Nate for the logo and future logos, and thanks to anyone who contributes in any way. Feel free to recommend a book to me.

Sadly not a surprise...

Oh sad, a referrer to my page: from the U.S. Army, searched for "stop that male coworker from bothering you".

PMS or PYES?

I think I have Pre-Year-End Syndrome. Its finals week, which means lots of "my time is too valuable to do this" type students come in. On top of that, everyone is a bit snippy because we are all dying for our 10 days off starting the 22nd. The stress at work dumps into my free time, and I'm generally bitchius maximus 18/7 right now. I say 18 because I'm not awful when I'm asleep or dreaming. It certainly doesn't help to go to CNN.com and have two of the top headlines be the following:



Then it was even dumber of me to read the feminism blogs out there about these cases because they link to scary right-wing places with anti-women comments that make me shoot barf out my eyeballs.

I also have a sore throat. Yikes! And a totally busted left middle finger. Last night I bought a used tv off a friend, then dropped it on my finger when moving it to my place. The tv is at least 100 pounds, so I'm in pain. At least I have a clear image and can read the subtitles on films now.

Mad Men is so great

After watching 8 episodes of Mad Men, I've decided (and not for the better) that at the moment I'm closer to the Betty character than I ever should be. Totally disturbing considering I've always said I don't want to be like that. When she talks to Don in bed about what she does all day and what she thinks about all day...I am pretty sure I've had that conversation recently. Makes me feel like I need to reevaluate my priorities to myself and my philosophies.

Probably the most interesting aspect of this show is that despite it taking place in 1960 upper-middle class land, and despite viewing the stay at home moms as sad and neglected, really so little has changed. (some) Women's lives are still utterly absorbed and determined by their men. Hell, even the alpha secretary in it, who on the surface seems so amazingly independent, is stuck in an affair that will never benefit her and is based on his schedule. It's so depressing. So utterly depressing.

This post is funny because you have to watch the show to fully get it. Really, I'm just too lazy to explain it all. But seriously, it is such an amazingly good show. Watch it, its On Demand even.

The Guest List

I'm going to the Beat Kitchen to see Mount Saint Helens' CD release. One of Nate's bands is opening, so I get to be on the guest list. The list is always interesting to me. On one hand it's great that I don't have to pay for the dozens and dozens of shows of his I go to. I used to pay because I liked his bands, but now that we are dating I don't pay. So now I feel sort of like a prostitute. It's not as crude as "we sleep together so I get paid in the price of free shows" but in a way it is. And when you look at the guest lists at shows, it's almost exclusively the girlfriends of the dudes in the bands (because other than Amelia I don't know any other women in a band in Chicago...oh wait Rachel too). Occasionally I've seen other people on lists if they have friends coming in from out of town, or if the guest list can include more than four names. So it's usually like a list of people the dudes get it on with. You could probably compile the guest lists to see who was dating whom at what time. Like a scrap book. Anyway, it sort of embarrasses me because I start to think that the doorman (always a man) sees me as some bimbo who doesn't know anything. And that's not true! It's strange - I should just be happy I don't have to drop the 8-12 bucks a show and not get all strange at the door.

Aweome moments in women's present

Nevertheless, we continue our time-honored tradition, celebrating this day [Anniversary of Suffrage]by announcing the cherished Equal Rites Awards to those who have labored over the last 12 months to set back the cause of women.
Ellen Goodman doles out the biggest set backs for woman this past year

A particular favorite of mine is the following

Our man is Ezzat Attiya, the creative Egyptian cleric who issued a fatwa saying that there was one way around the religious taboo against unmarried men and women working together. Women can breast-feed their male co-workers and legally become family.

The images of any of my female coworkers breast feeding any of my male coworkers is pretty much blowing my brain right now.

HPV Vaccine?

The ACRL Women's Studies Section that I belong to sent this out to the list-serv and I thought it was pretty interesting. I've heard nothing but super-pro-yay HPV Vaccine news, so to see an article written by women cautioning against the vaccine is intriguing to me.

HPV, Vaccines, and women's health: Questions and Cautions

Race to the Bottom

I was flipping through the channels and came across the following video. Drugging someone isn't funny, nor is beating someone at the ATM, nor is raping someone who is unconscious. It's just not funny, and no 'oh come on its ironic these kids are just playin' bit will make it acceptable. I'd like to think that every adolescent male on earth isn't in love with this show but I get a feeling they are. Not sure if reposting it only helps the show though...since it was first aired back in November, aren't I just digging up old dirt or something? But isn't it important to highlight disgusting pigs? Ugh, it's too late for any analytical thinking.

More on street harassment

Not sure why I've been so obsessed with street harassment lately. Maybe because my youngest cousin faced her first instance of it yesterday on her way to her internship, so we ended up talking about it quite a bit.

Here's a video from Penn State that interviews inebriated dudes about their views on what constitutes sexual harassment. Pretty typical "girls want it, they ask for it" shit. Good to watch if you want to get angry, or if you want to wonder why 18-22 year old men wear their baseball caps like total douche bags.

Landed in DC

I just got into my hotel room in DC, and am happy to learn it has free wireless. My job's paying for the trip so I may go wild and order room service later too! Scary.

The people in the seats next to me on the plane were pretty amazing. One was from Switzerland, under 18, and one was in college at some school in southern Illinois that is small. The Swiss guy kept talking about how the US made him feel like a baby with all the rules and restrictions on age. The girl told him all about her sorority and how all the girls live in a house together, and all the boys in frats live in houses together. Swiss man said "what is wrong with the US? Why so segregated? Why can't you have alcohol in your house? I don't understand why the men can and you can't!" Co-ed giggles and is like "i dunno those are just the rules, beats me." So here you have this Swiss guy who has been saying that Americans are mostly dumb and here you have a real life dumb American in her natural habitat. But the absolute best part of the conversation was when she told him:

"I can tell when people are Italian because they have darker skin and hair. I can also tell Polish people and Jewish people too. I can just tell in their faces if they are Polish or Jewish."

Uhh...I really wanted to ask her what she thought I was but refrained because she then said to the guy, "you look Jewish, are you?"

Guy: "No. I'm atheist"

Co-ed: "Huh? What? You don't believe in God? Weird."

Guy: "Nobody is really religious in Switzerland, its much more an American thing to be very religious."

Co-ed: "Whoa"

Me: (returns to reading the God Delusion)
_________________

So here I am, checking the free weekly here for food ideas for tonight and the cover story is about women being harassed by cat-callers on the street. The author can't believe it happens to some women more than once a day, so he follows this woman around who gets it nonstop. Best quote:

“It depends on what she looks like,” adds Daniel Smallwood, a 16-year-old in a red polo shirt and a visor turned backward. “If she’s a slut, you have to treat her like a slut. If she’s not, I say, ‘How you doing young lady?’ Everybody says ‘baby’ or ‘shorty.’ I say ‘young lady.’

Off to sneak in a quick nap then find dinner.

Skeevy Daddies

ewwww!

Purity Ball bit:


Only the first 6-7 minutes are what I'm ewwwing about. Seen first at (where else) Feministing.

Favorite parts include where Leslie Unruh declares her love for George Bush Jr and when the mother says that women were created to feel accepted by men. If only I had known that earlier in life...

Fem v Fem

Alternet interviews the author of Sisterhood Interrupted.

An interview with the author of Sisterhood Interrupted provides historical context for contemporary feminist infighting: the overblown mommy wars, raunch feminists and their older, horrified detractors, and bloggers virtually ripping one another apart.

The interview was good, and interesting enough that I'll pick up the book after I finish The God Delusion. As expected the comments are mostly all drivel with a few gems in the mix. And again, consciousness raising is thrown about. Not that I think CR is bad, just interesting to me. CR via blogging and feminist blogs is fascinating, and something I haven't thought of much. Why can't CR be revived again? And why not through blogs? Makes me want to do a much better blogging job, as well as gets me thinking more about group blogs I should start but surely never will.

Mish Mash

Lot's of good discussion on what it means to appropriate other peoples' styles/culture, as well as gentrification and any anger or guilt associated with it over at Feministing (not to mention its about my old neighborhood! oh wait, that makes me the gentrifier...too bad I was poor too. Was? Still am. Ack, where is this sidenote going?)

Got whistled at once by a drive-by and also honked at about 20 seconds later, also another drive-by. Both at Fullerton and Damen. I think I realized why I notice it more than others: I walk everywhere. Most of my friends have cars, so maybe they aren't stuck outside as much? I'm also hyper-aware of my surroundings, even with the ipod on. Safety First!

A friend of mine did a self-made "all time favorite songs" meme that I thought I'd take a shot at. Aside from the obvious Talking Head songs (This must be the place and Nothing but flowers), I'm not sure what else I'd put on there. She described why they were her favorite and when she first heard them as well.

Nate's out of town until next Monday. This marks the first time in five months that I've been without him whilst still in Chicago. It'll be like I'm single again, only all my plans are to clean, nap, watch documentaries, and be solitary. I'm looking forward to it actually. I made pesto tortellini with garlic bread and wine for dinner tonight, and have been goofing off online all night like the old days.

I think I'll be blogging a lot more with Nate gone. Hopefully I can watch some movies and get some reviews going, although I'm not sure anyone actually reads those.

Interesting Article

Let's see, brief weekend update: drank friday, watched City of God Saturday, saw LCD Soundsystem Sunday (thanks JP for the plus 1!). Good weekend.

Interesting article up at Alternet today:
Hip Hop Profanity, Misogyny and Violence: Blame the Manufacturer.

Lots to think about, and amazingly I haven't yet formed an opinion. I do have some good quotes from it that at least inspired me to attempt to think. Must be a Monday thing that's got me slow.

Re: the record industry is to blame for the misogyny, racism, violence, etc in hip hop:

As the great French author and revolutionary Franz Fanon would have understood perfectly, colonized and racially oppressed peoples internalize -- take ownership -- of the social pathologies fostered by the oppressor. Thus, the anti-social aspects of commercial hip hop are perceived as a "Black" problem, to be overcome through internal devices (preaching and other forms of collective self-flagellation), rather than viewed as an assault by hostile, outside forces secondarily abetted by opportunists within the group.

re: who listens to hip hop and what it means for society:

The most "active" consumers of Hip Hop, they discovered, were "tweens," the demographic slice between the ages of 11 and 13 [...] It didn't take a roomful of PhDs in human development science to grasp the ramifications of the data. Early and pre-adolescents of both genders are sexual-socially undeveloped -- uncertain and afraid of the other gender. Tweens revel in honing their newfound skills in profanity; they love to curse. Males, especially, act out their anxieties about females through aggression and derision. This is the cohort for which the major labels would package their hip hop products. Commercial Gangsta Rap was born -- a sub-genre that would lock a whole generation in perpetual arrested social development.

If you bother to read the whole article (only 2 pages), I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

I can say that one thing I've always struggled with was the fact that I totally listen to some of the worst woman-hating rap out there. I didn't listen to it for years, but it came back to me and I'm not sure how to handle it. It's definitely hypocritical of me. Not sure it helps that I also listen to females promoting misandry either...I mean equal opportunity to degrading lyrics doesn't make it right. Maybe I'll have to do another bad-lyric rap moratorium.

This could go all night

There's some pretty major news that's been overshadowed by the VT massacre in the media: Supreme Court upholds "partial-birth" abortion ban. Links abound left and right about why this is horrific, but this planned parenthood brief and this Alternet article are good summaries of the major arguments. It should be noted that elections are the reason we even have these moron judges on the supreme court. Relatedly, when I saw that the challenger beat the incumbent by only 100 votes in my county ward, I was yet again reminded of how crucial it is for every single person over 18 to vote. In every election. I want to get all pissy and rash and say horrible stuff like, "Next time your life, or your sister's, or your coworker's, or your friend's, or your daughter's, or your neighbor's life is in danger because of a pregnancy (one wanted or unwanted) I hope you remember it's your fault for voting into office the idiots that have have stripped you of your right to control what happens to your own f-ing body. Enjoy following 'God's will'." Is this where I can put in a hokey /gets off soapbox bit? Anyway, I acknowledge the 'system' is far more complex than just a vote, but at the most fundamental, votes work (that is, when they get counted of course).

I'm worried that because this isn't making major headlines that a lot of pro-choice or don't-carers will not hear about it. I'm broke as a joke, but I've already put in my donation to NARAL for this.

In other less infuriating news, I'm getting a cold. I woke up last night dizzy as hell and freezing, but Nate said I was burning up. Then today my right nostril decided to give out on me and I feel weak. Maybe I should skip out on the Sox game I planned on attending tomorrow. I've also been working on my "I've lived here a year" post for a few days. It's exhausting to write because of all the memories I have to relive in order to piece together the past year. I'm also almost finished with A Wild Sheep Chase by Murakami. I think it's the worst Murakami I've read. However, nothing Murakami writes is truly "bad" so I'm still enjoying it enough to keep with it.

Join me tomorrow

click photo for a link of information

Even if its "just blogging," it never hurts to highlight sexism. Not sure what I'll say yet, and due to insanity at work it may come late in the day.

More Reviews

I checked metacritic for film reviewers' takes on Black Snake Moan. Metacritic's total review score is 53. I did this mostly in response to the comment that feministing's review was "knee jerk." Some excerpts:

From Premiere Mag's Glenn Kenny:

Perpetually wide-eyed and mega-snarly bedraggled, Christina Ricci prowls through Black Snake Moan looking like something the cat dragged in.If you're anything like me, you'll be very grateful to the cat. (Whoza good kitty? Boo zha zha zha . . . )

Now, these days, chaining a woman to a radiator — even if it's for her own good! — is all kinds of unacceptable. And Brewer's self-imposed mission is not just to make you accept it but to make you like it.

From New York Magazine's David Edelstein:

At bottom, Black Snake Moan is an old-fashioned feel-good, Sunday-schoolish kind of parable about a broken, bitter ex-alcoholic who’s spiritually reborn by, uh, chaining a little white nympho in shorty-cutoffs to his radiator. But it’s not how you think! Wouldn’t you have chained Anna Nicole to your radiator if you could have saved her? Wouldn’t you chain Britney to your radiator?

Okay, it is pretty sexist. But Ricci’s character, Rae, isn’t a predatory she-devil. She’s an abused and profoundly damaged young woman. She needs therapy—or an exorcism.

It's unclear if he saw the film or not, but check out his awesome sexist comments. Yeah I'd totally chain someone to a radiator. Right...

From Rolling Stone's Peter Travers

Offensive on multiple levels -- if only the plot had any levels at all -- Black Snake Moan leaves no Tobacco Road cliche unsmoked. Ricci gives it her all, and then some, but even her body and Jackson's blues can't heal a movie that rockets plum off its nut.

From the Holly Wood Reporter's Kirk Honeycutt:

Certainly the image of Ricci wearing panties and a peek-a-boo top getting dragged around by Jackson tugging on a chain wrapped around her tiny waist is one any publisher of '50s dime novels would have loved for a book cover if only he dared....Seems she gets these spells that start in her head and work their way down to her crotch. When she goes into heat like this, only intercourse with the nearest male can relieve her suffering.

For some reason this reminds me of a time when people believed a woman's uterus could float into her brain and make her insane. The combination of sexuality and mental health (with some hints towards witchcraft) is pretty sweet huh.

Rob Nelson with the Village Voice views the film as an exploitation film, but considers this not bad. He then writes his review, admittedly, as an exploitation. I don't even know where to begin with his review.

There were NO female reviewers of this film, at least not yet. It comes out Friday, so hopefully some bloggers or female reviewers pop up.

I'm still not convinced there is ever a time or place to be portraying or supporting this, as a satire, social commentary, purposeful exploitation, entertainment, whatever. Especially in a society where sexism, sex violence, and women hating is prevalent enough, why make it worse by creating a film like this, marketing it as some near-comedy about a slutty white girl enslaved by a scary black man, and then leave it to the viewer's own devices to come up with an educated conclusion. I guess I have no faith in my fellow Americans.

Still, I'd really like to read other feminists opinions on the film when they've seen it.

Deal Breakers

No question. I cannot be friends with someone who pays money to see Black Snake Moan.



From Feministing:

The creepiest thing about the movie, or at least its marketing, is that it's not only about selling Ricci's body. It's about selling the idea of sex with a girl who's been abused and who's clearly got a lot of problems. There's even an interactive feature (if you click on "experience" in the upper left corner -- click here for a screenshot) that allows you to drag two pills across the screen and then watch a video of Ricci collapsing. Now she's yours for the violating! Plus, the "page loading" graphics that appear every time you click feature her silhouette struggling against the chain. A recurring image in the film as well, I'd imagine.

I've seen the trailer a few times - the one where Ricci, wearing a tank and white undies, runs chained outdoors until Jackson forcefully tugs her back inside. I was really hoping that the movie was pulp or satire or something but no. And even if it's some sort of "social commentary on the South" as one IMDB discussion board poster wrote, is it acceptable to be clearly advertising the near naked enslaved Ricci? Is there ever an acceptable situation to mass market sexual abuse as entertainment? And how about that racism in the poster? The gruff African-American man holding a feeble white woman in chains...African-American as monster, one who should be feared by all whites. The whole concept of this film makes me sick.

No wonder its from the Hustle and Flow guys - that movie was shit on fire on a front porch.

As if I needed even more reasons to despise the Christian Right...

Edwards' blogger resigns

The site is overloaded, but the text remains on the page. Long story short: John Edwards' presidential campaign hired two women bloggers to be on his Campaign Blog. Some far right Christians found out and got pissed because the woman had made some comments about how they disagree with the Catholic Church on their PERSONAL blogs (yet again what you put on your personal blog will come back to bite you). The Christians demanded they get fired. Edwards did the right thing and kept them on, and the two women apologized for any offense they may have caused.

But the far right didn't stop there, and continued to send some of the filthiest emails to these poor women. The emails make me so sick, and remind me how f-ing disgusting I find most "Christians" and how much I absolutely abhor Conservatives. The hypocrisy is so blatant that it's almost unbelievable. A few of the worst are copy and pasted here, if only for the purpose of getting you to read the link I posted and to get as pissed off as I am so that you'll go do something for the 08 Election. Bold emphasis added by me. All grammar and typing done by them.

YOU RACIST WHORE. FAT UGLY BITCH. SUCK MY LONG COCK ASSHOLE I HOPE YOU KIDS NEVER LIVE AND YOUR PARENTS DIE A TRAGIC DEATH YOU ASSHOLE BITCH!
I HOPE YOUR WOMB IS BARREN AND YOUR CAREER PLUMMETS TO HELL YOU BITCH

i like the way you trash talk i don't particularly want to have sex with you but i would like a blow job.

It's just too bad your mother didn't abort you. You are nothing more than a filthy mouth slut. I bet a couple of years in Iraq being raped and beaten daily would help you appreciate America a little. Need a plane ticket ?

Problem with women like you, you just need a good fucking from a real man! Living in Texas myself, I know you haven't found that real Texan yet. But once your liberal pro feminist ass gets a real good fucking, you might see the light. Until then, enjoy your battery operated toys b/c most real men wouldn't want to give you the fucking you deserve b/c the shit that would come out of you ears.

after reading your vile screed against Catholics and the Holy Spirit, I just had to see what you looked like. (I envisioned you eyebrow-less, with no visible pupils, and a blank, dead stare.) I see I was correct about the blank, dead stare, but other than that you're not too bad. I then thought maybe you were mad at God (and by proxy Catholics) for making you ugly, but now I'm figuring you're just mad at him for making you a woman.

How many times in one day can I be reminded of just how much hatred towards women there is out there? It seems that as soon as I start to maybe feel good about the world, or meet someone (particularly male) who actually respects females and doesn't use their sex or sexuality against them as punishment for their beliefs, shit like this happens and I go back into my little corner of anger.

Stories like this really make me need to watch that doggy video

Oh reproductive rights, how I love you so. But why must the world hate you? What did you ever do to all those men out there (and those women who don't believe they are worthy of rights)? Were you the bully on the school yard? Do you have body odor? I don't understand! I will always be there for you!

And now you need to be there too:

Sign this petition NOW Why? Because: A young woman was raped by a man who grabbed her as she was walking to her car from a local parade. After she called police and reported the crime, it was discovered that she had an arrest warrant out for her [which turns out to be a paperwork mistake from when she was a JUVENILE]. [...] Apparently the medical supervisor at the jail wouldn't allow her to take EC because it was against her religion.

Source: Feministing

This story makes me sick, and is a glaring reminder that women are still second class citizens in the United States, and are still being refused their Constitutional rights, and are still having to remain vigilant against fucknuts like those in this story.

*Photo courtesy Feministing.com, my new favorite feminism blog Yes, this post has nothing to do with SD, but the image is hilarious. And don't worry SD is still being awesomely awful about abortion!