Because over the past week I have realized that I'm filled with righteous feminist anger.

[margophonic]

So, I was writing an unreasonably lengthy comment over at ontd_politicaland I realized I should probably just post about it, along with some other, vaguely lady-related things that have been bothering me.

Firstly, this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/education/11gender.html

Comments

[zombie_boogie]

The mind... it boggles. I found the article about the "ex-gay" (I refuse to acknowledge this as a legitimately applicable term) the most insulting, because it was insulting on so many different levels. Basically I am around to soothe my husband's ego and make him feel like a warrior? Please. I think he would laugh at the idea of him leading me and me following him on "blind faith."

[margophonic]

I completely agree about the whole idea of "ex-gays".
My brother (a decidedly not-ex gay) sent me the article, which is more like attempted advice, really, and I started reading it expecting to be outraged by the complete wrong-headedness with regard to homosexuality. I was, but I really focused on the sexism, mostly because it was so out of left field.
I guess I was anticipating more "you are against God", "homosexuality is a choice", and "don't succumb to the sinful 'alternative lifestyle'" type of reasoning, not "a relationship between two men will never work because a successful couple must consist of a strong, protective, 'courageous warrior' and his weak, encouraging, precious woman".
I mean, a certain (gargantuan)amount of crazy goes along with the whole ex-gay movement, but that assumption took it to a whole nother level.

[wrestlingdog]

I thought the first two articles were interesting (though I do agree with you about the women's issues that are not solely women's issues). But I couldn't bring myself to read through the last one. Like Jon Stewart, gays rights is my berserk button. The ex-gay movement in particular creeps me out, especially from a religious standpoint. It just doesn't jive at all with my idea of Christianity- or even my basic sense of right and wrong. It... just really grinds my gears.

[margophonic]

It is incredibly disturbing. Not only the abuse of religion, but the methods they use to "cure". They've given people electroshock therapy and lobotomies and mutilated their genitals. They perform exorcisms. They give hysterectomies, ovariectomies (I didn't even know that was a word). All because somewhere in the bible it says something about how homosexuality might not be permitted. Like eating shellfish.

Ugh.

That article isn't really about that, though. It's by an "ex-gay" who says all his relationships with men didn't allow him to experience "God's fullness" because only a female can fill the role of "personal cheerleader" that every man needs to complement their "courageous warrior".