Things to read

[pezzae]

Here is a great anti-woo site, with fact sheets about various health scares and an explanation of how scientific claims in journals are different from the 'scientifically proven to decrease wrinkles!' claims in marketing materials and 'Experts warn of risks from X' headlines

Comments

[dzurlady]

This section near the end is so painfully true of the whole thing:
"...and that these attitudes are so fucking normalized that even objecting to them makes you sound kind of crazy and extremist and, of course, bitchy, and that no matter how hard you work to explain and deconstruct these attitudes within the culture, no matter how prominent or successful you are in the field of said deconstruction, you're always going to be reduced to a nameless "some" who "have called [X] misogynist" in a one-sentence aside in an otherwise 100% adulatory appraisal."

[pezzae]

For me it's the bit before that strikes true, because it is true for all women: "If you are a female human, however, and are faced every day with people who are threatened by your existence, who are continually sorting you into the bitch/slut categories, if you know how painful and enraging it is to realize that the guy you're dating (or working for, or working with, or hanging out with at a party) is somehow incapable of recognizing that you have a subjective existence, just as deeply felt and worthy as his own, and do not exist simply as an extension of his own needs or desires, it's not that funny."
And (in the comments) to the people who complain that pointing out sexism in movies is harshing their squee? "It just bums me out when this stuff is in movies that I like. WHY DON'T THE MOVIES LIKE ME BAAAAACK." Yes, dammit! I don't have some deep-seated objection to enjoying pop culture! I just wish it involved less forcing of warped gender relations and really quite disturbing assumptions on the hapless audience...

[splunkles]

Hmmm. That article is quite good, but not entirely without flaws

[blindmouse]

I can, even in my current sleep deprived state, think of another reason - they are rubbish writers. Maybe all their characters do things for no coherent reason beyond needs of plot.

The needs of the plot, though? What was the plot? I haven't seen this show, but assuming that she wasn't misrepresenting it, the plot seems to be the fairly common "Loser Makes Good and Gets the Girl". (Possibly it's just "Loser Gets the Girl", since leaving town at the end suggests he didn't make good.) Which ... well, the "Because, Um?" Girl is pretty much built into that plot. If the plot is inherently misogynistic, can't you assume misogynistic motivations, whether the writer is conscious of them or not?

Maybe some people on your side will like it, but then, they are already on your side! They don't need an article like this.

On the contrary; I always need an article like this. It's awesome :-)

[blindmouse]

I love the Because Um? Girl post :-) Have bookmarked the blog to amble around some more when I have time. (Blackly hilarious feminist rants are my favourite! I am so glad I'm not a guy and don't feel obliged to be awkward and threatened about them instead...)

[darthbessie]

Also, no-one else seems to have mentioned the 'Sense about Science' bit - I love this charity! My super-awesome Phylogenetics collaborator and dean of my college got me onto it when I was a leetle first year here, and I've followed them in the news ever since. They do really really well - like sending out fact sheets to schools who were doing the 'brain gym' thing, with a well-reasoned explanation of just why much of it was bollocks. They did a thing on the homeopathy-for-malaria issue a few years back, and recently they were part of getting the Prince Charles-brand detox kit ruled as misleadingSeriously, any and every scientist should join - you just put your name, field and level of experience down, and if they ever need your opinion, they ask! They have a large base of scientists to call on already, but they always need more

[pezzae]

Thankyou for commenting about the link! I thought at least some people would like it :o) I reckon we need more of this kind of stuff, as most people have simply no clue about how to evaluate things scientifically.