Trying to be radical
A few months ago, I read an obituary in the paper for a woman called Andrea Dworkin. I mainly read it because in the picture she looked like a freak. (I trust you all know how google image search works...)
This woman was a hardcore feminist. I've found the obituary online, but some choice quotes include "dismissed men as moral cretins, said that seduction was hard to distinguish from rape, and regarded pornography as akin to terrorism." and the slightly scary "stuck above the desk in the study of her New York home was a picture of an alleged rapist with a rifle at his head and the words: DEAD MEN DON'T RAPE."
Eeek!
However, recently I have found myself sympathising on some points of feminism. I'm actually quite annoyed on an almost daily basis that I am a girl. Not because I don't like being a girl, but because so many opportunities are shut off for me. For example, there was a programme on tv a while back about a man who would go live with remote tribes and become accepted into their culture. I find it difficult knowing that I could never really do anything like that, because generally few cultures are matriachal, so even if I did go and live with a tribe, I'd be washing and cooking, and not learning about ancient shamanistic rituals.
Another thing I found interesting about her comments was the idea that basically all men are interested in is sex and not much else. From my own experiences, I can prove and disprove this, so that just confuses me even more. It also reminded me of a story I heard once, which may be apocryphal, of a town in the middle east where there was a serial rapist. The town council was going to put a curfew on women going out at night to prevent more attacks, but instead the female members of the council proposed a ban on men going out at night instead. So then you have to wonder who's fault it is, women for just existing or men for not being able to control themselves. When you think about it like that, then it casts doubt on who really has the power over the other sex.
In some ways I quite enjoy knowing that by dressing up a bit, even me, of average attractiveness, could get a served quicker by the barman. On the otherhand, I feel degraded by proxy when you see some girl walking around on a night out with barely anything on, and they must be so cold, yet they continue to flaunt it all in the hope of a little bit of attention. I am quite drawn to the way some religions (most notably Islam, but even Catholicism to some extent) advise modest dress for women, as it sets a good standard. I don't like the idea of being judged by my looks (especially as most days I am not arsed to even look in the mirror...) but at the same time it feels wrong to force everyone to dress in a certain way. Perhaps a better solution would be 1984 style standard issue boilersuits for everyone...
Another reason I have been thinking about this now was the issue of pornography. Without a doubt, there are many instances of exploitation and abuse, particularly of women, in this industry, but also on the whole I believe it to be fairly harmless in the greater scheme. Last night I was watching "Straight Dates by Gay Mates". It was high quality programming indeed. The woman featured last night was a glamour model, who had a problem meeting men who were intrested in her for more than the way she looked. However, whenever she talked to man, she would just talk about her career as a glamour model. In a way she was exploiting herself, and then complaining about it. Luv, if you will insist on dressing up as a school girl and telling people about the time you met Hugh Heffner, they aren't going to care that you write deep and meaningful poetry. I suppose essentially she was brazen about how she earnt her money, and the lifestyle that came with it, when I think things like that should be more discreet. However, I know this is contradicting myself. I believe women should have the same rights as men, yet on the other hand I think they should be dressing modestly and acting demurely.
My last random tangent. I promise. Another reason I feel society is inherently oppressive towards women is the way womens' fashion is usually about making women appear daintier and more fragile, and usually restricting them in the process. In the past, there were corsets that stopped women breathing properly, and in the east they would bind feet which handily prevented the women walking too far. Even now high heels make it hard to walk, and nigh on impossible to run without the possibility of severe ankle strains.
I'm so confused by all this, part of me wants to think its all a big conspiracy and I should run away and join a commune somewhere where they kill all male babies at birth, or just accept that this is my lot in life and that I should really start to think about finding myself a nice young man and bake a lot.
I've made a start by baking fairy cakes with buttercream icing in different pastel shades and putting sprinkles on the top, domesticity here I come (but wearing a boiler suit...)
This woman was a hardcore feminist. I've found the obituary online, but some choice quotes include "dismissed men as moral cretins, said that seduction was hard to distinguish from rape, and regarded pornography as akin to terrorism." and the slightly scary "stuck above the desk in the study of her New York home was a picture of an alleged rapist with a rifle at his head and the words: DEAD MEN DON'T RAPE."
Eeek!
However, recently I have found myself sympathising on some points of feminism. I'm actually quite annoyed on an almost daily basis that I am a girl. Not because I don't like being a girl, but because so many opportunities are shut off for me. For example, there was a programme on tv a while back about a man who would go live with remote tribes and become accepted into their culture. I find it difficult knowing that I could never really do anything like that, because generally few cultures are matriachal, so even if I did go and live with a tribe, I'd be washing and cooking, and not learning about ancient shamanistic rituals.
Another thing I found interesting about her comments was the idea that basically all men are interested in is sex and not much else. From my own experiences, I can prove and disprove this, so that just confuses me even more. It also reminded me of a story I heard once, which may be apocryphal, of a town in the middle east where there was a serial rapist. The town council was going to put a curfew on women going out at night to prevent more attacks, but instead the female members of the council proposed a ban on men going out at night instead. So then you have to wonder who's fault it is, women for just existing or men for not being able to control themselves. When you think about it like that, then it casts doubt on who really has the power over the other sex.
In some ways I quite enjoy knowing that by dressing up a bit, even me, of average attractiveness, could get a served quicker by the barman. On the otherhand, I feel degraded by proxy when you see some girl walking around on a night out with barely anything on, and they must be so cold, yet they continue to flaunt it all in the hope of a little bit of attention. I am quite drawn to the way some religions (most notably Islam, but even Catholicism to some extent) advise modest dress for women, as it sets a good standard. I don't like the idea of being judged by my looks (especially as most days I am not arsed to even look in the mirror...) but at the same time it feels wrong to force everyone to dress in a certain way. Perhaps a better solution would be 1984 style standard issue boilersuits for everyone...
Another reason I have been thinking about this now was the issue of pornography. Without a doubt, there are many instances of exploitation and abuse, particularly of women, in this industry, but also on the whole I believe it to be fairly harmless in the greater scheme. Last night I was watching "Straight Dates by Gay Mates". It was high quality programming indeed. The woman featured last night was a glamour model, who had a problem meeting men who were intrested in her for more than the way she looked. However, whenever she talked to man, she would just talk about her career as a glamour model. In a way she was exploiting herself, and then complaining about it. Luv, if you will insist on dressing up as a school girl and telling people about the time you met Hugh Heffner, they aren't going to care that you write deep and meaningful poetry. I suppose essentially she was brazen about how she earnt her money, and the lifestyle that came with it, when I think things like that should be more discreet. However, I know this is contradicting myself. I believe women should have the same rights as men, yet on the other hand I think they should be dressing modestly and acting demurely.
My last random tangent. I promise. Another reason I feel society is inherently oppressive towards women is the way womens' fashion is usually about making women appear daintier and more fragile, and usually restricting them in the process. In the past, there were corsets that stopped women breathing properly, and in the east they would bind feet which handily prevented the women walking too far. Even now high heels make it hard to walk, and nigh on impossible to run without the possibility of severe ankle strains.
I'm so confused by all this, part of me wants to think its all a big conspiracy and I should run away and join a commune somewhere where they kill all male babies at birth, or just accept that this is my lot in life and that I should really start to think about finding myself a nice young man and bake a lot.
I've made a start by baking fairy cakes with buttercream icing in different pastel shades and putting sprinkles on the top, domesticity here I come (but wearing a boiler suit...)