By Cristina Gutierrez-Boswell
Happy Spring Break for some of us. Others? Not so good and not so “spring” and definitely, no breaks whatsoever. The news gets more concerning as the fight in this War on Women continues. I am in constant amazement that these people, the people working to limit women’s choices have little else going on in their lives except to judge and demean women into submission, or at least try to. I yawn at their feeble, attached emotional attempts to somehow think they will try to “shame me” into silence, as that has never worked for me. Women who have lived under constant oppression are used to insults and the finger pointing, slut shaming tactics that accompanies conservative arguments against abortion, rape, equal pay, feminists…etc.
As a matter of fact, my rule is to erase all the emotion and defense mechanisms used by anti-feminists and just listen to their words. All I hear is “yadda, yadda, yadda…aspirin between your knees…yadda, yadda, yadda…body prevents pregnancy in a legitimate rape…yadda, yadda, yadda…incest babies are blessings from God…yadda, yadda, yadda…there is no gender pay gap.” The words are enough. They say everything. For me, this plus my humanist, intellectual side is how I determine if something is defensible or indefensible.
How about passing “gentlemen” legislation or starting a group that begins with “men don’t have a right to…” and ends with “oppress women, or any other marginalized group under any circumstance”?
And on that note, here are the headlines for this week:
This is some “mansplaining” I can hear. A man explains rape culture to other men in words that are so empathetic:
“Blocks from my house, in front of a car wash it dawned on me. If rape culture is so important to me I needed to find out for myself what it is. No woman owes me her time just because I want to know about something she inherently understands. No woman should feel she has to explain rape culture to me just because I want to know what it is. No woman owes me shit. I saw how my desire for a woman to satisfy me ran deep. Even my curiosity, a trait that always made me proud, was marred with the same sort of male-centric presumption that fuels rape culture. I expected to be satisfied. That attitude is the problem. I started reading and kept reading until I understood rape culture and my part in it.”
Go here for the rest of “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Rape Culture.”
https://medium.com/...
And on that note...
Canada adds to the discussion releasing a PSA about sexual assault: http://mic.com/...
Top news in Republicans being Republicans:
Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex) is accusing Democrats for not wanting to work with him on an anti-trafficking legislation called the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. This act would:
“Increase penalties for those convicted of slavery, human smuggling and sexual exploitation of children and provide for additional compensation for their victim.”
One tiny detail. Republicans slipped in language not allowing for federal dollars to pay for abortions in case any girls end up pregnant against their will. And it was sneaked in at the last minute, despite Republicans claims that it wasn’t:
“In an early January e-mail reviewed by the Post, a Republican Judiciary Committee staffer sent a Democratic staffer a summary of changes to the previous version of the bill, in seven bullet points. The abortion provision was not among them.”
And yes, while Democrats did not read through the bill thoroughly, AT THE LAST MINUTE, again, there wasn’t any need to worry, as there wasn’t any language specifying anti-abortion language. All this shows me is Republicans’ hatred of any woman that has been taken against her will, forced into prostitution, raped repeatedly for money (for the trafficker, not her) and then when she really needs the federal government to help pay for an abortion she clearly should not pay for, she is victimized some more by the Republicans of our country who must think she deserves to carry a traumatizing pregnancy to full term.
In very shocking news:
A 72-year old nun was gang-raped in India while trying to stop a burglary of her school. The nun “needed surgery” and is expected to make a full recovery. Two words: “India’s Daughter.” Watch it. Rape is a very common occurrence in India because women are seen as nothing. Men are the only ones who have privileges. No woman is safe until the laws reflect protection of the women, not by limiting their freedoms, but by expanding their rights.
Also, this story is just too wild to believe:
Nightmare in Sin City: How a Rumor Sent a Teen to Prison for Murder in Vegas. Read here for the rest of the story: https://firstlook.org/...
In gender violence in social media news:
Here’s a typical example of male domination when infuriated with what a woman says or believes: Ashley Judd was threatened with rape, as well as being referred to as a “c- -t” for tweeting Arkansas Razorback basketball team was “playing dirty” against her beloved Kentucky Wildcats. But Judd is refusing to tolerate this kind of treatment and is now actively pressing charges against those who threatened her.
In passive-aggressive horizontal hostility (and not to mention promotion of underage sexualization):
Kat Von D is creating a stir with her offensive “underage red” shade of lipstick, carried by Sephora. Another woman aiding in the abuse of her own gender.
In Body Image news:
Australian model, Stefania Ferrario, wears a size 6-8 and is considered “plus-size.” There is something wrong with the media images we see every day when a size 6 is considered “plus—size.” This is a prime example of why we need to remove this kind of language when it comes to size. This is a why we have eating disorders and body dissatisfaction running rampant amongst the women and girls in our society.
On the upside:
A Utah high school holds a bake sale illustrating the gender pay gap in America. Treats were sold for $.77 for girls while boys were charged $1.00. As you might expect it created controversy. Imagine if they had illustrated the gender pay gap between Latinas and White males or Black women and White men. Charging Latinas $.55 and Black women $.65 might have led to the overturning of tables by the conservative base (wink wink).
Speaking of the gender pay gap, a little lefty humor by lefty cartoonist, Barry Deutsch from http://leftycartoons.com/...
And
Want to know some women who aren’t afraid to fight for equal rights and justice for all women? Meet six chingona women who do just that! Go here: http://www.dailylife.com.au/...
Plus...
Here’s a great article on pregnant teenagers and their Title IX rights:
http://rhrealitycheck.org/...
ACTION ITEM:
“The Affordable Care Act has made historic gains in women’s access to health care coverage, but it has a major loophole that’s denying insurance to some pregnant women. Unfortunately, the Department of Health and Human Services has decided not to fix it.
People can’t sign up for coverage outside the three-month open enrollment period unless they experience a “qualifying life event.” While childbirth is included as one of the “events,” pregnancy is not, leaving women who become pregnant while uninsured unable to immediately obtain coverage.”
Prenatal care is crucial. Sign here:
http://act.credoaction.com/...
In Heroines and Heroes:
“Female scientists have contributed to some of science’s biggest breakthroughs, from unraveling the structure of DNA, to discovering fission, to mapping the ocean floor. So why don’t we know their names? This week on Science Friday, we’re celebrating science’s unsung heroines. We’ll hear about Maria Sibylla Merian, the 17th century “mother of entomology,” whose watercolors documented insect metamorphosis. We’ll also learn about Marie Tharp, whose maps of the ocean floor paved the way for continental drift theory. Plus, meet the women programmers of the ENIAC, the first all-electronic, multipurpose computer.”
Go here for the entire story:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/...
And
Dale Hensen, Dallas sportscaster and friend to all women, does it again by telling the Dallas Cowboys how he really feels about them signing domestic abuser, Greg Hardy, to their roster! Go here for the link to watch the story: http://www.wfaa.com/...
For Women's History Month:
This week, I want to honor a Latina feminist I grew up hearing about, and who my mother met in her studies as a Spanish major. Since it is Women's History Month, I hear very little about Latina feminists and their contribution to our work and study. There are many, however, the one I wish to honor is Gloria Anzaldua. Anzaldua contributed to Queer Theory and Chicana Studies, as well as Feminist thought tremendously. Born in the Rio Grande valley (I was born at the edge of the Rio Grande Valley in Laredo, Texas) in 1942, she made it her mission to write about the "cultural marginalizations" she witnessed and experienced throughout her life, as a Latina, as a person who identified as "Queer" and as a woman (as identified by society). She wrote books such as, "Making Face, Making Soul/Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Feminists of Color" (1990) and "Borderlands/La Fontera: The New Mestiza" (1987), as well as children's books such as, "Prietita y La Llorana" (The dark-skinned girl and the Weeping Woman) (1996) and "Prietita has a Friend" (1991). Gloria won many awards for her work, including the "Lesbian Rights Award" in 1991, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award," also in 1991, and "Sappho Award of Distinction" in 1992. She died in 2005 from complications from diabetes.
Gloria knew from very young she was different (queer). For me, I see it was her ability to cut straight through to her own soul and "own it" as some would say. She is the "Godmother" of La Frontera studies and Queer Theory for People of Color, and for this I believe she is definitely a feminist everyone should know!
Speaking of Feminists you should know about...who are these ladies?
If you don't know, go here to find out:
http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/...
Have a great week everyone!!