The Raging Feminist

Obama’s Support for Gay Marriage; It is about damn time

Today Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage. In an interview with ABC News Obama said, after a lot of reflection, he personally believes that same sex couples should be able to get married. 

The enormity of this announcement was summed up quite perfectly by Chad Griffin, incoming president of the HRC, in the New York Times:

“President Obama’s words today will be celebrated by generations to come. For the millions of young gay and lesbian Americans across this nation, President Obama’s words provide genuine hope that they will be the first generation to grow up with the freedom to fully pursue the American dream. Marriage — the promise of love, companionship, and family — is basic to the pursuit of that dream.”

As a member of the LGBT community, I am absolutely thrilled with President Barack Obama’s endorsement. Finally, the man I campaigned for four years ago is stepping up for something I feel passionate about, and something that makes complete sense. Regardless of whether he was pandering for votes from the LGBT community, what he did was a political risk and I am very glad he took it. 

However, perhaps this is just the cynical Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies major in me who finds everything to be problematic, but I do not want us to celebrate this announcement too much. Why? Because coming out and standing up for gay rights is not something that should be a major political feat. It should just be common sense. Obama ran on a relatively liberal platform in 2008. I think celebrations are warranted, but should be minimal because of the time it took him to get here. It is like celebrating a student who passed in an assignment late; but hey at least they passed it in!

I just want people to make sure they are thinking critically about the policy decisions our nation’s leaders are making. Obama has made his fair share of mistakes during his administration, and those should not be overshadowed because of this personal endorsement. 

Also, not to nit pick but the language he used in the interview made a little nervous. He said “for him personally” gay marriage should be legal, but what does that mean for his administration and its policy? Just a thought.  

But agin, I can’t reiterate enough that I am thrilled about Obama’s endorsement, and also all of his work for the LGBT community on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. So good for him,but it is about damn time. 

Feminist Rage Rant

I started this blog for two reasons. (One) there is a lot of fucked up shit in the world and (two) I really wanted to write about it. 

Well today, I just need to rant because I am fed up. 

I just do not understand this war on women on so many levels. First of all, I do not understand how women’s reproductive rights are even America’s agenda. Lets talk about the job crisis, the wars in the middle east, the budding conflict with Iran, the economy in general, specifically austerity cuts, the rising cost of education, the down fall of the american education system. Lets talk about all of those things, then we can consider reproductive rights. 

That being said, I do not think reproductive rights need to even be considered.  How is it 2012 and we are still debating a women’s right to not just abortion but BIRTH CONTROL. Have we not moved passed this? If women want to use birth control, regardless of what it is for, it is up them. And asking their health care provider or a college institution to support them in this choice is not a high demand. It is one of basic health needs.  

I guess I could understand the debate about abortion, those who are pro-life think it is the murder of a baby. Do I think that is incorrect? Yes? But do I see why they think their argument is legitimate? Sure.  But to try to regulate or prevent a woman’s use of birth control is not only ridiculous, but is a blatant attack on women’s sexuality.

Aspirin between the knees, rush limbaughs comment, all of these indicate that a lot of law makers are making legislative choices regarding women’s health based on the old fashion notion to suppress women’s sexuality. And it has got to stop. 

To be honest, I am not sure where this post is going. I want this blog about to more of a critique of societal bullshit then how I am feelings. But sometimes feminism gets personal and it makes me feel things, and because this is my blog I get to talk about them.  

I think the reason I love feminism so much is because it is something I understand, something that is so sensical. It is the call for people to be equal in opportunity and rights. If my desire for equality makes me a “femi-nazi”, a “socialist” or (my personal favorite) a “slut” then so be it. Because I am in the right, and so is feminism. 

The Sex Diaries Project: A Cool Way To Actively Look At Your Sexuality.

The Sex Diaries Project is a collection of anonymous diaries from around the globe in which women reflect on their sexuality, sexual encounters and relationships. The project, recently, has been produced into a popular book which gives the reader a wide spectrum thought in regards to sex and relationships. 

After reading about the project, and the success it has brought to diarists and readers, I decided to participate. All that is required of me is I write entries 5 times a day ( usually about 5 sentences) and that I answer two daily questions for seven days. 

Although I am only on day 2, it has been an interesting introspective into my sexuality and the different levels of my sexuality. 

So if you’re curious about your sexuality, or just want to participate in a really cool project, Click Here!

31 Arrested in Protest to Remind Government to Get the Fuck Out of Women’s Vaginas.

The Richmond Times Dispatch reported started that 31 were arrested in a peaceful protest against Virginia’s war on women on Saturday. 

Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, had this to say of the event: 

The men and women who marched on Capitol Square have a right to peacefully protest without the threat that they will be arrested for exercising that right,” McQuinn said in a news release. “At several recent women’s rights events, there has been an overabundance of police presence. In fact, the Capitol Police tactical team has been at all of the events,” she said. 

(Richmond Times Dispatch) 

Why a fully armed police force was necessary is beyond me. However, this is a very tangible example of the government’s desires to silence women, whether they are voicing their right to own their own bodies or just being around general. 

Virginia, like most of this country, is suffering from Little Rascals syndrome. So many legislative meeting are like a council of the He Man Woman Haters, it is absurd. 

Here are some pictures from the event. For more pictures to piss you off, go here. 

Violence is not the answer, especially against peaceful protestors who are participating in democracy. This isn’t 1890,  its 2012. Give us our reproductive rights, or have the human decency to let us vocalize our political views. ESPECIALLY political views about our own vaginas!! 

My favorite part of this protest and its arrests? It is not all women! As the pictures prove, there are tons of men advocating and being arrested in protest of women’s reproductive rights, and to me that is so kick ass. 

I want to end this post by thanking the Virginia Police, because if I know anything about feminist activists? The harder you try to knock us down, the harder we push back. 

Obligatory “Are You Fucking Kidding Me” Rush Limbaugh Post

So if you haven’t heard, Rush Limbaugh had some absolutely ludicrous things to say in response to  Sandra Fluke’s testimonial. 

“A Georgetown coed told Nancy Pelosi’s hearing that the women in her law school program are having so much sex they’re going broke, so you and I should have to pay for their birth control. So what would you call that? I called it what it is,” he said. “So, I’m offering a compromise today: I will buy all of the women at Georgetown University as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want.”

and then this jem 

“So Miss Fluke and the rest of you feminazis, here’s the deal,” he said. “If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.”

Okay honestly?? How is this person aloud to speak in public. How incredibly offensive, sexist and awful is that.

I could go into a long break down of why this is fucked up, but if you need me to break it down or you, I don’t have time for you.

Women’s sexuality is always under attack and I just don’t understand why. It is my body, I will fuck who I want, take birth control if I want, and if I get pregnant? I will be getting an abortion if I want.  And I am sorry, but that is not a lot to ask. Some of our political leaders, and others who share this backwards mindset, need to realize that just because I have a vagina does not mean I am not a person. So stop trying to take my rights away. 

Bridesmainds: The Feminist Debate

There has been a lot of talk on various feminist sites regarding how pro-woman Bridesmaids is. 

Amanda Marcotte wrote a piece on Slate.com in defense of the film. 

“Of course, the underlying assumption of the question is that women have a bad reputation in the general public and media should therefore portray us in uplifting ways to counter negative stereotypes, which in turn means that the question answers itself: If a female character has flaws, then that is Bad For Women. Indeed, that’s been the general consensus of all hand-wringing over this question.”

What she is saying is there is a tendency to label a film “bad for women” if the character(s) is even remotely flawed. Bridesmaids, Marcotte thinks, fell into this trap with some feminist bloggers. She argues, however, that making a film where women are humanized is not bad for women but instead is a step forward for ladies in film. According to Marcotte,  Bridesmaids gave funny women the opportunity to make fun of themselves, and be hilariously humanized. 

Silpa Kovvali wrote a guest post on feministing.com to counter Marcotte’s Slate piece. 

Kovvali thought Marcotte missed the mark in regards to her analysis of the characters. Kovvali doesn’t have an issue with the humanizing in women in film, but instead how Bridesmaids chose to humanize their characters. 

“…Annie as someone who exists in a constant state of envy over everything from her friends’ relationships to their wealth to their physiques. Who lacks the emotional maturity to recognize or articulate what she needs from her sexual and romantic endeavors. Who is constantly one step away from launching into jealous and bizarre hysterics. “

While both writers bring up excellent points, I have to agree with Marcotte. Being a person, regardless of gender, sometimes results in acts of immaturity and friend envy. I thought the presentation of Annie was pretty accurate to a woman struggling with getting her life together. I would be a whiny mess too if my small business closed, my best friend was moving on without me and I gave everyone diarrhea. 

Perhaps I am being defensive of a character I love, but I thought Kovvali’s accusation that Annie “lacked the emotional maturity to recognize or articulate what she needs from her sexual and romantic endeavors” was rather unfair.  Not everyone can be a strong ass woman who can articulate everything she feels all the time. Part of being human, again regardless of gender, is the struggle to articulate what you want or need. ESPECIALLY when everything around you is falling apart (finance, job, friendships), struggling to open up to someone in a romantic and sexual way is not inhuman, nor is it an inaccurate and negative portrayal of women. 

Feminist bloggers are constantly calling for more women in film, and when they are there that they are portrayed positively. Bridesmaids not only gave women the opportunity to be funny and fart, but portrayed a struggle that female friendships go through at any age. 

While I understand the criticism, and I believe in a healthy dialogue, I think Bridesmaids was a great film that really opened doors for women in comedy. 

Plus, Melissa Mcarthy is just awesome. 

Study Shows Black Women Like Their Bodies Better Than White Women

According to a Washington Post article  black women who are heavier than than their white counterparts have higher levels of self esteem. While 41 percent of average-sized or thin white women report having high self-esteem, that figure was 68 percent among black women considered by government standards to be overweight. 

Reading this article kind of gave words and statistics to things I had been noticing.  My girlfriend is black, and we often talk about the difference in between how white and black women think about their bodies. For examples,  our mothers are the same size. My mother has been off and on of every diet program she could find, and I am pretty sure has never said anything positive about her body. My girlfriend’s mother eats healthy and exercises often, but is very confident in her body and herself in general despite her size. 

I also see this statistic played out amongst my own friends. One of closest friends is a curvy, beautiful black woman and is one of the most confident people I know. My white friend who is the same size has been dieting all year and is very open about herself loathing for her body. 

I wonder why this is. Perhaps it is because white women predominately get their ideas about body image from the media, which is full of white people. Maybe black women are not as affected by this body standard because the standard does not even take them into consideration to influence. 

Or maybe black women are just so kick ass they don’t give a shit what society thinks about their bodies. 

Regardless, it is a really interesting happening. 

In related thoughts, I seriously miss curvy Jennifer Hudson. 

I don’t know why, maybe it is completely unfound, but I just liked Jennifer Hudson way better when she was curvy. Her body change is just such a conformity to hollywood standards, which I thought she could rise above because of her talent. HOWEVER, it is her body and her choice and she looks beautiful at any size. And her talent remains no matter what her jeans size is. I just miss having a curvy ally to smile at as  I flipped through People or US weekly.