(Source: barackobama, via raebird)
2149
Lucille Ball was an extraordinarily strong woman. I wish there were more women like her.
(Source: pintoquiff)
10Doing research on same-sex marriage
I am learning so much. Like if Massachusetts lifts the stay then not only is same- sex marriage recognized by the state but the Federal Government as well! and on the flip side, although The State of Washington just passed a same- sex marriage law, it is up for vote again on the November ballot. That is ridiculous… it was already passed. It was already up for negotiation and the people voted. End of story!
Also there is a law called DOMA (The Defense Against Marriage Act) that was signed and passed under DEMOCRAT Bill Clinton. If you don’t know what DOMA is, basically it doesn’t ban same-sex marriage, but it does say that the federal government doesn’t have to recognize it. But as most of you historians out there know the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which reserves the power for the states. But DOMA violates that by saying that each state has the right to decide whether or not to recognize it. That is unconstitutional… THAT MEANS IT GOES AGAINST THE BASIC PRINCIPALS THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UNDER!!!
Questions? Comments? (It’s right there in black and white)
1life-tbd asked: I stumble upon your blog and I just wanted to let you that what I've seen so far I really like. You have yourself a new follower. :)
Thank you very much! I haven’t posted on that blog in a while. Now that I know people are still reading it, I’ll start posting!
0
(Source: lindsayolohan, via itsformyeyesonly)
2384What are the consequences of sexism for women’s health and bodies? How are these consequences different for women of color, poor women and queer women?
The effect of sexism on women’s bodies is more than just beauty myth deep. Sexism effects women’s bodies AND heath in many different ways. The problem runs deeper than body image. But, it is a good place to start.
As many people have already pointed out, sexism has turned women into self conscious, self-destructive, nervous wrecks. The beauty myth says that women need to look a certain way in order to be considered beautiful. So what do women do? They spend ridiculous amounts of money on cosmetics, designer clothes, and reconstructive surgery while starving and purging themselves to death. This is a PRIME example of sexism’s effect on a woman’s body. It causes self destructive behaviors in women. It affects our health in other, less obvious, ways as well. Women have the intense urge and need to be ‘perfect’ and beautiful by societal standards. If we can’t achieve this goal, it starts to hack away at our psyche. It mentally and emotionally tears us down. It leads us to believe we aren’t good enough. Which tends to lead to more self destructive behaviors… it is a never ending cycle.
And that is the ‘easy’ way to consider this. It only gets uglier from there
Sexism has greatly impacted women’s reproductive rights as well. When it comes down to reproductive rights and legislation, the decisions are up to the upper class white men of privilege. Think about it. Who runs this country? Men… true story. They are the ones who decide whether or not to pass a law. When it comes to the pro-life/ pro- choice topic, it usually comes down to what men say is right and wrong (or what religion deems it. And where do religious beliefs come from? Men…) Now, in a country such as America, why is it that we still let men decide what happens to our bodies? In the simplest of terms, they do not have the ability to become pregnant, so how is it that they get a say in what we decide to do about it?
I have said it before, and I will say it again, the most important thing a woman can have is a CHOICE. What she will wear, how she will live her life, whether or not to say yes (or no!), and whether or not to bring a child into her life. I feel that chastising a woman for choosing to have an abortion is more irresponsible than a woman having an abortion. Women have abortions for so many different reasons: rape, incest, failed birth control, abusive relationships, too young, too old, not enough education, etc. Who are YOU to tell her she is wrong?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying it is okay to do so as a means of birth control. There comes a point when it is irresponsibility and lack of proper sex education. That is where we, as a society, need to step up and fix it. We need to make proper health care and education more accessible. Not only for women who may become pregnant, but also those who already are. (This is the point where I am likely to make some people angry, but there is a reason I feel this way.)
I feel that proper education and health care is essential in prevention of unwanted pregnancies. But what happens when it is too late? What happens when a woman becomes pregnant? She has 3 months to truly decide what is best for her and her family. Those 3 months fly by. The support system comes and goes, depending on the day. She is in a rough situation, perhaps even an abusive relationship. How did she get into this position? Failed birth control… because her doctor/ health insurance gave her a low dosage of a generic birth control. So she sits in a cold cubical of a Planned Parenthood compound being told about the procedure and how much relief she will feel afterwards. They don’t tell her about the depression, fear and regret that come along with it. This isn’t true for all women… but it is true for me. This is my story, this is why I am so passionate about women’s reproductive rights… Because I have made the choice.
I always used to say, “I am pro choice, It just isn’t MY choice”. After my procedure, I learned a lot about myself and my beliefs of such legislations. I learned that even though, it WAS the logical and right thing for me, I would NEVER do it again in my life, no matter the situation. A lot of my depression comes from the fact that I am chastised for having had an abortion and the fact that I am made to feel that I can’t be sad about it.
So back to the question, what are the consequences of sexism on a woman’s health and body? Well, as a middle class, bisexual woman… of privilege, I feel that the consequences are negative. Sexism tears us down, gives us body dimorphic disorder, depression, eating disorders, and so much more. Woman need to gain the power of our own bodies back.
6One woman brought up abortion
She said it is such an important right for women, I chimed in with the need to have a choice and this is what we got in reply…
I’m really curious, what does abortion have to do with sexism since aborted children can be male or female? Since you brought up the topic I have a few comments on your logic. You state there needs to be an option to do what’s best for the child. In what universe would killing the child be the best option for the child? If we follow your logic, that it is more responsible to kill a child rather than they live in a bad environment, couldn’t we say that it is more responsible to kill all children that are currently living in bad environments?
Our society has lost the concept of personal responsibility for one’s own actions and tends to go with the view that everyone is a victim of someone else’s actions. A woman always has the CHOICE to not have sex or to have protected sex. She should be personally responsible for the choices that she makes, knowing the possible outcome of her choices. Of course, there are those who have had sex forced upon them, but this accounts for less then one percent of all abortions and is another discussion.
What kind of society do we live in, is a good question. What kind of society is it where one female can decide to kill another female (or male) because of the choices that she made?
What does sexism have to do with abortion?!?!?! Baby Killing? Telling us we are irresponsible? Is she serious…
5women’s bodies, women’s health
It’s been a while
Since the last time I posted… Well get ready for this. This weeks class discussion was ‘Women’s Health and Bodies”… you KNOW I have thoughts on this one. Please feel free to share.
_____________________________________________________
QUESTION:
What are the consequences of sexism for women’s health and bodies? How are these consequences different for women of color, poor women and queer women?
67This weeks assignment was about Identity, Social and Individual
This weeks postings in class turned into a Race war. My “professor” is teaching her philosophy about racism. She feels that ONLY “whites” can be racist. Not only that but that All whites are racist. Here are my thoughts…
RE: Identities and social location
This weeks assignment pisses me off. I am trying to be very eloquent about this, but it is hard. I am a Middle Class White Women, that doesn’t make me a racist. That doesn’t mean I get handed everything. That doesn’t mean I am ‘guaranteed’ anything in this life. It means I get sunburn very easily. It was hard to relate to any of these. I am White, yes, but I don’t know where my ancestors came from. I know on my moms side there is Irish, Scottish, and Italian. My dad, like I have mentioned before, was adopted. I have NO idea where his family came from. To be honest, it never interested me. In my family, there have been bigger issues that surround us: poverty, teen pregnancies, sexuality, abuse, lay offs, divorce, the list goes on and on. Just like every family in America, white, black, what have you. Defining my brand of “white” doesn’t interest me.
Now, I am not naive. I know there is racism, I know people aren’t all treated equally. I also know that, historically speaking, it is primarily White people that have placed the oppression on certain groups. This, however does not mean that all white people are racist, it does not mean that we all agree with our ancestors. I understand that from a teaching stand point it is important to address things like this. I also know that I get extremely offended in class discussions when people say things like, “the whites”. I heard this in our last class discussion over five times… I counted. It got so far under my skin. How is it not racist to call us “the whites”? It is politically incorrect to say “the blacks” or “the Indians”, and for good reason. It is offensive and it hurts. So why is it ok to refer to Caucasians as “the whites”? I sit in class, during these discussions, I have gotten so angry that I shake. When someone says, “… And who caused this?” and the entire class says “the whites”,how and I not supposed to be embarrassed? How am I not supposed to be angry at my ancestors? I know I am not speaking for everyone, but I am speaking for me. I am speaking for the Cory’s, Blackburns, and the Sartors. I am speaking for my entire family of people who have ALWAYS believed everyone is equal and beautiful. My parents raised 5 children to believe racism is WRONG, not ifs, ands, or buts about it. I know everyone is born equal. I know they aren’t all given the same opportunities in life. I know the majority of the inequality is put on minorities. I also know that only 2 people in my family went to college, with no grants or ‘family money’. My sister was smart enough to get scholarships. I didn’t. I am paying out of pocket. By the time I get out of college I will be so far in debt. There aren’t scholarships for being White.
All I am saying is this, it isn’t a crime to be a Middle class white woman. I am not ashamed of who I am. But that doesn’t mean I am racist. It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t fight for the rights of every other human being. So don’t stereotype. That’s all I ask. I know I have ruffled a few feathers but isn’t this class about equality for all of us? I am sorry if I have offended anyone, but to be honest, I don’t see how this could. I don;t think I should get shit for wanting the same understanding and equality that everyone else deserves.
(Source: forthosewh0seek, via joyousfeminism)
8353