Misogyny and Sexism in the News

[Soon]

Bill Could Force IRS To Investigate Abortions

P.S. Sorry about double pic in my last post!

[Soon]

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-bu...us-house-floor

Democrat chastised for saying 'uterus' on House floor

[Greyson]

The missing subject in Arab uprisings

Published Tuesday, Apr. 05, 2011


There is much about the Middle East that needs changing. It was always a matter of time, for example, before the people would rise up and demand freedom. But we have yet to see the leaders of the uprisings make a forceful case to address one of the most serious problems in the region: the routine abuse, harassment and even the brutalization of women.

The subject gained attention when CBS correspondent Lara Logan was hospitalized following a "sustained sexual assault and beating" while covering celebrations of the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Back then, some blame-the-victim observers said perhaps women should not cover such events, or maybe Logan was not dressed appropriately.

The incident brought to mind a mind-boggling conversation I had years ago while working in Cairo. My Egyptian colleague, normally a forward-looking man, insisted that a woman who doesn't dress modestly has only herself to blame if men rape her. I had not heard that outrageous argument in decades, and my Egyptian friend had never heard the view that nothing excuses rape. He ultimately agreed, leading me to conclude that a determined education campaign might change attitudes, at least among part of the population.

For now, reformers have not made the cause of women's rights prominent in their demands because the attitudes that cause the problem are endemic in the population, not just in the regimes they seek to change. But if progressive leaders want to improve life for everyone, women's rights should figure at the top of their agenda. Many throughout the region fervently hope conditions for women will improve.

How women dress, incidentally, has absolutely nothing to do with the problem. Studies in Egypt have shown that the overwhelming majority of Egyptian women have been harassed, and most of them were wearing Islamic headscarves at the time of the abuse. But sexual harassment is the least of it.

Even in the New Egypt, we hear reports of women being arrested, tortured and subjected to "virginity exams" in view of soldiers. The region is rife with honor killings of the victims of sexual crimes. Genital mutilation continues and, to different degrees, discrimination against women is the order of the day in every single Arab country.

Women are in for "special" treatment in every situation. When a team of New York Times journalists was detained in Libya, the woman photographer among them was repeatedly groped by her captors. And we still don't know the fate of Eman al-Obeidy, the Libyan woman who managed to tell foreign reporters she had been raped by 15 men while in custody, even as she struggled with security forces who pulled a black hood over her head and drove her away.

In Saudi Arabia, women have been told yet again that they will not be allowed to vote in upcoming municipal elections. It's no wonder. They are still banned from driving, working, or traveling without a man's permission. The mere suggestion of such rules would cause women to riot in other countries.

In the desert kingdom, courageous women inspired by actions in neighboring nations, have joined to form the Saudi Women's Revolution. They demand equality and are asking the rest of the world to support them.
The Arab Middle East - and Egypt in particular - act as a beacon that guides customs and beliefs in other Muslim countries, where mistreatment can reach horrifying, infuriating depths.

A few days ago, in Bangladesh, a 14-year-old girl named Hena was beaten and raped. As a result, she was accused and found guilty of adultery by the village Imam, who issued a fatwa, a religious ruling sentencing her to 100 lashes for her transgression, whatever that was.

Hena managed to withstand 70 lashes before collapsing and requiring hospitalization. She died of her injuries. An autopsy, incredibly, ruled her death a suicide.

Attitudes toward women have become infected by the social and political stagnation that the region now wants to shed. A spotlight on women's rights, at this moment, could have a powerful impact throughout the Muslim world.

Women are part of the movement that overthrew regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, and many of their male comrades-in-revolution share the urgency of their plight. Demands for democracy and efforts to institute liberal reforms should include a special focus on women. Democracy advocates, enlisting the support of moderate Muslims, could improve hundreds of millions of lives and move their countries forward by insisting, not a moment too soon, on full rights for women.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Frida Ghitis writes about global affairs for The Miami Herald. Readers may send her e-mail at fjghitis@gmail.com.


http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/05/3528753/the-missing-subject-in-arab-uprisings.html#

[Soon]

Hillary Clinton Photoshopped Out of Situation Room Photo


Ultra Orthodox Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung is telling its readers like it isn't- by editing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the now-iconic Bin Laden raid Situation Room photo. Oy vey.

The religious paper never publishes pictures of women, as they could be considered "sexually suggestive." Apparently the presence of a woman, any woman, being all womanly and sexy all over the United States' counterterrorism efforts was too much for the editors of Der Tzitung to handle.

While saving precious vulnerable men from being driven mad with desire over the image of a woman may be in line with Der Tzitung's editors' ideas of piety, Jewish Week's Rabbi Jason Miller points out that the altered image violates a central tenet of the faith,

Der Tzitung edited Hillary Clinton out of the photo, thereby changing history. To my mind, this act of censorship is actually a violation of the Jewish legal principle of g'neivat da'at (deceit).

Der Tzitung plans on printing the following retraction in its next edition: <--(not really sure what this means...couldn't find what/where retraction)

[Soon]

This official photograph was released from the White House and includes the following disclaimer after the caption: "This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House."

http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/j...n_iconic_photo

[Toughy]

Besides Hilary, there was a woman staffer who was removed from the picture.....she was standing in the back

I really wish fundamentalists could understand how damamging this kind of thing is to boys and men. It tells boys/men they have no control over their own sexuality....the mere picture of a fully clothed woman (with no cleavage or arms showing) makes their dicks hard and they have go out and find a woman right now..........that is an ugly messages for boys and men.....

[BullDog]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Besides Hilary, there was a woman staffer who was removed from the picture.....she was standing in the back

I really wish fundamentalists could understand how damamging this kind of thing is to boys and men. It tells boys/men they have no control over their own sexuality....the mere picture of a fully clothed woman (with no cleavage or arms showing) makes their dicks hard and they have go out and find a woman right now..........that is an ugly messages for boys and men.....

I agree. It also erases women from history- in this case the erasure of the Secretary of State and other woman staffer who indeed were there and part of the mission.

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Hillary Clinton Photoshopped Out of Situation Room Photo


Ultra Orthodox Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung is telling its readers like it isn't- by editing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the now-iconic Bin Laden raid Situation Room photo. Oy vey.

The religious paper never publishes pictures of women, as they could be considered "sexually suggestive." Apparently the presence of a woman, any woman, being all womanly and sexy all over the United States' counterterrorism efforts was too much for the editors of Der Tzitung to handle.

While saving precious vulnerable men from being driven mad with desire over the image of a woman may be in line with Der Tzitung's editors' ideas of piety, Jewish Week's Rabbi Jason Miller points out that the altered image violates a central tenet of the faith,

Der Tzitung edited Hillary Clinton out of the photo, thereby changing history. To my mind, this act of censorship is actually a violation of the Jewish legal principle of g'neivat da'at (deceit).

Der Tzitung plans on printing the following retraction in its next edition: <--(not really sure what this means...couldn't find what/where retraction)

That's disgusting.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Greyson

The missing subject in Arab uprisings

Published Tuesday, Apr. 05, 2011


There is much about the Middle East that needs changing. It was always a matter of time, for example, before the people would rise up and demand freedom. But we have yet to see the leaders of the uprisings make a forceful case to address one of the most serious problems in the region: the routine abuse, harassment and even the brutalization of women.

The subject gained attention when CBS correspondent Lara Logan was hospitalized following a "sustained sexual assault and beating" while covering celebrations of the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Back then, some blame-the-victim observers said perhaps women should not cover such events, or maybe Logan was not dressed appropriately.

The incident brought to mind a mind-boggling conversation I had years ago while working in Cairo. My Egyptian colleague, normally a forward-looking man, insisted that a woman who doesn't dress modestly has only herself to blame if men rape her. I had not heard that outrageous argument in decades, and my Egyptian friend had never heard the view that nothing excuses rape. He ultimately agreed, leading me to conclude that a determined education campaign might change attitudes, at least among part of the population.

For now, reformers have not made the cause of women's rights prominent in their demands because the attitudes that cause the problem are endemic in the population, not just in the regimes they seek to change. But if progressive leaders want to improve life for everyone, women's rights should figure at the top of their agenda. Many throughout the region fervently hope conditions for women will improve.

How women dress, incidentally, has absolutely nothing to do with the problem. Studies in Egypt have shown that the overwhelming majority of Egyptian women have been harassed, and most of them were wearing Islamic headscarves at the time of the abuse. But sexual harassment is the least of it.

Even in the New Egypt, we hear reports of women being arrested, tortured and subjected to "virginity exams" in view of soldiers. The region is rife with honor killings of the victims of sexual crimes. Genital mutilation continues and, to different degrees, discrimination against women is the order of the day in every single Arab country.

Women are in for "special" treatment in every situation. When a team of New York Times journalists was detained in Libya, the woman photographer among them was repeatedly groped by her captors. And we still don't know the fate of Eman al-Obeidy, the Libyan woman who managed to tell foreign reporters she had been raped by 15 men while in custody, even as she struggled with security forces who pulled a black hood over her head and drove her away.

In Saudi Arabia, women have been told yet again that they will not be allowed to vote in upcoming municipal elections. It's no wonder. They are still banned from driving, working, or traveling without a man's permission. The mere suggestion of such rules would cause women to riot in other countries.

In the desert kingdom, courageous women inspired by actions in neighboring nations, have joined to form the Saudi Women's Revolution. They demand equality and are asking the rest of the world to support them.
The Arab Middle East - and Egypt in particular - act as a beacon that guides customs and beliefs in other Muslim countries, where mistreatment can reach horrifying, infuriating depths.

A few days ago, in Bangladesh, a 14-year-old girl named Hena was beaten and raped. As a result, she was accused and found guilty of adultery by the village Imam, who issued a fatwa, a religious ruling sentencing her to 100 lashes for her transgression, whatever that was.

Hena managed to withstand 70 lashes before collapsing and requiring hospitalization. She died of her injuries. An autopsy, incredibly, ruled her death a suicide.

Attitudes toward women have become infected by the social and political stagnation that the region now wants to shed. A spotlight on women's rights, at this moment, could have a powerful impact throughout the Muslim world.

Women are part of the movement that overthrew regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, and many of their male comrades-in-revolution share the urgency of their plight. Demands for democracy and efforts to institute liberal reforms should include a special focus on women. Democracy advocates, enlisting the support of moderate Muslims, could improve hundreds of millions of lives and move their countries forward by insisting, not a moment too soon, on full rights for women.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Frida Ghitis writes about global affairs for The Miami Herald. Readers may send her e-mail at fjghitis@gmail.com.


http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/05/3528753/the-missing-subject-in-arab-uprisings.html#

I have deep respect for women in this region of the world that speak out about this. They are subject to such brutality, including death.

My grandmother was a suffrigist- crossing both US, UK and western European borders with her fight. She was not an educated woman, actually she could not read or write. I have no idea how she got into the middle-class group of women that led the "First Wave." Yet, I know she did not have the kind of brutal, sadistic, sociopathological kinds of oppression thrown at her like these women. She knew of this- and once said to me- "Maybe someday they will fight back." This was when she was much older and I was the first in our family to attend college and had taken up with those "Bra-Burners." OK, Grandma- they are!! I hope you cane see this.

[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by Greyson

The missing subject in Arab uprisings

Published Tuesday, Apr. 05, 2011


There is much about the Middle East that needs changing. It was always a matter of time, for example, before the people would rise up and demand freedom. But we have yet to see the leaders of the uprisings make a forceful case to address one of the most serious problems in the region: the routine abuse, harassment and even the brutalization of women.

Hi Greyson!

Thanks for posting this article last month! I just came across this forum thread today and it reminded me of the hot forum topic from last summer on Misogyny/Sexism in Butch/Femme & LGBTQ communities

(LINK)

I want to author a book on this subject alone... If you (and others here) don't mind, I will excerpt a portion of my forum post on what the above article (authored by Frida Ghitis, from the Miami Herald). I think it is important to keep issues that target female beings in social settings front and center; because dismantling ideological frames that perpetuate these types of institutionalized practices can only lead to a healing of social practices and ideas pertaining to women - locally, nationally & globally.

Excerpting my former statement from last summer:

Originally Posted by AlovelyKiss

My experience with misogyny is rooted in being bombarded by a culture that allows, condones and develops and facilitates distribution of power to those who least deserve to have that type of power or use it wisely.

The theoretical argument I wish to make is that misogyny (hatred of the female species) is based in what I call Misocracy – (def. - a form of governance that condones and facilitates the hatred of females) – a political regime that finds its roots in misogyny.

I conceptualized the term Misocracy because it seems to operate much like Ethnocracy (def.- the systematic discrimination of ethnic groups by the state and minority groups face repressions, violations of human rights at the hand of governance that facilitates such acts). Which to me, Ethnocracy is the antithesis of democracy. A Misocratic society is one that tolerates, facilitates and perpetuates hatred of the female species and over time, the female species, who are submerged (dare I say, water-boarded?) in a female hating culture, it would seem that as a female, we are conditioned to hate ourselves because females are held to standards of hate that no one should have to bear or even be initiated into. It’s only been the last seven years that I work actively on not hating me and not allowing the culture of misogyny or Misocracy to chip away at my female based identity. It’s been difficult though because I have reared two sons and while my own tenets (values and beliefs) have anchored my own existence, I have not always been able to convey with ease to my sons why society at large pressures them to act socially in one way (as males) and why socially dominant ideals and values are not always tolerable.

It’s been a never ending hardship, a drain-circling ‘perfect’ storm, policing my boundaries and making sure that Misocractic norms are not exacted upon me as they always have been, seemingly all my life.

So what antidote is there? What kind of “medicine” will it take to heal Misocracism?

The antidote is complicated and the “medicine” available carries significant commitment to eradicating misogyny in a Misocratic society (a Misocracy). One way to dismantle a Misocracy is to unpack misogyny as we see, hear and experience it and to not tolerate a culture that endorses and utilizes Misocractic agenda. We (the general “we”) do that individually or collectively as member of groups in society or in our social settings – much like this forum thread here, where we work on naming aspects of our lives that are connected to the culture of hating the female species.

So, for now, this is what I have been wanting to say about how I perceive misogyny and the place that is has had in my life and how I work on eradicating this egregious stain from my life.

I am Female and I am Femme: Here me purrrrrrrrrr (not roar).