Feminism in News and Popular Media

Nat · 01-03-2013, 08:51 PM

This photo was posted on STFU, Conservatives Tumblr page last night. The reason why I'm sharing it is not because of the photo itself (which is epic in it's ow...n right), but for the comments it generated.

One person wrote, "but then again, its kind like putting a meat suit on and telling a shark not to eat you".

STFU responded (with bolded text):

"We (men) are not fucking sharks!

We are not rabid animals living off of pure instinct

We are capable of rational thinking and understanding.

Just because someone is cooking food doesn’t mean you’re entitled to eat it.

Just because a banker is counting money doesn’t mean you’re being given free money.

Just because a person is naked doesn’t mean you’re entitled to fuck them.

You are not entitled to someone else’s body just because it’s exposed.

What is so fucking difficult about this concept?"

Bravo.

(from Sluts for Obama 2012 facebook)

Martina · 01-03-2013, 09:30 PM

I see a lot of smart young women and men saying feminist things on the internet, and I don't spend that much time here. I don't know that they ID as feminists, but I doubt that most would baulk at the description.

I think what Katie Pery was acknowledging is that it's not a particularly cool thing to call yourself right now. But anyone serious enough to think beyond what's cool knows better. And, thank god, there are a lot of folks like that.

I don't think it matters how we market feminism, whether it is cool or not. It's a human rights issue. We are making progress on awareness of human rights issues around the world, including, maybe especially, women's rights.

Malala was not just an international cause celebre. She got a huge amount of support at home. The protests in India to the rape cases. The reaction to the Republicans candidates remarks about rape in the last election.

There were losses too -- access to abortion in the United States. But change is happening. It's not going to stop because some trendy people don't like the word "feminist."

julieisafemme · 01-03-2013, 10:23 PM

I am not trendy in any way and I did not like the word feminist and did not call myself one for a lot of reasons. I have changed my mind on that thanks to you and lots of other good people on this site. I don't think it's necessarily the young people we have to be concerned about, although we should think of them.
I am not super in touch with 20 somethings. I do talk to my 10 year old about feminism and use that word as well! That would not have happened 4 years ago.

Change is happening and it is because people talk about things. I am so grateful for you and the conversations I have had on this site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martina

I see a lot of smart young women and men saying feminist things on the internet, and I don't spend that much time here. I don't know that they ID as feminists, but I doubt that most would baulk at the description.

I think what Katie Pery was acknowledging is that it's not a particularly cool thing to call yourself right now. But anyone serious enough to think beyond what's cool knows better. And, thank god, there are a lot of folks like that.

I don't think it matters how we market feminism, whether it is cool or not. It's a human rights issue. We are making progress on awareness of human rights issues around the world, including, maybe especially, women's rights.

Malala was not just an international cause celebre. She got a huge amount of support at home. The protests in India to the rape cases. The reaction to the Republicans candidates remarks about rape in the last election.

There were losses too -- access to abortion in the United States. But change is happening. It's not going to stop because some trendy people don't like the word "feminist."

Martina · 01-04-2013, 04:16 AM

I don't know how these algorithms or whatever they are called work, but Gerda Lerner's death keeps coming up as trending number one on Yahoo. That is kind of mind-blowing. I guess alot of us older folks had to read one or another of her books in college.

Kind of a good sign if it truly is trending.

Nat · 01-19-2013, 08:53 AM

From the "Style" section of the Washington Post:

Four years later, feminists split by Michelle Obama’s ‘work’ as first lady

By Lonnae O’Neal Parker,

Jan 18, 2013 05:09 PM EST

In the opening moments of her second turn at history, as Michelle Obama waves at celebrants along Pennsylvania Avenue, Americans will clamor to see the first lady, who remains one of the most popular public figures in the country. In the most recent poll, fully 73 percent said they approve of the way she is handling her job.

But a significant group of Americans — feminist Americans — have been vocally disappointed with her choices and feel let down by her example.
In 2008, when Obama announced her intention to be “mom-in-chief,” many feminists decried her decision to give up her career and said she had been victimized by her husband’s choices. She was regarded as one of the women feminist Linda Hirshman described as “letting down the team.”

But most black feminists and writers had a different view. Let the sister get settled, they said. Give her a minute to do a head count. And if she wanted to focus on motherhood, for black women that was more than fine. It was arguably revolutionary, because black women were long denied the right — or lacked the means — to simply care for their own.

As she begins another four years in the White House, the nation’s feminists are divided about the “work” Obama has done, and the work they’d like to see her do.

This split has bitter historic roots. It surfaced during the suffrage movement, when white women suggested their votes could counter those of “the darker races,” and again in the 1970s, when black feminists broke away over the white middle-class focus of “women’s lib.”

Now, with an African American woman in the White House, these differences have rushed back to the fore.

Last year, after Obama and Ann Romney submitted recipes for a cookie contest, Hirshman told The Washington Post that Obama’s “first mom, gardener thing” is “silly.” Now, Hirshman says, “I’ve kind of lost interest in Michelle Obama. She was trapped by assumptions about race and had limited room to maneuver. Whether that was a welcome choice or she had no choice, I will never know. It’s very difficult to envision her as running for senator from the state of Illinois as you did with Hillary Clinton running for senator from the state of New York.”

“Are fashion and body-toning tips all we can expect from one of the most highly educated First Ladies in history?” asked author Leslie Morgan Steiner in an online column last January. She said she’d “read enough bland dogma on home-grown vegetables and aerobic exercise to last me several lifetimes.”

Steiner contended Obama probably had little leeway. “I’m sure there is immense pressure — from political advisors, the black community, her husband, the watching world — to play her role as First Black Lady on the safe side.”

Feminist discontent with the first lady spiked again last summer at the Democratic National Convention, after she called her daughters “the heart of my heart and the center of my world.” She then repeated her feminist crazy-maker: “You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still ‘mom-in-chief.’ ”

-----------------------------------

My feelings on this article are basically:

Jesus Christ! Seriously?

But I'm curious - are there those of you out there who consider yourselves feminist who are critical of Michelle Obama's job as First Lady on feminist grounds?

Martina · 01-19-2013, 12:58 PM

I like her a lot, but if you think that she hasn't chosen issues to get involved in that keep from being a lightening rod for controversy, you would be wrong. And she still got made fun of by the far right for the childhood obesity stuff. I think she will be able to branch out more this term if she wants. She has become someone a lot of people love and don't want to hear mean talk about.

But blaming people who would like her to take a risk is not the point. The point is the radical right who talked about the size of her ass and tried to piss on everything she did at the beginning.

I am sure she cares about military families, but I am also sure she took on that project because it's pretty much unassailable from the right.

Soon · 01-19-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nat

But I'm curious - are there those of you out there who consider yourselves feminist who are critical of Michelle Obama's job as First Lady on feminist grounds?

I think she's great. As far as feminism--it's about choice and empowerment/freedom to make those choices. If Michelle considers Mom-in-Chief to be her most important responsibility at this time, more power to her.

Soon · 02-09-2013, 02:26 PM

Faith Website Blocks Writer From Using That Icky Word ‘Feminism’ by Madeleine Davies

Early in January, Minnesota playwright, Presbyterian pastor and feminist Kristine Holmgren was asked to create a website for multi faith blogging network Beliefnet. "I'm negotiating 'terms' now," she announced excitedly on Facebook. Unfortunately, the negotiations have since fallen apart after Holmgren and the Beliefnet marketing analysts got in a disagreement about including the word "feminist" in the blog's title.

Holmgren received this email from Beliefnet marketing and business analyst Sharon Kirk:

We're ready to get started on the header for your blog however first we need the title of your blog and any creative direction you may have (i.e. colors you want to include, any themes, a headshot, etc.). I believe you and Jana previously tossed around a few title possibilities including "Feminist Pulpit Notes."

While I agree that title is certainly straight forward, I think it would resonate with our readers more if the title was a bit "softer." Our readers are looking for editorial that's uplifting, motivational, inspirational, etc. and I think your blog will perform better if the title speaks to that aspect of your blog. Do you have any ideas along those lines?

Holmgren then suggested "Sweet Truth — Thoughts of a Faithful Feminist." Friendly, chipper and soft as a puppy, right?

Then came the response from Beliefnet. Kirk wrote:

I love "Sweet Truth" however I would suggest changing the tag line or deleting all together as I'm concerned about the negative connotation that our readers may associate with the word feminism. In addition, we'll want this blog to focus more on Christianity/spirituality as opposed to issues related to feminism. What do you think of simply "Sweet Truths with Kristine Holmgren"?

Sure, or why not call it "Tasty Thoughtsy-Woughtsies"? Or "Blah, Blah, Blah: Unchallenging Thoughts from a Woman Who DEFINITELY Shaves Her Legs"? (Just spit ballin,' here.)

Side note: While Beliefnet is worried that the word "feminism" might offend someone, they have no issue about running ads and advice from Focus on the Family. Neat!

Holmgren posted this update on her Facebook wall Wednesday:

I spoke a few moments ago with the contact at BeliefNet. She told me — not only can I not use the word "feminist" in my title, I cannot use it on the blog..."The word offends so many people," she said. She said I should come up with a word that was "softer." I told her I didn't think there was anything "softer" than feminism; a word that denotes equality for men and women and respect for children and families. She said "I agree, but. . . " so I told her their inflexibility on this was a "deal breaker." She regretted my "feeling" on this (by the way — this isn't a "feeling." It's a "thought system." Some people's kids!!! ) and said, "We can conclude this without rancor." I said, "Oh, no we can't." I'm writing about this one.

On one hand, Beliefnet is a private company that's allowed to associate with whatever words they like. On the other, a private company that refuses to associate with an ideology that's fundamental principle is that you shouldn't treat women like garbage is a little fucking questionable.

Strangely, Beliefnet knew what Holmgren's point-of view was from the beginning. "I said to them ‘You've got to know that I'm a Presbyterian pastor, but I come to the world as a feminist.' They said, ‘That's fabulous. We want a wide range of views on the site,'" the writer said of her first interview. Later, of course, they got scared. Scared of offending people with something that isn't even offensive. Scared of offending people with women's rights. So much for faith...

01-03-2013, 08:51 PM	#1
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender (DID System) Preferred Pronoun?: he/him or alter-specific Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central TX Posts: 3,537 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,047 Thanked 13,967 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	This photo was posted on STFU, Conservatives Tumblr page last night. The reason why I'm sharing it is not because of the photo itself (which is epic in it's ow...n right), but for the comments it generated. One person wrote, "but then again, its kind like putting a meat suit on and telling a shark not to eat you". STFU responded (with bolded text): "We (men) are not fucking sharks! We are not rabid animals living off of pure instinct We are capable of rational thinking and understanding. Just because someone is cooking food doesn’t mean you’re entitled to eat it. Just because a banker is counting money doesn’t mean you’re being given free money. Just because a person is naked doesn’t mean you’re entitled to fuck them. You are not entitled to someone else’s body just because it’s exposed. What is so fucking difficult about this concept?" Bravo. (from Sluts for Obama 2012 facebook) __________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl Last edited by Nat; 01-03-2013 at 08:55 PM.

01-19-2013, 08:53 AM	#5
Nat Senior Member How Do You Identify?: bigender (DID System) Preferred Pronoun?: he/him or alter-specific Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central TX Posts: 3,537 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,047 Thanked 13,967 Times in 2,589 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	What? From the "Style" section of the Washington Post: Four years later, feminists split by Michelle Obama’s ‘work’ as first lady By Lonnae O’Neal Parker, Jan 18, 2013 05:09 PM EST In the opening moments of her second turn at history, as Michelle Obama waves at celebrants along Pennsylvania Avenue, Americans will clamor to see the first lady, who remains one of the most popular public figures in the country. In the most recent poll, fully 73 percent said they approve of the way she is handling her job. But a significant group of Americans — feminist Americans — have been vocally disappointed with her choices and feel let down by her example. In 2008, when Obama announced her intention to be “mom-in-chief,” many feminists decried her decision to give up her career and said she had been victimized by her husband’s choices. She was regarded as one of the women feminist Linda Hirshman described as “letting down the team.” But most black feminists and writers had a different view. Let the sister get settled, they said. Give her a minute to do a head count. And if she wanted to focus on motherhood, for black women that was more than fine. It was arguably revolutionary, because black women were long denied the right — or lacked the means — to simply care for their own. As she begins another four years in the White House, the nation’s feminists are divided about the “work” Obama has done, and the work they’d like to see her do. This split has bitter historic roots. It surfaced during the suffrage movement, when white women suggested their votes could counter those of “the darker races,” and again in the 1970s, when black feminists broke away over the white middle-class focus of “women’s lib.” Now, with an African American woman in the White House, these differences have rushed back to the fore. Last year, after Obama and Ann Romney submitted recipes for a cookie contest, Hirshman told The Washington Post that Obama’s “first mom, gardener thing” is “silly.” Now, Hirshman says, “I’ve kind of lost interest in Michelle Obama. She was trapped by assumptions about race and had limited room to maneuver. Whether that was a welcome choice or she had no choice, I will never know. It’s very difficult to envision her as running for senator from the state of Illinois as you did with Hillary Clinton running for senator from the state of New York.” “Are fashion and body-toning tips all we can expect from one of the most highly educated First Ladies in history?” asked author Leslie Morgan Steiner in an online column last January. She said she’d “read enough bland dogma on home-grown vegetables and aerobic exercise to last me several lifetimes.” Steiner contended Obama probably had little leeway. “I’m sure there is immense pressure — from political advisors, the black community, her husband, the watching world — to play her role as First Black Lady on the safe side.” Feminist discontent with the first lady spiked again last summer at the Democratic National Convention, after she called her daughters “the heart of my heart and the center of my world.” She then repeated her feminist crazy-maker: “You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still ‘mom-in-chief.’ ” ----------------------------------- My feelings on this article are basically: Jesus Christ! Seriously? But I'm curious - are there those of you out there who consider yourselves feminist who are critical of Michelle Obama's job as First Lady on feminist grounds? __________________ I'm a fountain of blood. In the shape of a girl. - Bjork What is to give light must endure burning. -Viktor Frankl

02-09-2013, 02:26 PM	#8
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,094 Times in 3,386 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	From Jezebel: Faith Website Blocks Writer From Using That Icky Word ‘Feminism’ by Madeleine Davies Early in January, Minnesota playwright, Presbyterian pastor and feminist Kristine Holmgren was asked to create a website for multi faith blogging network Beliefnet. "I'm negotiating 'terms' now," she announced excitedly on Facebook. Unfortunately, the negotiations have since fallen apart after Holmgren and the Beliefnet marketing analysts got in a disagreement about including the word "feminist" in the blog's title. Holmgren received this email from Beliefnet marketing and business analyst Sharon Kirk: We're ready to get started on the header for your blog however first we need the title of your blog and any creative direction you may have (i.e. colors you want to include, any themes, a headshot, etc.). I believe you and Jana previously tossed around a few title possibilities including "Feminist Pulpit Notes." While I agree that title is certainly straight forward, I think it would resonate with our readers more if the title was a bit "softer." Our readers are looking for editorial that's uplifting, motivational, inspirational, etc. and I think your blog will perform better if the title speaks to that aspect of your blog. Do you have any ideas along those lines? Holmgren then suggested "Sweet Truth — Thoughts of a Faithful Feminist." Friendly, chipper and soft as a puppy, right? Then came the response from Beliefnet. Kirk wrote: I love "Sweet Truth" however I would suggest changing the tag line or deleting all together as I'm concerned about the negative connotation that our readers may associate with the word feminism. In addition, we'll want this blog to focus more on Christianity/spirituality as opposed to issues related to feminism. What do you think of simply "Sweet Truths with Kristine Holmgren"? Sure, or why not call it "Tasty Thoughtsy-Woughtsies"? Or "Blah, Blah, Blah: Unchallenging Thoughts from a Woman Who DEFINITELY Shaves Her Legs"? (Just spit ballin,' here.) Side note: While Beliefnet is worried that the word "feminism" might offend someone, they have no issue about running ads and advice from Focus on the Family. Neat! Holmgren posted this update on her Facebook wall Wednesday: I spoke a few moments ago with the contact at BeliefNet. She told me — not only can I not use the word "feminist" in my title, I cannot use it on the blog..."The word offends so many people," she said. She said I should come up with a word that was "softer." I told her I didn't think there was anything "softer" than feminism; a word that denotes equality for men and women and respect for children and families. She said "I agree, but. . . " so I told her their inflexibility on this was a "deal breaker." She regretted my "feeling" on this (by the way — this isn't a "feeling." It's a "thought system." Some people's kids!!! ) and said, "We can conclude this without rancor." I said, "Oh, no we can't." I'm writing about this one. On one hand, Beliefnet is a private company that's allowed to associate with whatever words they like. On the other, a private company that refuses to associate with an ideology that's fundamental principle is that you shouldn't treat women like garbage is a little fucking questionable. Strangely, Beliefnet knew what Holmgren's point-of view was from the beginning. "I said to them ‘You've got to know that I'm a Presbyterian pastor, but I come to the world as a feminist.' They said, ‘That's fabulous. We want a wide range of views on the site,'" the writer said of her first interview. Later, of course, they got scared. Scared of offending people with something that isn't even offensive. Scared of offending people with women's rights. So much for faith...

01-03-2013, 09:30 PM	#2
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,285 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I see a lot of smart young women and men saying feminist things on the internet, and I don't spend that much time here. I don't know that they ID as feminists, but I doubt that most would baulk at the description. I think what Katie Pery was acknowledging is that it's not a particularly cool thing to call yourself right now. But anyone serious enough to think beyond what's cool knows better. And, thank god, there are a lot of folks like that. I don't think it matters how we market feminism, whether it is cool or not. It's a human rights issue. We are making progress on awareness of human rights issues around the world, including, maybe especially, women's rights. Malala was not just an international cause celebre. She got a huge amount of support at home. The protests in India to the rape cases. The reaction to the Republicans candidates remarks about rape in the last election. There were losses too -- access to abortion in the United States. But change is happening. It's not going to stop because some trendy people don't like the word "feminist."

01-04-2013, 04:16 AM	#4
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,285 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I don't know how these algorithms or whatever they are called work, but Gerda Lerner's death keeps coming up as trending number one on Yahoo. That is kind of mind-blowing. I guess alot of us older folks had to read one or another of her books in college. Kind of a good sign if it truly is trending.

01-19-2013, 12:58 PM	#6
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,285 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I like her a lot, but if you think that she hasn't chosen issues to get involved in that keep from being a lightening rod for controversy, you would be wrong. And she still got made fun of by the far right for the childhood obesity stuff. I think she will be able to branch out more this term if she wants. She has become someone a lot of people love and don't want to hear mean talk about. But blaming people who would like her to take a risk is not the point. The point is the radical right who talked about the size of her ass and tried to piss on everything she did at the beginning. I am sure she cares about military families, but I am also sure she took on that project because it's pretty much unassailable from the right.