WTF, Florida? WTF, Oklahoma?
Posted by: radfemles on: May 4, 2010
Okay: Florida just recently passed a bill making women considering abortion undergo an ultrasound. Oklahoma just tried to pass a similar law. (It is now halted for 45 days while more middle aged white men twiddle their thumbs and consult their religious books.)
Ummmm what?
Is this the newest thing, since recent challenges to Roe vs. Wade haven’t worked? If you can’t make it illegal, make it more emotionally painful, increase intimidation and government interference, and up the expense? None of these laws, and there are currently twelve involving mandatory or recommended ultrasounds, have anything to do with health or science. There’s no mention of how an ultrasound might increase abortion safety, due to more accurate dating of the pregnancy, or more information on fetal position and other complications. It’s all about convincing a woman to make a decision that the state has decided is the correct one for her, regardless of any of her personal needs.
As written by Cara on Feministe, who says it more eloquently than I could,
“It all seems to be about the poor little woman who doesn’t understand what it means to be pregnant, or who will surely have a change of heart once she sees a blurry, cloudy image that I’ve never been able to personally make out. It’s about forcing government into the decisions of doctors, trumping science with ideology, and attempting to take away the privacy of women. Indeed, it’s about taking the focus off of women and their rights and yet again putting the fetus, this time literally, right in the front and center of the picture.”
Yup!
-Radfemles
I’m back!
Posted by: radfemles on: May 3, 2010
Sorry for the brief sojourn! School’s almost over (2. more. finals. need. sleep.) so we can again begin our lovely discussions!
Here’s a brief recap incase you’re joining us for the first time:
I’m a college aged female in a large city, blogging about radical feminism. Summary: pro women’s rights, pro gay rights, pro healthcare reform, anti religion in my government/patriarchy/etc. Read a few posts to get a feel for the attitude and style here.
Comments are moderated. If your comment is rude, abusive, or intended only to flame, then it won’t be posted. Polite disagreement is always welcome, as well as criticism and discussion. Hint: if you can’t convey your feelings without the words “stupid bitch” or “get back in the kitchen,” it won’t be posted.
Comments that reveal my identity or location won’t be posted, either. I know we live in an era where the internet is small, but there are still dangerous creepos out there. Furthermore, if you do any sort of l337 computer skills and find out my location or anything creepy, and threaten/stalk/harass me, I will make your life miserable via lawsuits and bad energy vibes, okay? If you know me and you’re reading this, (Hi Mom! Hi Auntie! Hi Sister!) or you come across it and think “hm, that girl in chemistry was writing down blog ideas…oh! i wonder if its her!” that’s fine! (actually, that’s awesome!) Come talk to me! If you’re famous, or I consider you famous (Hi Bloggess! Shakespeare sisters!! Good Asian Drivers!!! Malia Litman!!!!!) TELL ME AND WE CAN MEET FOR GLUTEN FREE CAKE AND I WILL INTERVIEW YOU AND POSSIBLY DROOL, mmkay?Its the creepy internet weirdos I’m worried about, kids.
Up next: WTF IS ALABAMA DOING? And we still have to talk about abortion in the military. And what does this arizona bill legalizing racism mean for women?
Overandout, with lots of love and snuggles,
radfemles
Yay, Texas!
Posted by: radfemles on: April 12, 2010
It felt strange writing “Yay Texas!” after the textbook controversy (if they’re editing out historical events, I doubt they’re adding in women or any people of color, you know?) but Austin did something pretty cool last week: making all “Pregnancy Crisis Centers” advertise their services. So now you know what you’re being offered when you walk into the clinic! Here’s a hint: you’re not being offered access to an abortion or birth control, and people have a right to know that.
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/pregnancy-centers-must-now-post-signs
I really like how they make this a consumer issue, because it totally is! Go look up “Pregnancy” in your yellowpages (am I the only person with a phonebook nowadays? I’m sorry for killing all the trees but sometimes the internet DOES NOT CUT IT, I’m sorry!), along with abortion/abortion providers and birth control. You’ll be hardpressed to decipher the services offered, though from some intrepid googling/anon. phone calls, the ones with the big ads usually don’t want you to have choices, ifyouknowhwhatimean. When someone is going through something as difficult as an unplanned or issue filled pregnancy, the last thing they need is to be walking into a place that doesn’t offer the services they need.
Go Texas!
Love from,
Radfemles.
(Administrative note: Things will be slow-ish for the next month, or at least irregular. Moving, not failing organic chemistry and starting my thesis are all taking up most of my mind space, but never fear!)
Australia Feminism Conference
Posted by: radfemles on: April 11, 2010
Sydney Morning Herald: Women Gather For Burning Issues, Not Bras
Cool article on feminists in Australia assembling and discussing the generation gap!
Anti Sex Feminists in Iceland
Posted by: radfemles on: April 6, 2010
Iceland, which banned prostitution last year, has now banned all strip clubs and “any business that makes money off of nudity.”
I mentioned a few posts back about the anti/pro sex feminism chasm, and this is a big example of the anti-sex side. A lot of immediate reactions I’ve heard to this new legislation (after “people go topless in Iceland? Isn’t it cold?! GAHHH) tend to support it, under the guise of protecting women. But who are we protecting women from, and who is doing the protecting?
Here are a few things to think about before supporting this type of legislation in your community and abstractly.
-Making things illegal doesn’t mean they stop existing. They go underground, where the likelihood for crime and abuse skyrockets. Banning stripping doesn’t mean banning strippers, it means banning strippers in public places. Back alleys and underground clubs aren’t the sort of public that respond to that regulation too well.
-Limiting options isn’t feminist. Regulating women’s sexual expression and what they can do with it isn’t what was fought for.
-What happens next? Are these sources of money going to be replaced by other jobs that these women have skills for? “Helping” women who haven’t asked for your help by “liberating” them and then leaving them high and dry only opens them up to further abuse.
-Assuming demographics makes an Ass out of U and Me. All too often, anti sex feminists support an image of a downtrodden woman, suffering from abuse and drug habits, as the main workers in the sex industry. These people totally exist, but those who choose to work in the sex industry through no coercion are impacted negatively by these sort of bans.
So what’s a feminist to do? I’m going to go with: support a moderate option! (Being moderate is very radical these days, people. Isn’t it crazy?)
Regulate the sex industry! Make it safe for women to request their rights and have a safe, judgement free legal system to go to! Offer support programs for workers lacking options! Promote a fair living wage for all workers, and judgement free, affordable healthcare for those in the industry. Stop the circumstances that result in people being forced into the sex industry, i.e: have programs that target violence, poverty, substance abuse and promote education and job training.
Make the industry safe and consensual by eliminating undesirable factors that make women feel forced to enter the sex industry and allowing those who wish to work in it a safe, healthy, respectful environment.
All too often we find ourselves separate from these issues: “I’d never want to work there!! Who would!!!” (that’s my inital reaction, srsly, I understand.) but eliminating options and looking down on other women for their choices isn’t cool, either.
Over and out,
Radfemles
16 and Pregnant
Posted by: radfemles on: April 4, 2010
Okay, does everyone know MTV’s television show 16 and Pregnant? I’ve gone back and forth on what aspect of this show to talk about, both positive and negative. So here’s my handy dandy chart!
Positive
-Sex education ads, encouraging teens to seek information and giving then handy websites
-Fairly realistic portrayals of problems: a child with some sort of heart or lung problem, some difficult labors, and multiple complicated living situations.
Negative
-Exploitive
-Dr. Drew
-Possible glamourizing of situation?
Dr. Drew? He’s a negative? Uhm, yeah. Have you seen the Season wrap up?
Maci and Ryan have had problems all along: Maci is a star mother. She’s in college, she works hard to ensure her son Bentley has food, birthday parties and toys and a stable living situation.
Ryan: can’t hold down a job, shows no interest in his child, doesn’t come home for nights on end, and won’t change his son so Maci can take a shower or study. He’s called her a bitch, called her lazy, and said they wouldn’t be together if it wasn’t for Bentley, and that he’d never speak to her again if it wasn’t for the baby, that he doesn’t care about Maci.
Well, guess what: you officially suck as a father and a boyfriend.
So there’s Ryan!suck. But where does Drew suck come in?
Right around when, on the season finale, he says that he believes Maci and Ryan can work it out.
Work what out, exactly? Ryan’s immaturity, his lack of care towards his son? Maci doesn’t have shit to work out, she’s got it worked out, except for this deadbeat boy who stays around, calling her a lazy bitch. But instead of condemning him for his immature, irresponsible behavior, they can “work it out.”
Way to pass the buck, Dr. Drew. This isn’t a relationship problem. It’s a “boy is too fucking immature to be a dad or a husband” problem. It isn’t like they’re not communicating over their budget or how to cook hamburgers, HE’S CALLED HER A BITCH AND STAYED OUT FOR NIGHTS ON END.
If you really supported a strong mother raising a strong child, you’d say “forget him. you can raise your child in a healthy environment where he won’t see his mother mistreated, even if it means no father figure for a while.”
But its so much easier to blame “the couple” (which we all know secretly means the woman) and encourage a heterosexual, nuclear family centered “ideal,” even if it is far from ideal.
So, Dr. Drew, thanks for showing the thousands of young women who watched that it really is their fault. Or at the very least, it isnt HIS fault. Oh god, no. Why won’t that lazy bitch just cooperate?
Over and out,
Radfemles (who is swearing off mainsteam media again.)
“Women and Girls”
Posted by: radfemles on: April 2, 2010
I’m gonna rehash an oldie but a goodie:
RAPE IS NEVER A WOMAN’S FAULT.
Regardless of what she’s wearing, doing, saying, drinking, or where she is doing any of these things or with whom she is doing them.
IT IS NEVER HER FAULT.
Keshia Cantor was handed a pamphlet explaining to her that her immodest dress may cause her to raped and was responsible for men sinning. Here’s where the news article fails: it goes on to describe Cantor’s dress, asserting she’s a “good girl” who was all covered up while working at her mother’s fast food restaurant. Uhm, hold on.
“Bad girls” don’t deserve to get raped either, and they aren’t responsible for men “sinning.”
So good job, Clare Golfordo of the Herald Courier press, for covering these sexist, fingerpointing, inaccurate pamphlets, even though you didn’t quittte follow through.
Bad job, society, for needing to know exactly what the girl handed this pamphlet was wearing. I mean, after all,we have to know… what if she deserved it?
What Is The Itty Bitty Titty Committee?
Posted by: radfemles on: March 30, 2010
A question some faithful readers asked recently. I was shocked! Horrified! I was not doing my job as the Local Radical Feminist if you hadn’t seen the IBTC in my presence!
Anna, an all American teenager who just happens to be a lesbian in an accepting, open family, is working at a surgery that provides boob jobs after being rejected from her top choice college. A chance meeting with Sadie, a member of a radical feminist group turns Anna’s life upside down as she finds an outlet to express her unhappiness with the society she lives in and how she is treated by her family, friends, lovers and society as a whole.
Content Warnings: If you don’t like lesbians, transgender issues, blowing shit up, or slightly corny feminist theory, I’d skip this. And probably this blog, too! : )
American Able
Posted by: radfemles on: March 29, 2010
Reblogging this from the lovely Pear’s comment on my last post, because everyone NEEDS to see this!
A wonderful campaign done for a class. I’d love to see this campaign actually take off. 
The Itty Bitty Titty Committee: The Gateway Drug to Radical Feminism.
Posted by: radfemles on: March 27, 2010
This was a long, long post. Why was it so long? Because it turned into more of a ramble on how the Itty Bitty Titty Committee misrepresents radical feminism in some ways but is still my favoritest movie ever an besides, no movie is perfect, then a digression on veganism and how there no longer exists “spaces” where people can just chill, except at my old college, but they shut that down.
So instead of a 1000+ word ramble on all of those subjects, I’m just going to tell you to watch The Itty Bitty Titty Committee and support the healthcare bill but fight for women’s health to be respected within it.
(Also, IBTC and veganism are in no real way related, except in the aforementioned 1000+ word ramble. Yet another reason to spare you.)
