We’re Going To Have To Talk About Sexism Because It’s Surrounding Us

We’re Going To Have To Talk About Sexism Because It’s Surrounding Us

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Basically, everyone needs to stop the sexist behavior, whether it is in the form of BernieBros or the Women on Women Crime that Gloria Steinem and Madeline Albright engaged in. If we did, perhaps, we could discuss issues like Climate Change, reproductive rights, immigration, Police brutality, improving our education system, Foreign Policy (altho this was touched on in the last debate) our crumbling infrastructure - you know, things that our candidates aren't discussing. Personally, I'd like to hear about these issues, as well as income inequality. Hopefully I get my wish because these things matter, too. Income inequality is an important issue, but it isn't the only one, and right now I'm not sure where the candidates stand on other issues that matter to me. That's a problem for me. A BIG one. It's probably the reason I can't pick a candidate. I need more, because the office of President is about more, but you wouldn't know that by listening to the debates. Guess I'm saying, I completely understand where each candidates stand on income inequality... can we start to include other things? There actually are other things. Meanwhile, can we step up our game and drop the sexism on both sides?
Warning: “Choreplay” Isn’t A Cute Phrase, So Don’t Use It. Really, Just Don’t

Warning: “Choreplay” Isn’t A Cute Phrase, So Don’t Use It. Really, Just Don’t

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Even as a stay-at-home mom who handles almost all the household work, the term "choreplay" irritates me. Haven't heard it yet? Well, here's what it means: Men can get more sex if they do chores around the house. This NYT article makes a lot of good points, including the part about fathers and women's voices in business. (Note to beer and car manufacturers: I'm the one who buys most of the beer in our household. I don't drink beer, but I buy it for my husband since I'm the one who runs most of the errands. I'm also part of the car buying decision. So if your ad is sexist and I don't like it, I won't buy your product. Perhaps, you should cater to me, too. I swear, when I watch some of these commercials I know there aren't women, in positions of power, making decisions, because half this nonsense would never be aired if there were.) But here's where the NYT's article goes off the rails.....
I Really Didn’t Want To Write About 50 Shades Of Grey

I Really Didn’t Want To Write About 50 Shades Of Grey

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In May of 2012 I wrote a post about 50 Shades of Grey called 50 Shades of Agony. I admit to not finishing the book because, well, I couldn't stand it. It was, without a doubt, the worst thing I've ever read. But I was clear that if the book "worked" for you, then enjoy. That's the thing about fantasies, they're personal and usually private. I haven't seen the movie, but will probably "hate watch" it once it lands on HBO. There's simply too much talk for me not to watch it. My curiosity is probably due to the million or so articles written about movie - and I don't think that number is too far off the mark. So what prompted me to finally write about 50 Shades of Grey? It began with a post over at Delaware Politics (Yes. I know.) by David Anderson titled: 50 Shades A Failure of Modern Feminism.
50 Shades just brought to light what in form or another is normal behavior for millions. What is more interesting to me is that it tears to shreds the emasculation of relationships by modern feminism. 50 Shades is not what I would call the road map to healthy relationships, yet it is popular to near record levels not scene since (ironically) the Passion of the Christ. I found intriguing this article by frequent guest author, Jon Moseley. His premise is that 50 Shades are a perversion of the natural yearning of many women for real men. It speaks to the void in our society created in the last 70 years of the attempt to cleanse society of “a man’s strength and leadership”. He contends that it is a perversion of the healthy original filling the void left by remake of society by the left.
That's quite a leap, and one not based in reality.
Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?

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Last week Cassandra put up a post entitled #YesAllWomen and things got interesting.  The entire thread (and its evolution or... reduction?) is worth your time to read, but, for this post, I'm going to deal with my interactions with individual commenters - which means I'll be taking the comments out of order to highlight the individual conversations. I've debated on how to do this and decided to post comments in their entirety - which means this post will be ridiculously long, but quotes will not be taken out of context.  (FYI: I've placed the comments in blockquotes, so they can be easily identified.  Anything in blockquotes is a direct comment from the #YesAllWomen thread.  Everyone with me?)  Hey, look at this as your weekend reading! Basically, I'm going to dissect these conversations.  I am also writing this post from my point of view (and only my point of view) - how I interpreted these responses as a women. I was actually surprised by how frustrated I became writing this post, and I shudder when I think of the forthcoming comments.  Mainly because I'm not sure if we can have this discussion without getting defensive.  I'll also point out that while I am calling out certain people's comments I am doing so in a attempt to see if people can relate to my reactions to certain words, phrases, tone, etc.  Again, this post is about how I interpreted comments... and I didn't always interpret them nicely, so feel free to call me out.  But once you do that... do you think you could comment on my point; do you think there's a conversation to be had?  If you do, then after you call me out, could you address that?
Girls Rationalize Sexual Assault As… Normal?

Girls Rationalize Sexual Assault As… Normal?

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First, let me start off by saying that I've witnessed the normalization of sexual assault first hand - through my experience and now through my 16 year old daughter.  It feels like an uphill battle.  My small victory?  Everyone at the Pandora household has stopped using gender specific words in a negative, and a positive, fashion. But take a look at this study.  I doubt you'll be surprised.

Please. Just Stop

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Seriously? At least we know her mind won’t be preoccupied with haute couture. Here’s the black-on-black ensemble she sported last month when President Barack Obama officially nominated her: (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty…

Iowa Supreme Court Rules: Okay To Fire Women For Being “Irresistible”

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Wow.
Women in Iowa beware: If your boss thinks you’re really really ridiculously good looking, he can fire you. And it’s perfectly legal. The all-male Iowa Supreme Court refused to reinstate a lawsuit Friday, noting that a dentist didn’t break the law when he fired an employee who had worked for him for 10 years because he and his wife saw her as a threat to their marriage, reports the Associated Press. Melissa Nelson, the 32-year-old dental assistant was by all accounts a stellar employee. But her boss, James Knight, complained of her tight clothing, “once telling her that if his pants were bulging that was a sign her clothes were too revealing.”
I'm not even sure where to begin.  How about...