Radical Act

"Radical Act, a documentary by Tex Clark, was filmed back in 1995 and is about the queer/feminist music scene in the USA at that time. The documentary is simple but endearing - Clark interviewed female musicians and music journalists about the impact of their sexual and gender identity on their work. And with the likes of Vicky Starr, Meg Hentges, Toshi Reagon, Kay Turner and Gretchen Phillips there are some wonderful one-liners in their responses to that question.

Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill/Le Tigre is the biggest name featured in Radical Act – you can tell it was the 1990′s because she says ‘totally’ a lot in this film. Hanna is terribly charismatic and has broad appeal – in my circles she equally captured the attentions of my straight male partner (in her Bikini Kill days) and my queer female best friends (in her Le Tigre days). With Hanna involved you are pretty much guaranteed a fresh audience for this documentary as Hanna continues to draw a huge following among young feminists, but mostly Radical Act will appeal to those of us old enough to see the film as a sweet souvenir of our pasts.

The Riot Grrl movement was a fascinating era – a bunch of radical women found themselves being increasingly embraced by the punk music scene until eventually their style became a hot commodity in the commercial music industry. Much of the documentary focuses on surviving that kind of popularity with integrity and radical politics intact. At one point Vicky Starr talks about the importance of preparing for life when the public doesn’t think feminism is so cute anymore, fifteen year later and that time has well and truly come. In fact, seeing all of that optimism for feminism I experienced a kind of sadness at times while watching Radical Act.

Radical Act is being re-released (the film did some of the festival circuit back in 1996) by A Million Movies a Minute and is available for purchase or rental on-line (see below for details). With the current nostalgia for the Riot Grrl movement the time is right for Radical Act, but it is also a timely reminder that in spite of Lady Gaga and the hijacking of ‘Girl Power’ as a marketing slogan, being openly queer and feminist as a musician outside of the indie music scene is still a relatively rare occurrence today. Also, that women can so play guitar."

http://www.RadicalActMovie.com

NO!

Feminism taught me that it was okay to talk about sex, even perhaps if you were having or about to have sex! And that things worked out better that way! Because feminism taught me that ladies matter. Even the naked ones.

Even if they are you.

— Sady Doyle (via gracetace)

Gender Binary

“All decent people, male and female, are feminists. The only people who are not feminists are those who believe that women are inherently inferior or undeserving of the respect and opportunity afforded to men. Either you are a feminist or you are a sexist/misogynist. There is no box marked ‘other’.“

By Ani DiFranco

Teach your son to respect WOMEN

Above all teach him how to grow up and become a man, cause real man dont beat up children and women.

STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

because shame is not an excuse

because love isnt everything

because nobody owns you

and above all you are not alone

Violent love isnt love

conceal domestic violence it's also a crime...

EXCLUSIVE Ani DiFranco: “Feminism Will Save the World”

"More and more I realize feminism will save the world. Feminism is for everybody. You can’t start with a fundamental, crazy imbalance like patriarchy. Until we have gender equality we will have crazy social ills. Feminism is a tool for men as well to escape violence and inequality.

I was blessed with a feminist mom and her empowered friends who started a food co-op and were part of “Women for Downtown Buffalo.” We would always go door to door for progressive women candidates. I learned very early what it means to connect with other women, and I realized that these are the women whose respect means so much to me. I wanted the respect of the people I respect."

Written by Ani Difranco

Feminism on man?

Some people have issues about feminism in man,usualy its associated to homosexuality and it concerns only to women.

I just say cut the crap and educate yourself! Feminism is a basic rejection of sexist oppression and male supremacy.

Freedom of gender and freedom of thought!

Because today it's a christian day...

Dating Science: Do Feminists Make for Better Girlfriends?

"You know what’s a fun topic to bring up on a first date with a guy? Feminism. Once you get hard-lined religious and political beliefs out of the way (preferably in the car, on the way to date destination or maybe during the appetizer if you must wait that long), I highly recommend you toss out a couple of Betty Friedan or bell hooks quotes, and see if the gent picks up on it and responds with an appropriate Simone de Beauvoir reference. Or maybe just ask how much money he makes as a good segue into discourse on the gender pay gap or a nuanced debate on whether the ‘glass ceiling’ still exists for today’s young women. Awkward silences — not gonna happen, guaranteed.

Sounds crazy, right? What heterosexual woman in her right mind would dare broach the topic of feminism on a first (or second, or third…) date? Somewhere along the way, we collectively misconstrued the fight against unequal gender roles as an argument against romance. So while feminism encourages women to develop quite possibly the most attractive traits people can possess — confidence, intelligence, self-sufficiency, etc. — we’re socialized to tuck it away, lest risk frightening some poor fellow away. As a result, plenty of men and women alike embrace feminism’s basic tenets of gender equality, yet fear identifying with it directly due to its negative stigma. But closet feminists playing the dating game might be shooting themselves in the foot by not letting that light shine a little brighter.

A 2007 study from Rutgers psychologists concluded that feminism benefits women in romantic relationships as well as the men. And for an added bonus, feminist lovin’ couples also reported more satisfaction between the sheets. Win-win!

The psychologists polled roughly 600 heterosexual undergrads and older adults to compare participants’ beliefs about feminism and their relationship health. According to the survey results, men’s feminism had a stronger correlation with positive relationship health than women’s feminism or participants’ perceptions of their partners’ feminism. Therefore, a woman’s feminism doesn’t make or break the romance at all. It’s the feminist men out there who are relationship revolutionaries. After all, they identified more strongly with partner equality, which predicted greater stability and sexual satisfaction.

So maybe tossing out a Steinem reference over cocktails isn’t such a terrible idea. Because while feminists make for fabulous girlfriends, they make for even better boyfriends."


Source: sarahgraham7

What I think:
It is interesting. I can definitely see why a feminist boyfriend can lead to a better relationship. It makes me sad that a feminist girlfriend doesn’t have the same impact since guys only head workin' is the one covered by their underwear? Yeah, feminists are good in bed but not good enough to be taken seriously. Here's for you sexists, a transformed finger: .l.

7th Heaven Quote

Its too bad I only understanded that when it was already too late...

Citi Bank Policy (Reblogged)

Citi Bank passed a copy of this handout to everyone in their HR department. This is few key “tips” for women to keep in mind to be taken seriously and succeed at work. The writers at Jezebel came up with their own supplemental “tips” to success for women:

1. Women tend to have two X chromosomes — you are not heard.

2. Women menstruate in public — emphasizes your femininity and deemphasizes your capability.

3. Women sit vaginally — the power position when seated at a table is to have a penis.

4. Wear panties in meetings — boxer-wearers are seen as more assertive and knowledgeable than those in lacy underthings.

5. Women have wombs — children come out of wombs. Men don’t reproduce, they conquer.

6. Ovulate — women ovulate at the smallest provocation which erodes your self-confidence. Men tend to move into sperm producing mode.

7. Women tend to smile inappropriately — an “inappropriate” smile is a smile that is on a woman’s face.

8. Observe “Rules” — rules are made to be broken by men. When women break them, it is a violation of workplace culture. When women follow them, it is self-sabotage. To be safe, avoid being a woman whenever possible.

9. Being invisible — 90% of adult humans are unable to visually perceive women. Solution: wear a bear suit.

10. Offer a female handshake — the best way to combat this is to have a man’s hand transplanted onto your wrist. Or purchase a giant foam hand at a sports stadium. These are very masculine and you are sure to be taken extremely seriously while wearing one.

Who Stole Feminism?! The Nation!

"Feminists are understandably horrified—the movement we’ve fought so hard for is suddenly being appropriated by the very people who are trying to dismantle it. But this co-opting hasn’t happened in a vacuum; the mainstream feminist movement’s instability and stalled ideology have made stealing it that much easier. The failure of feminists to prop up the next generation of activists, and the focus on gender as the sole requisite for feminism, has led to a crisis of our own making."



This reminds me of the older feminist/young feminist debacle online months ago. I do think we shouldn’t be separating ourselves. We all should be helping each other… united we conquer, divided we fall. Honestly, feminists can’t do SHIT* unless we all work together.

*bring true, long, widespread change.

Let’s just clear something up here...

from hershapeinthedoorway:

"Being a feminist does not mean you hate men.

Being a feminist does not mean you think you are the better sex.

Being a feminist does not mean you have to identify with a particular political party or religion (or atheism or agnosticism or eastern philosophy, for that matter).

Being a feminist does not mean you are necessarily pro-choice, though many pro-choice people are feminists (some might disagree with me here, and that’s okay. But I think feminism is more inclusive than it is exclusive).

Being a feminist does mean you think the sexes are equal, and that women and men are generally equally qualified to do most things. A feminist most likely agrees a woman can be a NASCAR driver and a man can be a stay-at-home dad.

Being a feminist does mean that you are against the degradation of women. You don’t want to see them raped, or beaten, or enslaved. You want women to have essential human rights.

Being a feminist does mean that you care about women’s issues, and about finding the best answers to the hardest questions that surround women (again, feminists often differ on what is best for women, but they are all trying, hopefully, in authentic manners to figure these things out).

And feminism is not an exclusively female club. Men can be feminists. Many are. My husband is one of the many.

LADIES, stop saying “you are starting to think like a feminist” or “don’t mean to sound like a feminist” as if that is a BAD thing. Because if you are saying these things, you might be unclear on the actual definition of feminism. Or, maybe you’re actually a misogynist.

(Sorry if we’re just going over the basics here, but I’m seeing a lot of ignorance on the web, still, about this issue). "




I do not agree with everything said here, but I wanted to share it anyway but if their is anything to clear up here is that you can be a feminist, beeing male or female...neither...both. Your gendre doesn't mean shit when related with your political views...
Just for the record.

Pink October

Seems to me like most companies jump on the breast cancer awareness campaign not to make you aware of breast cancer, but to make you aware that they have products to sell you. I don’t begrudge money going to cancer research, and I don’t mind the races and fund-raisers by people wanting to help - but the big October marketing campaign, with pink Dyson vacuums and pink Chi flat-irons, and pink products and ribbons in every store is very hard on many women who are living with and dying of this disease. A lot of people think breast cancer victims are grateful for pink October. The fact is, many women with breast cancer find Pink October a constant reminder of a painful time in their lives. I thought you should be aware of that

I think you have to take the approach that feminism is ultimately about freedom.

— Tavi Gevinson, 14 year-old fashion blogger.
(from WMC Exclusive interview)

The Girl Effect: The Clock is Ticking

If you watch one video today, let this be it.

It has long been known by those in the development field that female empowerment can be one of the most powerful mechanisms by which to alleviate both the crushing depth and self-propagating symptoms of poverty.

This isn’t news - yet girls around the world, even in developed nations, continue to fall through the cracks.

Now, The Girl Effect movement seeks to leverage this into social-media-driven action. Click through to their official website and see the simple ways in which you can help to empower this army of would-be Slayerettes.

It could be as simple as fund-raising to help to pay a girl’s school fees, making a micro-loan to help fund a young woman’s business idea, or even spreading the girl effect by reposting this video.

So before you head out into the weekend, click Re-blog and pass this on. ♥

K. V. Switzer

After several woman collapsed upon completing the 800 meter dash at the 1928 Olympmics, the powers that be in the world of running decided that women lack the constitution to run long distances. Running was thought to be not only unladylike, but dangerous for frail, frail ladies.

Some hypothesized that running long distances coulc cause a woman’s uterus to fall out of her body, and we all know that the worst thing that could possibly happen to a woman is NOT HAVING BABIES. Women were barred from racing distances of more than 200 meters.

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, a 20 year old college student, registered to run the Boston Marathon under the name “K. V. Switzer.” When race officials discovered that K. V. was a woman, the race had already started. This picture shows perfectly-named Boston Marathon official Jock Semple attempting to physically remove Switzer from the event, reportedly shouting, “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!” Switzer’s college athlete boyfriend bodychecked the race official and the pair continued running.

She successfully completed the race in 4 hours and 20 minutes, and seven years later won the New York City Marathon with a time of under 3:08.

holy fuck. 1967.

How appropriate.