Feminist Monday-July 25th

So, unlike many women... I am not a big fan of Comicbook Barbie, the thinly-veiled advert for bondage sex wrapped in a swimsuit made of nationalism. I'm kind of known for that. I never have been. Big boobs crammed into a strapless corset and high heel boots never said anything but "Male gaze" to me. (Talk about your improbable armor. Seriously? A warrior whose armor consists of two teeny bracelets she waves in front of herself?) The fact that her creator was an extremely creepy misogynist who often depicted his ideal fantasy spanking her opponents with a hair brush? Well...that just puts the nail in the coffin. Thus, I never wanted to see Wonder Woman on the big screen. I craved other, new (not gender-flipped white male supers) characters--characters who weren't only white CIS women. I mean, how hard is it to create something new for women more than once every seventy years? And then Dane sent me this today:

I might actually be okay with that. Except...she's still wearing the improbable swimsuit made of nationalism and high heels. Progress? I guess?

And now, links...

Literary/Entertainment: Who is Roxane Gay? That looks super interesting. I'll definitely pick that up. Next, a great article on Jillian Holtzmann and queer visibility. Let's do try to remember that, while the new Ghost Busters is a lightyears leap forward, it still has some deep issues. It's definitely a great example of why one shouldn't merely gender flip characters and not give it more thought. Thus, the new film is a leap forward for Feminism in a Second Wave Feminism sense. It is not inclusive of women of color. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy the movie. It merely means that we should be AWARE that it remains problematic. William Shatner shatners in public. [sigh] No one likes Meg. (Actually, I did. She reminded me of my sister.) Ursula K. Le Guin calls on Fantasy and SF authors to envision alternatives to capitalism. I love her. :) An Apartheid of the Imagination. 

General: How we teach our kids that women are liars. That's a long article. However, it's hugely important. Read the whole thing if you can. I'll add that since oppression is a system, everything written there about the denigration of women's ethical character can apply to other minority groups with certain distinct differences due to the specific cultural and socio-economic situation. This is a big part of how the oppressor remains in power. No one else's point of view is 100% "trustworthy." The non-religious are now the country's largest voting block. And now, if only the GOP would get the memo. DOJ called to investigate Joe Walsh Tweet. The radical theology that could make religious freedom a thing of the past. Why the NRA took so long to comment on Philando Castile police shooting. In short: guns are for white people to protect themselves from brown people. Yet another argument against the gun lobby. Women and Socioeconomic Status. It's another lengthy article. However, it's also very important in that it discusses the reasons why it is necessary for women to have equal pay and equal opportunity: such things benefit and elevate the entire community, not just women.