Feminist Monday, December 18

Good morning, y'all. Ready for those links? I know I am. Here we go.

​Today's videos:

Entertainment/Literature: Let's start with Ten Queer Women of Color in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Television and Black Girl Nerds Discuss #FirstTimeISawMe and Michael Che will be the first person of color to be a head writer for 'Saturday Night Live'. Next up: What Will It Take to Get a Gay Character in Star Wars? I got news for the author of the article. Star Wars has never been a "famously progressive franchise." Seriously. Anyone who says otherwise wasn't around for the nearly 100% male-centered storylines over a majority of the francise's history. There is a reason so many fanboys are in an uproar over multiple movies even partially focusing on white women and men of color. Star Wars is where all the misogynists and bigots in the SF world huddle together. It's why so much dust is kicked up whenever a slightly forward-thinking step is taken. Also for the record? Focusing on white women (while progress) isn't all that progressive. You don't get to call yourself that until I see black women playing characters not hidden in thick makeup, gay/lesbian characters, trans characters, and other massively under-represented groups on screen. Are there fans and writers attempting to push Star Wars in more progressive directions? Hell yes! And more power to them. But face it. Star Wars began its life as a retelling of WWII dogfights mashed with a Japanese film set in 1615. (See: The Hidden Fortress and Sengoku period.) None of its origins are even remotely progressive. Even Princess Leia was forced into a bikini and a slave collar for the titillation of straight men. The fact that anyone is even arguing the point around LGBTQ characters speaks volumes. And now, a game company that rocks. Cards Against Humanity Expansion Pack to Fund Scholarship for Women in STEM. And What I Learned After Lorin Stein Published My Story. And Tig Notaro calls Louis C.K.'s removal from One Mississippi a 'huge relief'. And It’s About Time Film Criticism & Entertainment Embrace Women of Color Writers. Judith Tarr writes: Ask SFF Equine: Can a Stallion Be a Good Father? And Lupita Nyong'o Talks "Black Panther," Colonialism, and Working in an Industry That Wasn't Made for Her.

General: So, it has been noted multiple times over the previous week that white women let team "Let's Not Live In A Dumpster Fire Of Corruption And Evil". It's true. Doug Jones May Have Won, But White Women Lost in Alabama Last Night. File this under "Serena Joy sells out everyone." No shit. Any state where Evangelical Christianity is big is going to be filled with delusional white women who have a shit ton of unexamined internalized misogyny who desperately want to identify with those in power. That said, white women? We need to do better. Next: The Reckoning-Women and Power in the Workplace. Robots are being used to deter homeless people from setting up camp in San Francisco. (see also: Big Brother on wheels? Fired security robot divides local homeless people. And A dad's hilarious letter to school asks them to explain why they're living in 1968. Go Dad. Meanwhile, white supremacist Nazis are still awful: Mother of Heather Heyer keeps daughter's grave a secret. And Schools Disagree Over How To Prepare For Active Shooters. Filed under "in a surprise to no one, that happened": Trump attacks Gillibrand in tweet critics say is sexually suggestive and demeaning and Kirsten Gillibrand Called For Trump To Resign Over Sexual Harassment Allegations. He Responded By Sexually Harassing Her. And Women scientists to mentor girls into STEM careers. Lastly, Pentagon Will Allow Transgender People to Enlist in 2018.

Trigger Warning: NYC Teen Used Dying Breath to Identify the Man Who Shot Her After She Rejected His Advances, Officers Testify