Feminist Monday, July 16

image from: https://cupe.on.ca/event/cupe-area-activist-day/

So, yesterday I saw a dude on Twitter posit whether or not the residents of Themyscira would be able to survive a fight with the Dora Milaje. (He said he was betting on the Dora Milaje.) I get it. Boys love nothing more than to grab up their action figures (dolls) and smash them together, and I'm sure that was all there was to it--consciously. However, there is a vast amount of social pressure on women to dress, act, and be something pleasant for men. And one of those things that first popped to mind when I read that was "mud wrestling." These inclinations being so prevalent in American society, combined with the Patriarchy's need to keep women divided has been a big issue throughout the Feminist Movement's history. It's why I was so disappointed when American Horror Story ventured into the witchy part of the forest. They did the right thing, bringing in Stevie Nicks. Absolutely. They did the right thing when they mentioned America's history of  slavery, racism, and the problems around White Feminism--at least that's what I chose to believe it was doing. (It didn't do it very well, I must say.) What they did absolutely wrong was to make those things impossible obstacles. They aren't. And, in fact, solidarity with all womb-having and non-womb having people who identify as women no matter their race, history, financial background, able-ness, or belief systems is absolutely vital for Feminism's future. I firmly believe this. And that's why my response was: "I strongly suspect they wouldn't fight at all. In fact, they'd group up and form a battle formation against the Patriarchy. #sisters" Here's the deal: both groups' homelands are Patriarchy free. Both groups are fully aware that Patriarchy exists outside their homes. Both of those countries are heavily protected too. There is no way they'd fight. Both groups are far too smart and aware for that. I have similar feels re: the new Mary Queen of Scots series. First, Mary was raised in France not Scotland. Second, Mary and Elizabeth were never friends. They were two powerful women who were manipulated (one more than the other) by the men around them. I hate that such a interesting story has been reduced to a cat fight. Because, you know mud wrestling.

Okay. Now, today's videos:

And now for those links.
Literary/Entertainment: The ArenaNet Catastrophe Has The Whole Game Industry Rethinking Harassment Policies. I witnessed the original exchange and Jessica Price was polite--more polite than I would've been--to the male user in question. And yes, the male user in question was, in fact, being an asshat. The fact that he whined to everyone who could hear should put to rest any claim that somehow he's made of sterner stuff than your average 'snowflake'. [eyeroll] But at least it seems the rest of the gaming industry is having a (necessary) serious think about their policies because the asshat's asshat army rolled up and decided it'd be good to try to get rid of all the gamer ladies in the industry. Yeah, sending out mass form letter emails with blanks for 'whatever female employee' blanks in them isn't misogynist at all. [second eyeball] Fuck those guys. Also, fuck AreaNet. Next, The Mind Behind America’s Most Empathetic Cartoon. And now have a look at Maria Dahvana Headley's latest work. It's called The Mere Wife and it's a Feminist retelling of Beowulf. Rewriting the Western Canon. It's amazing. I was lucky enough to hear her read from it at a convention last year. And Star Wars backlash is the new GamerGate. And Tempest Bradford talks about Androids and Allegory in her latest essay. 

General: Hunting the Con Queen of Hollywood: Who's the "Crazy Evil Genius" Behind a Global Racket? One of the worst aspects of this situation is that women have a difficult enough time among Hollywood power brokers being taken seriously without having their identities being stolen on top of it. That said, I can't help feeling there's a story there. Next, Qiu Jin--A feminist poet and revolutionary who became a martyr known as China’s ‘Joan of Arc.’ And Why Black people in France are still invisible. And in case you weren't aware Here’s What Life Was Like for American Women in America Before ‘Roe v. Wade’. If you want another clue as to what it was like, try listening very carefully to the lyrics of rock music relate to women in the '50s, '60s, and '70s then compare the lyrics to what you hear today. You're going to notice a whole lot of "You can't catch me because the rabbit done died"[1] as well as a whole lot of expressed sexual frustration. "Go ahead. Breakdown and give it to me." But there was a whole lot more on the line for those with fertile uteruses than reputations. Pregnancy isn't easy. It's dangerous and life-threatening. Also see, Here’s who we erase when Roe v. Wade is just about women’s rights. Next up, some medical Feminism in the articles IN SICKNESS and OUR BODIES, OUR HELLS--WHY ISN’T PAIN A FEMINIST ISSUE?

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​[1] Rabbits used to be used in pregnancy tests.