Feminist Monday, November 13

Good morning, y'all. I can hardly believe it's mid-November already and that 2017 is almost over. Here's hoping that 2018 will be a better year, politically. This year has been damned depressing. Thank the gods for the last election. (Let's keep that up, shall we?) Okay, time for today's video. (Arggh. Youtube is getting worse, if that's possible. You seriously cannot search for 'feminism' and get a positive result within the first 20 returns any more. Fuck that noise.)

In my mind, there's a distinction between an awful comment revealing internalized oppression (racism or whatever)--hey, we're all hopefully working on improving regarding that one--and someone who has historically taken deliberate advantage of their power and hurt others. And that's where I draw the line. Mistakes are mistakes but a habitual abuser can fuck right off. They can particularly fuck right off when they've been forgiven in the past and continue the same behavior.

​And now those links.

Literary/Entertainment: Be aware that there will be a lot of content about sexual assault and harassment. It's on heavy rotation in the news right now. (Finally.) I don't think anything listed here contains details. But I feel I should call attention to this so you, dear Reader, won't be surprised. I'll keep one paragraph for the allegation-related articles and move the unrelated stuff to the end. Okay? Okay. This first link is for those who like to go on about how women should've spoken up about abuse at the time. I Tried to Break the Louis C.K. Story and It Nearly Killed My Career and Harvey Weinstein and the Economics of Consent. Women are, more often than not, dismissed when they come forward with allegations of abuse. I was once involved in a harassment issue at my workplace that involved a Division level manager and anywhere from five to twenty female employees. It was clearly a widespread, habitual problem. We were encouraged to speak to HR. Nothing really happened. The women moved to other jobs and companies and the manager in question was placed in a corner office until retirement--as I understand. To go through all the terror of reporting a senior level executive and have it end like that was awful. I never trusted corporate culture again. And more links about Louis CK: pro tip: louis fucking ck and Allowing #MeToo To Go Viral Is The Biggest Mistake The Establishment Ever Made. (Do play Uma Thurman's response when asked about sexual harassment. It's powerful.) Hollywood is rapidly exiling predators. But Woody Allen's movie is still coming out. Yeah. I don't understand that one. Like the video about points out, I can't unsee Woody Allen's proclivity for young women--not after he married his fucking step-daughter. (It disgusts me that he was given a pass on that because she was adopted. It's fucking GROSS.) Miss Peru Pageant Contestants Give Statistics on Gender Violence Instead of Their Measurements.

In other, totally unrelated, happy news, have a great film review: Thor Ragnarok: A Very Indigenous Film. Me? I loved it. I particularly loved the line: "Asgard is not a place. It's a people." I also rather liked, "Slaves is such a harsh word, I prefer "prisoners with benefits." It totally fits as commentary on the US's prison industrial complex. Anyway, two thumbs up. :) Maysaloun Hamoud: Palestinian director on plaudits, death threats and big screen success. And have some interesting thoughts: Why Gothika Exposes The Hidden Thoughts of Every Black Woman Who’s Ever Experienced Mental Illness. And this essay is amazing: The Shape of the Darkness As It Overtakes Us as well as this story: Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue. And an article on Austen in South Asia as well as Decolonising the Canon: Why Medieval Literature is the Place to Start. And How Surrealism Enriches Storytelling About Women. How far they’ll go: Moana shows the power of Polynesian celestial navigation.

General: I'll just put up a general trigger warning here because there will be quite a few links about sexual harassment and abuse. I don't believe any of the links listed contain details. However, I like to try to provide a warning nonetheless. Just...heads up. First, have a detailed discussion about consent in The Horizon of Desire. Next, "#MeAt14" Trends on Social Media in Response to Roy Moore Sexual Misconduct Allegations, and Roy Moore's alleged pursuit of a young girl is the symptom of a larger problem in evangelical circles. Also, there's this: You’ve heard of rape culture, but have you heard of pedophile culture? Because you're swimming in it. The idea that girls mature faster than boys and our culture's drive to sexualize children because they are girls are two factors in the most recent series of headlines. It's time for awareness, y'all. It's long past time to change. Maybe this will help? Why Men Force Women to Watch Them Masturbate, and Insights into Sexism: Male Status and Performance Moderates Female-Directed Hostile and Amicable Behaviour. Again, this is a problem with men. This is not a problem with women. Men need to change. Women have already tied themselves into pretzels in attempts to protect themselves. It's time to take responsibility, men. Where do kids learn to undervalue women? From their parents. And “I Thought It Would Be Better for You”: A Mother, A Daughter, and Racism in America in 2017. Also have and example of sexism in advertising and food industries: Women Aren’t Ruining Food.