Feminist Tuesday, April 3 (aka No More Head Bees)

The second half of the procedure was completed yesterday. Here's to not having migraines for another six to nine months. I'm lucky in that the source of my migraines was easily found: arthritis in the spine. So, that just means I have to watch how I sit and stand, workout and walk more, and get stabbed a lot to cauterize those pesky nerves that don't like being pinched by unhappy joints. No big. Anyway, I was muzzy from the anesthesia yesterday. Thus, no blog. Sorry about that. And now...

Find out more here: http://nawmagazine.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-covers-new-african-woman-magazine-aprilmay-edition-power-issue/ or just click on the image. :)

And today's video.

Good morning, y'all. Are you ready to raise your blood pressure? Let's do this.

Literary/Entertainment: First, I'd like to talk about something that came up on my Twitter feed yesterday. It was a discussion about women describing themselves as if they were a character in a novel. That led me to women talking about how men describe them and then ‘Describe Yourself Like a Male Author Would’ Is the Most Savage Twitter Thread in Ages. Yeah. You don't get to call yourself great at writing women as characters and start a novel off like that. No. Fucking. Way. And yes, this does affect how other men write women because male authors are read more often by men than women authors are. And men (particularly white men) congratulate themselves about their great women characters all the time. I was serious when I said that I had trouble naming a male author, other than Stephen King, who actually did a 100% great job at writing a female character. (It was Carrie, in case you're curious.) Others have come close, but usually there's an oops which prevents me from giving a whole-hearted backing. It's not that I believe that men can't write women characters. I just think it's really difficult to write about people you don't know much about. When I wrote about Northern Ireland I read memoirs written by NI people. I listened for their voices. If you don't care enough to do that, maybe you should rethink your relationship with the characters in question? As I see it, white males are at a disadvantage. Unlike everyone else occupying the planet, they aren't taught to look beyond themselves. That's really hare to do when the whole world warps itself around you and your needs. Next, DONALD GLOVER RELEASES SPOOF SCRIPT FROM ANIMATED DEADPOOL SERIES, WHICH JABS AT SHOW'S CANCELLATION. You knew that was going to happen, didn't you? I know I did. And next, have a discussion about looking at problems within story from multiple perspectives. Yes, it's hard work. Yes, it's complicated. But that's the business. McSweeney's does it again with this brilliant take down of Ready Player One. EXCERPTS FROM MY UPCOMING NOVEL, READY PLAYER TWO: GIRL STUFF. This next one just makes me sad and angry. The Disturbing Secret Behind An Iconic Cartoon. No man should get away with that shit. Period. And The Forgotten Story of the First Black Female Wrestlers. Have a chat about propaganda and mind control in Science Fiction.


​General: Why Transgender Day Of Visibility Is Only One Small Step for Trans People. And What Would a World Designed by Women Look Like? As more women rise to power in architecture, we’re starting to find out. Remember last week I brought up the subject of black history being erased from school textbooks? Well, this next one is timely: SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR HAPPY PLANTATION NARRATIVE. And I firmly believe that ICE is vile and should be disbanded. This article demonstrates yet another reason why. ICE paves way to detain more pregnant immigrants. As a surprise to no one, the label 'terrorist' is used by racists to criminalize brown people. Turns out people get angry when you say white Americans are terrorists, too. Also, Column: White people don’t understand the trauma of viral police-killing videos. Me, I can't watch those and I don't tend to forward videos of people getting killed or hurt. I don't want to see it. I get enough fake violence, thank you very much. It's a line I have due to reading studies about violence as entertainment and it's temporary effects on the psyche. Fake violence? Sure. I can be unfeeling regarding that, but I don't want to become numb to any group of people actually being murdered. Thanks. And yes, there's a difference. These Are the States That Still Allow Female Inmates to Be Shackled During Childbirth. INTERSECTIONALITY: A #DVPIT BLOG HOP ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION (PART 1 OF 2) As a Feminist, I support sex workers. Banning sex work doesn't actually end prostitution. As far as I'm concerned, it should be legalized, taxed, and workers provided with medical services to prevent the spread of STDs. As a sex historian, this is what I want you to know about the buying and selling of sex. And this next story is refuting the myth that bullying is to blame for the mass shootings at schools. I Tried to Befriend Nikolas Cruz. He Still Killed My Friends.  Lastly, I've never liked the Gig Economy. Here's why: like many of the 'disrupting' models it relies upon, the mindset is ending worker protections regarding salaries and safety regulations. It encourages businesses to be less concerned for the welfare of their employees.  The Gig Economy Celebrates Working Yourself to Death.