Fuck Yeah, Gender Studies!

month

May 2011

rabbleprochoice: Dr. George Tiller was murdered two years ago today by Scott Roeder, a pro-life activist who had made threats towards and was very outspoken about violence towards clinics and abortion providers. Roeder worked closely with groups like Operation Rescue and many believe that his connections within that organization helped him plan the murder of Dr. Tiller. Operation Rescue had...

The self-love that dare not speak its name →

Why can’t women be more upfront about masturbation, asks Bim Adewunmi at the Guardian.

Do WHAT?! of the day: Parents have been advised... →

Seriously, the fuck?!

Bangladesh woman cuts off attacker's penis →

Police in southern Bangladesh say a woman cut off a man’s penis during an alleged attempt to rape her and took it to a police station as evidence.

Badminton's governing body has shelved a... →

“In Europe, the age of menarche (first period) is thought to have increased from...”

– Interesting shit from the British Society for Neuroendocrinology.

Poor girls 'start periods early' →

Girls from poorer backgrounds are more likely to start their periods at a younger age, thereby increasing their risk of breast cancer, a UK study says. It found girls in lower socio-economic groups with typically poorer diets began at 12.1 years on average compared to 12.5 years for wealthier girls. Their breast cancer risk was greater as they produced the hormone oestrogen longer, the study...

Malta votes 'Yes' in divorce referendum →

Malta has voted “Yes” in a non-binding referendum on legalising divorce, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has conceded, local media report. Almost three-quarters of the electorate voted on Saturday on whether divorce should be introduced in Malta. A majority Catholic country, Malta is the only EU country not to allow divorce.

Most Gender-Friendly Bathrooms I've Ever Seen

puncteq: Strange Matter, Richmond, Virginia

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions — and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the C-suite

Anonymous asked: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lln4nrVZmN1qaac30o1_250.png what do you think of this

Sex Ed in England is Fucked →

thedaysarenotfullenough: “The founding members of the [sex and relationships education] Council are: evaluate, Lovewise, Challenge Teams, LIFE, Silver Ring Thing, Family Education Trust and Right to Life.” Let’s just put that into context, shall we? evaluate: “support them in delaying sexual experience until a long-term committed exclusive relationship. “ Lovewise: “Too Special to Spoil: Sex...

Utah Makes It Illegal To Act Sexy →

oftenretold replied to your link:Are Hanna and her violent sisters doing it for themselves? it might be a negative trend for women, but if we discourage violent female protagonists, that leaves the market saturated with violent male protagonists again. ideally we want there to be less violence, but the market for it isn’t going away I think this is a key point.

Are Hanna and her violent sisters doing it for... →

Do kick-ass young heroines empower women or are they just sustaining a masculine idea of what feminism is?

ghostdishes-deactivated20121023 asked: Also, I'm so excited that my question was submitted mid-sentence.

But yes. With all due respect to the dissenters, this horse has been beaten to death. Take the opinion or leave it. Cause really, what else can be said? FYGS is really great in ways that are being taken advantage of. I think people have a lot of nerve, getting pissy with you.

But hey, whatever....

ghostdishes-deactivated20121023 asked: I really wish people would give you a break. I don't understand why they're so threatened by your view of marriage. You're very reasonable and positive and really quite informed, so I find it incredible that I keep finding "complaints" on my dashboard.

And annoying. With all due respect to the dissenters,

drewmaggard-deactivated20110827 asked: You responded to their opinion in a rude and curt manner, that's kind of disparaging them. I mean you didn't even take the time to articulate your thoughts, you just said "Can't polish a turd!"

Which, by the way, is offensive to the feminists and queer activists who are trying to transform the institution of marriage. That's disparaging! Now saying...

noette-deactivated20110526 asked: I find your 'Ha! You can't polish a turd.' comment extremely patronizing and hurtful. There was just no need for the complete lack of respect. Talk about isolating your readers. I'm unsure if I will follow your blog anymore, I enjoy reading it to be sure, but it's with a heavy heart if you are so quick to discredit anyone who has opinions that vary from your own. For such...

Really frustrated at a teaching-grandmother-to-suck-eggs anonymous message. So i’m just going to ignore it.

noette replied to your link: Gay Shame: End Marriage Maybe they are trying to turn marriage into something more than what it has been? Ha! You can’t polish a turd.

“The way the marriage movement is framing any critique of their precious...”

– Gay Shame: End Marriage

Gay Shame: End Marriage →

I love this; hooray! Whatever happened to the time when being queer was an automatic challenge to the disgusting, oppressive, patriarchal institution of holy matrimony? Now, it seems that queers are so desperate to get their taste of straight privilege that they’ll camp out in the rain with the hopes that the state will finally sanction their carnal coupling. We are now faced with the...

Birmingham council's plan to cut care for disabled... →

ateacupinastorm: It’s so rare I have the opportunity to post GOOD news disability/politics wise. Hurrah for the British legal system!

abigq-deactivated20110918 asked: If you want to add a transcript to the Takei video there's one in http://abigq.tumblr.com/post/5650529626/a-video-showing-george-takei-standing-in-front-of

notanotherlesbianblog replied to your post:“Fun” fact i discovered whilst writing my amazing paper Seriously? Do you have any examples? Yes, but… i don’t feel comfortable posting the link. Obviously. So i won’t be.

"Fun" fact i discovered whilst writing my amazing...

Trigger warning: eating disorders, death, fucked upness. Anorexia-promoting websites are genuinely now using photographs of dead bodies—not dead people (e.g. Karen Carpenter), not skeletons: dead bodies: photos of corpses—and documentary photographs from the Holocaust as part of their rhetoric.

I’m back, having handed in one of the best essays of my entire life. Also, with it, possibly the worst (or second-worst). Hoping the two will cancel each other out. I won’t be around too much till Friday as i’m currently attending Manchester’s Sexuality Summer School (yes, it is as sexy as it sounds). This is just a quick missive to update you as to what’s what and...

I really need to stop being on here right now. I have two 6,000 word papers to write by the beginning of next week and answering questions about marriage is not helping me reach that end. Current word count I haven’t even done 5% yet. Okay, so, i’m taking a break. I really, really don’t want to be back here procrastinating my MA away till after my deadline, so i’m going to...

Anonymous asked: I agree with you that legally approving certain relationships is silly and removing marriage completely is a good idea. However... don't you think it's a lot more likely that gay marriage would be allowed in all states, than for marriage to be eradicated completely? Gay marriage is, IMHO, a more reasonable goal.

criminalization affects more than “criminals” |... →

Anonymous asked: I just wanted to let you know that I really agree with your stance on marriage. A while back, I was just thinking about all of the financial and economic changes that would go on should a future partner and I decide to marry and despite some pretty antiquated aspects that I didn't care for, I found myself wanting to do it anyway because of the tax breaks and other privileges...

Anonymous asked: I thought you might like a nice anon. I hope this makes you smile.
The other day my partners child (she is three) was having a big chat about having a vagina. She was just interested, asking about it. She then went on to say "All girls have vaginas, don't they?". My partner replied yes. Then we both paused.
My gender major side kicked in and we both said...

Anonymous asked: I am conflicted in saying this, because I agree with your argument that marriage as a legal contract should not exist, that the benefits offered to legal couples should be extended to all, and I don't like arguing the "but it's too hard" viewpoint. I do, however, feel that the fight for legalisation of same-sex marriage is not pointless or outdated, and is still progress...

Anonymous asked: It amuses me that your views on marriage are exactly the same as feministsaresexist.

Anonymous asked: This is the same anonymous who wrote about the economic benefits of marriage, just so you know that i'm referring to my previous question, and your answer.

I think you fail to see my argument. My argument is that marriage benefits both the individuals who enter into it, and the societies who facilitate it. Since it benefits those two parties, it should be made more available....

Anonymous asked: Marriage generates significant revenue both for government and businesses. When assessments have been done on the economic benefits of allowing same-sex marriage it's been demonstrated that the legalization of same-sex marriage will yield a net profit both for state governments, the national government, and state tourism industries.

One would assume that if same-sex marriage...

mistakeserase-deactivated201212 asked: Is this crazy or what?! : http://ca.news.yahoo.com/orthodox-jewish-paper-apologizes-running-photo-digitally-deleted-232338125.html

Anonymous asked: For what you've mentioned about marriage, wouldn't most of the things you bring up involve *changing* other systems, instead of abolishing marriage? Maybe marriage isn't as important to you, and it's unfair that it is privileged over other kinds of relationships, but eliminating it all together makes it sounds like it is of no value to anyone, or that it shouldn't have...

pubichaircausescrime asked: I LOVE YOU FOR YOUR ARGUMENT AGAINST MARRIAGE!!!! :') I am practically the only person I know that doesn't cling onto marriage as some kind of sacred right. It is complete bollocks! I am not going to fight for lesbian and gay marriages, because, as much as we WANT to get married, and be on the same level as the lovely heteros, we shouldn't HAVE TO get married to have the same...

"My tomboy days when I was a rebel with too many... →

A more measured article (compared to the Gulf News) from The National, discussing the “boyat” subculture. […] Well, there is no one type of boyah (singular of boyat) but, generally, they have short pixie-style hair, wear more masculine clothing, sunglasses and watches - all, of course, luxury brand names. If they have long hair, they keep it tucked under a hat. In other words,...

Shedding light on the 'Boyat' phenomenon →

Gulf News asks: Should the Boyat phenomenon, where young women dress and behave like men, be regarded as a problem in Arab society? The issue is being hotly debated with experts saying labelling and judgment should be avoided while students say it should not be tolerated in high schools and universities. V interesting stuff. Another link to follow.

Anonymous asked: http://thebirdafraidofheights.tumblr.com/post/5397037976

...

Calling me "honey" in an argument won't do you or...

So don’t do it, and piss off.