distractions of a self-proclaimed shiksa

"So, because some men have managed to sexualize stretchy yoga pants, that means stretchy yoga pants..."

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:36:33 -0400

““So, because some men have managed to sexualize stretchy yoga pants, that means stretchy yoga pants are now inappropriate/slutty/cause for “alarm.” Because the standards for what it’s okay for women to wear should be dictated by men’s libidos. Nearly every woman I have talked to about this — in the office, on Facebook, on Twitter — has echoed the sentiments of the women commenting on the GMP piece: we wear yoga pants because they are comfortable. Period. The suggestion that we A) wear them because we want sexual attention from men and B) that therefore they shouldn’t be worn in scenarios in which that attention would be “inappropriate” takes all the responsibility for controlling male lust off men and places it on women. And that is some bullshit.””

- The Soapbox: Women Wear Yoga Pants Because They Are Comfortable, Not Because They Apparently Give You A Boner

(via albinwonderland)

"Some anarchists see anarchy as the ability to do whatever they want without having to be accountable..."

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:34:44 -0400

“Some anarchists see anarchy as the ability to do whatever they want without having to be accountable to anyone else for their actions. I personally think that that kind of attitude is just the standard American “rugged individualism” bullshit repackaged as a faux-radical alternative, because it doesn’t challenge the fundamental alienation from each other we suffer under capitalism and the state.””

- Nick Riotfag (via hauntedbyhunters)

FUCKING FUCK YES
(via methodistcoloringbook)

Parks and Recreation + TV Tropes | Running Gag (Beautiful...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:41:15 -0400

Parks and Recreation + TV Tropes | Running Gag (Beautiful Ann)

Photo

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:59:32 -0400

Hi Amy, I have a hard time with conflict. When discussing my...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:58:42 -0400

_{Hi Amy, I have a hard time with conflict. When discussing my obstacles or disappointments or confronting other people’s behavior I can’t get out my story or words without crying. How do you handle a hard conversation without crying? (x)}

having “feelings” is ruining my reputation of being a heartless bitch

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:55:13 -0400

having “feelings” is ruining my reputation of being a heartless bitch

pleatedjeans: Tumblr Gets Deep (30 Pics) These are all...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:39:38 -0400

pleatedjeans:

Tumblr Gets Deep (30 Pics)

These are all beautiful but can I just…the tree one…

Straight Person: But who pays for the date?

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:53:47 -0400

Straight Person: But who pays for the date?
Queer Person: No one. We dine-and-dash, cackling as we run out the door, flying away on our broomsticks as we flip everyone the bird. It's part of the Gay Agenda.

theniftyfifties: Gregory Peck, Director William Wyler, and...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:17:36 -0400

theniftyfifties:

Gregory Peck, Director William Wyler, and Audrey Hepburn on the set of ‘Roman Holiday’, 1953.

the-absolute-best-posts: ask-usedkirby: “Money Can’t Buy You...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:04:34 -0400

the-absolute-best-posts:

ask-usedkirby:

“Money Can’t Buy You Happiness, But Money Can Buy You A Baby Goat, Which Is A Ball Of Happiness” ~Phillard Von Chester

Have fun looking at baby goats and hope your day gets better!

"Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a..."

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:01:26 -0400

“Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal. Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep travelling honestly along life’s path.”

- Street Smarts: A Learning Process: 11 Things to Know at 25(ish)

"A List of “Men’s Rights” Issues That Feminism Is Already Working On Feminists do not want you to..."

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:54:20 -0400

“

A List of “Men’s Rights” Issues That Feminism Is Already Working On

Feminists do not want you to lose custody of your children. The assumption that women are naturally better caregivers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not like commercials in which bumbling dads mess up the laundry and competent wives have to bustle in and fix it. The assumption that women are naturally better housekeepers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to make alimony payments. Alimony is set up to combat the fact that women have been historically expected to prioritize domestic duties over professional goals, thus minimizing their earning potential if their “traditional” marriages end. The assumption that wives should make babies instead of money is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to get raped in prison. Permissiveness and jokes about prison rape are part of rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to be falsely accused of rape. False rape accusations discredit rape victims, which reinforces rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be lonely and we do not hate “nice guys.” The idea that certain people are inherently more valuable than other people because of superficial physical attributes is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to pay for dinner. We want the opportunity to achieve financial success on par with men in any field we choose (and are qualified for), and the fact that we currently don’t is part of patriarchy. The idea that men should coddle and provide for women, and/or purchase their affections in romantic contexts, is condescending and damaging and part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be maimed or killed in industrial accidents, or toil in coal mines while we do cushy secretarial work and various yarn-themed activities. The fact that women have long been shut out of dangerous industrial jobs (by men, by the way) is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to commit suicide. Any pressures and expectations that lower the quality of life of either gender are part of patriarchy. The fact that depression is characterized as an effeminate weakness, making men less likely to seek treatment, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be viewed with suspicion when you take your child to the park (men frequently insist that this is a serious issue, so I will take them at their word). The assumption that men are insatiable sexual animals, combined with the idea that it’s unnatural for men to care for children, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be drafted and then die in a war while we stay home and iron stuff. The idea that women are too weak to fight or too delicate to function in a military setting is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want women to escape prosecution on legitimate domestic violence charges, nor do we want men to be ridiculed for being raped or abused. The idea that women are naturally gentle and compliant and that victimhood is inherently feminine is part of patriarchy.

Feminists hate patriarchy. We do not hate you.

If you really care about those issues as passionately as you say you do, you should be thanking feminists, because feminism is a social movement actively dedicated to dismantling every single one of them. The fact that you blame feminists—your allies—for problems against which they have been struggling for decades suggests that supporting men isn’t nearly as important to you as resenting women. We care about your problems a lot. Could you try caring about ours?

”

- Autostraddle (via notaprincessdestinedtobeawitch)

Guys. You need to read this.

(via abaldwin360)

There are tons of problems with the many branches of feminism, but being against “men’s rights” is not one of them. I always thought this was extremely obvious for anyone who can manage the smallest amount of critical thinking. But after listening to the things my guy friends think about feminism and knowing that MRAs exist… I guess not?

(via hannahology)

This needs to go around again, particularly with the flood of hate and violence aimed at a woman for daring to speak up at an MRA meeting.

(via magdolenelives)

What's wrong with cultural appropriation?

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:51:06 -0400

What's wrong with cultural appropriation? :

decolonizebellydance:

Reblogged from whatfreshhellisthis

What’s wrong with cultural appropriation? I mean, I know it’s bad, but I need this one kind of spelled out for me. Is it always bad? Are some cases worse than others? I want to be a good anti-racist, but I fear I’m not educated enough.

Anonymous

Cultural appropriation exists because of centuries of:

Imperialism: more specifically, cultural imperialism which is essentially one cultural dominating another. (IE: white folks and everyone we’ve ever invaded ever. Including each other.)

Racism: justifies the appropriation by making various cultural/racial/ethic groups marginalised, oppressed and seen as inferior by the privileged group.

Exoticism: justifies commodification and objectification.

Orientalism

Colonisation

Entitlement: thinking that oppressed people’s culture, society, and spirituality are up for grabs.

Oppression

Power

Capitalism

Unawareness of privilege: based on misunderstanding of power dynamics, entitlement, exoticism and racism

Why is cultural appropriation harmful?:

Cultural appropriation reinforces oppression because it invalidates and commodifies marginalised groups.

Invalidates: the culture/society/the people

Homogenizes: lets look at the white girls wearing warbonnets and mukluks. War bonnets are worn traditionally only by various Native plains tribes and mukluks are boots made of usually seal skin warn/made traditionally by Alaskan/Arctic natives. This haphazard and disrespectful throwing together different pieces of two completely different Native cultures which is portraying an image of homogeneity and reinforces the stereotype that there is just one Native American culture and they are all the same, which reinforces oppression and racism.

Commodifies: putting a monetary value on something that should not be sold or purchased or marketed in any way, eg. spiritual practices.

Reinforces stereotypes: which reinforce oppression and racism-a tool of colonisation.

Distorts traditions into inaccurate and offensive caricatures

Romanticises cultures: often this is something that results in entire groups of people being seen as ‘something that used to exist’ as opposed to people with lives and cultures that exist and flourish today. You get this a lot with Native American and Canadian culture.

Eroticises/exoticizes people: this is incredibly dehumanising.

Here is an awesome post about the line between appropriation and appreciation. (Reboggable version).

Here are some awesome people who talk about appropriation and how it is shitty- linked is all their posts tagged appropriation. Please look through their archives, and do not just message them asking the same question, they are people not encyclopaedias.

Jaded

Karma

Thursday

Dr. Syrup

These are just the first four who lept to mind- there are doubtless many, many more.

Photo

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:27:17 -0400

Photo

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:25:31 -0400

humansofnewyork: “I’m 92 years old.” “What’s your...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:13:04 -0400

humansofnewyork:

“I’m 92 years old.”
“What’s your secret?”
“Lots of sex.”

"Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents and everyone is writing a book."

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:49:14 -0400

“Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents and everyone is writing a book.”

- Cicero, circa 43 BC (via amandaonwriting)

“The recency illusion is the belief or impression that something is of recent origin when it is in fact long-established.”

(via cimness)

FEMMES AGAINST EVERYTHING

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:44:54 -0400

Photo

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:22:30 -0400

"This is what life does. It lets you walk up to the store to buy breakfast and the paper, on a stiff..."

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 10:39:28 -0400

“

This is what life does. It lets you walk up to
the store to buy breakfast and the paper, on a
stiff knee. It lets you choose the way you have
your eggs, your coffee. Then it sits a fisherman
down beside you at the counter who says, Last night,
the channel was full of starfish. And you wonder,
is this a message, finally, or just another day?

Life lets you take the dog for a walk down to the
pond, where whole generations of biological
processes are boiling beneath the mud. Reeds
speak to you of the natural world: they whisper,
they sing. And herons pass by. Are you old
enough to appreciate the moment? Too old?
There is movement beneath the water, but it
may be nothing. There may be nothing going on.

And then life suggests that you remember the
years you ran around, the years you developed
a shocking lifestyle, advocated careless abandon,
owned a chilly heart. Upon reflection, you are
genuinely surprised to find how quiet you have
become. And then life lets you go home to think
about all this. Which you do, for quite a long time.

Later, you wake up beside your old love, the one
who never had any conditions, the one who waited
you out. This is life’s way of letting you know that
you are lucky. (It won’t give you smart or brave,
so you’ll have to settle for lucky.) Because you
were born at a good time. Because you were able
to listen when people spoke to you. Because you
stopped when you should have and started again.

So life lets you have a sandwich, and pie for your
late night dessert. (Pie for the dog, as well.) And
then life sends you back to bed, to dreamland,
while outside, the starfish drift through the channel,
with smiles on their starry faces as they head
out to deep water, to the far and boundless sea.

”

- Eleanor Lerman, “Starfish” (via arpeggia)