Hello everyone,
My first post, although I have been reading posts for some time. I have been a feminist for many years, and have always been outspoken when I hear someone making a sexist remark. I frequently comment on various websites about feminist issues, and I must say, the hatred for women, and feminists in particular, is ASTONISHING!! I recently commented on an article about gay right to marry, and reading the responses to my comment was heart-breaking. I am not gay, but stated that I was in favor of equal rights for everyone, and that discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation, or other, was wrong. One response to my comment referred to African-Americans, Gay American, and then to "Vagino-Americans!" I assume this comment came from a white male, and I reminded him that most likely his mother was a vagino-american, and lucky for him, or he wouldn't be here. He responded with the most foul language you can imagine. There were many other men who commented in favor of gay rights, but not one man or woman who stuck up for me. Why aren't men progressing at all? Haven't all of us suffered enough at their hands? I am 56 years old, and I don't see one bit of progress from the original '60s women's movement. It's so disheartening that I want to weep for myself, my daughter, and all of us vagino-americans.
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roflmao -- sorry, but I want to *own* that name! I'm a vagino-canadian! And proud of it!
Every time I read something like this, I'm reminded of the Bin Laden Has Poopypants episode of South Park, where Cartman (spoofing Bugs Bunny) yanks down bin Laden's pants, followed by a close-up of his groin--with several magnifying glasses--to reveal a teeny-tiny penis.
"So THAT'S what this is all about."
Vagino-Canadian and damn proud of it!
Somewhere in here there is a snarky comment to be made about this guy's transphobia, I think...
/sigh
To maybe give you a little hope that men are progressing: My dad has always been a relatively heteronormative liberal. He still has a lot of discomfort when it comes to people breaking certain gender roles (women not shaving, husbands and children taking the wife's last names), but he understands these are his problems, and not the problem of the people who are making the choices. In a recent conversation I had with him about how society affects our perspective, he said, "Thirty years ago, if someone had called me a feminist, I'd have been ready to kick their ass, but now, I'd be like 'Hell yeah, I'm a feminist'." Maybe not the most dramatic story, but change is possible, and it is happening. No need to be disheartened by one internet asshole.
And yes, we all need to own the name vagino-american/canadian/earthling. It's hilarious. (And also, kristen schall used it on the daily show when sarah palin was picked as the republican vp candidate.)
So long as men are completely excluded from the discussion/greeted with hostility in general then seism will continue to prevail. We could have universal free unlimited abortions and STILL have men who think every woman who gets an abortion is a "worthless slut", legislation doesn't change minds, discussion, inclusion and understanding does.
I have to disagree that men are excluded from feminism. When I met a little hostility as I first joined feminist groups, an indifferent reaction was not an excuse to leave the discussion. If you are truly interested in changing sex and gender discrimination, initial hostility should not scare you completely away from the conversation. Indeed it can almost be expected based on how men have treated women. How do you know what my true intentions are, or why I am suddenly a feminist? I will still say ignorant things, as I probably have just now, but as a white male I will never REALLY get what being a woman is like. Receiving criticism for such comments is also not an excuse, however, to stop discussing. I guess my point is that men for the most part do not want to change gender and sex roles, at least not to the point of true equality.