Feminism Is For Everyone

Nov 30, 2008,7:38 PM

Anyone have an answer to this question?

Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?

-Lynn Hecht Schafren

Nov 25, 2008,1:15 PM

UN urges end to abuses of Women

An interesting article from BBC news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7747601.stm

Nov 23, 2008,8:52 PM

UVA: a rape prone campus

check out this article in the hook about a victory for victims of rape at UVA.

6:20 PM

T-Shirts are in!

Hey Everyone!
I just wanted to say that the t-shirts are in! Come buy one at our meeting next Tuesday, or email uvafife@gmail.com to arrange a meeting if you can't make it! The shirts are $12 and they are printed on American Apparel.

3:47 PM

nellie mckay= love

check out this amazingly hilarious song by the witty and sarcastic Nellie McKay: "Mother of Pearl"

i love her!

Nov 21, 2008,4:44 PM

As a follow-up...

As Jezebel/SELF magazine explain,

Of all the rape cases that come across prosecutors’ desks, stranger-rape cases have the best courtroom odds, with 68 percent ending with a conviction or guilty plea. But when a woman knows her assailant briefly (less than 24 hours), a mere 43 percent of cases end in a conviction. When they know each other longer than 24 hours, the conviction rate falls to 35 percent. Even fewer, 29 percent, of intimate partners and exes are punished. “And keep in mind, the cases that come through the prosecutor’s door are the strongest ones — strong enough for the police to have referred them along in the first place,” notes EVAW International research director Kimberly Lonsway, Ph.D.

So, then onto that, add the omission of the word "rape" for Tory Bowen and other rape victims.

This is because “To a juror, a rapist is a guy who jumps out of the bushes and throws a woman to the ground,” [Lynn Hecht Schafran, director of the National Judicial Education Program of Legal Momentum] explains. “She has terrible injuries, and she leaps up and reports it immediately to the police. Anything that falls short of that story is questionable.”

COME ON, AMERICA.

Nov 16, 2008,5:36 PM

Tory Bowen can't call it "rape"

Sometimes, you just have to read something to believe this is happening.

A judge won't allow rape victim Tory Bowen to use the words "rape" and "victim" to describe her alleged sexual assault because they are provocative and might incite people to unfairly judge the defendant.

Other information about this rape (that wasn't included in this particular article):
- Bowen believes she was drugged, since she woke up to her attacker raping her, as he assured her that it was consensual.
-Furthermore, two other women are accusing THE SAME MAN of doing the same thing. They, too, have been unable to win their cases against him...they, too, cannot call it rape.

Well, judge, she was really drunk, so maybe she should just consider it consensual sex that wouldn't have happened if she was sober. What a jerk.

Nov 6, 2008,4:46 PM

This poem is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2arththJa8Q

Nov 4, 2008,9:22 AM

auctioning off virginity part 2

so, i wanted to post about this, but it looks like someone beat me to it, except i offer a different way to look at it.

yes, i was watching the tyra banks show yesterday and the 22 yr old auctioning off her virginity was on. at first, i was like wtf? then she said she was doing it for a case study looking at the dichotomy of virginity and prostitution, so i started to think, okay, maybe kind of legit. the two girls on the show were saying it was the 22 yr olds choice to auction off her virginity. they were advocating a "prochoice" mentality, and called it a new aspect to feminism.

is it really feminism though? i think their logic was flawed. and i don't think it follows to call it a prochoice argument. i think it only half explains it. i think it's a stickey situation to call it a new part of feminism.. any thoughts?

however, i don't think people should be judging her so much. honestly, it's her choice (i'm not trying to say it's a prochoice issue or anything) it's her body, she can choose to lose it to some 50 yr old guy just like some people chose to lose their virginity at a young age, or under different circumstances. i guess, at least she's in control of her decision and is making one, instead of being pressured by someone. i am a virgin myself, and being a virgin and hearing she was auctioning it off, i really was like wtf..but being a virgin, i go back and forth all the time about whether to just lose it, wait for someone i love, or do it with a friend. and it's my choice how i do it, and it doesn't make me any less of a person. as much as it is my choice to lose it as i so wish, it is also her choice to lose it however she wants. i also don't think it's as degrading as people are saying. she explained that she is talking to all of the bidders, and will lose it to someone she has a connection with and might not lose it to the highest bidder. i believe she has a level head about it. she also explained she's not looking for an amazing experience, or to fall in love, she knows what to expect and is going about it in the right mindset.

i think we are all quick to judge. but in the end, we all make different choices, but we are allowed to make those choices.

however, i think it's stickey to label it as new feminism and to loop it into a prochoice issue (maybe in some respects..but not fully).

Nov 3, 2008,10:39 PM

auctioning off your virginity?! really?!

According to "Natalie Dylan", "We live in a capitalist society, why shouldn't I be allowed to capitalize on my virginity?"

So, naturally, she's auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. eBay turned her down, but she found a way around that..."I think it's a tremendous idea," says Dennis Hof, proprietor of the brothel which is sponsoring the auction. "Why lose it to some guy in the backseat of a Toyota when you can pay for your education?" My sentiments exactly. Except for the part where you want your sex life to have meaning, you don't want to sell your own body, you probably want to have sex with someone you love, sex with a rich stranger for a fee is utterly degrading, etc.

Nov 2, 2008,12:08 PM

rape humor

i am disgusted. thewb.com has an online series called sorority forever which is about a girl, Julie who is forced by her mother to rush a sorority or not get money for college. this episode in particular is terrible. they play a "pledge game" with her, and drop her off in the middle of nowhere, wearing a bra and jeans and forcer her to find her way back to the sorority house. They taunt her as she gets out of the van, saying "hope you know your geography!" and "don't get raped!" i can hardly believe it. now, not only are we getting more fear-mongering, but its also funny for women to put other women in dangerous situations and make jokes of rape.

later Julie makes jokes about her rape whistle being in her other bra, and her friend makes light of putting "roofies" in her water. enough of this making light of sexual assault among college students!

anyone else seen this show? thoughts?