Originally this post was just going to be about bad news, but I've decided to be more optimistic and also point out the silver lining for the bad news.
Okay, item number 1
Bad News: GT has figured out that I'm no longer a student, and has revoked my journal access privileges.
Good News: I have the password to UGA journals, and theoretically Mom should be able to keep my updated as it changes.
Number 2
Bad News: Bitch Ph.D. has posted a story about how, during the time when Sarah Palin was major of Wasilla, rape victims were charged for collecting evidence. I have no idea whether Palin actually knew about this, but I don't think it's an excuse. Conservative feminist. This is the sort of thing that causes me to have trouble with that term.
Good News: This table suggests that it's not going to be an issue (please, please, please). Many, many more Democrats have registered to vote in recent months than Republicans. I have a feeling this election is going to turn out to be about voter turn out. And hey, here's another piece of good news: I faxed over my application for an absentee ballot yesterday. I'll call tomorrow and see if they got it.
Number 3
Bad News: I wore a long sleeve shirt and a fleecy jacket on my bike ride to work this morning, and I was still cold.
Good News: There's a movie playing in English at the theater tonight. "Factory Girl" or something. I have no idea what it's about, but did I mention that it's in English?
Number 4
Bad News: On Thursday, the autoclave broke for the 435th time since I've been here.
Good News: It was fixed yesterday afternoon and it's still under warranty.
And now, for one bonus good thing (it's not so much news - I think it fits better into the "things that make me smile" catagory). Has anyone been listening to the NPR roadtrip series? I didn't hear it when it played on the radio, but I've been enjoyed going through and listening to some of the lists. Plus, it's kind of a fun concept. Five roadtrip songs with some specific theme. Anyone got ideas?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
For the record, there frankly is just no such thing as a "conservative feminist" Inherent in its definition is radicalism/revolution. People, Sarah Palin who call themselves conservative feminists are exploiting second wave feminist rhetoric in an effort to sign on mainstream liberal feminists (read here as white/middle class/former Hilary supporters) to their campaign efforts, which promote anti-woman policies like governmental control of female bodies. Part of the value of feminism is that it is never just one thing, never a monolithic narrative about women (which itself is a shaky category of analysis) as all of our experiences as "women" are different on the basis of class, sexuality, race, religion, region, etc. However, at its core, feminism purports to provide freedom from oppression for all. Such a foundational tenet becomes a paradox when one aligns it with conservatism that refuses to account for those who fit outside notions of humanity that start with a human unit using the ideology of capitalist individualism. We are not all equal individuals, using such ideology, and so built into conservatism is oppression for some, freedom for others. It bothers me when people see abortion as a single issue in a wide-ranging political platform of a presidential campaign. Because abortion rights were built on privacy law, it becomes a multiplicity of issues that, for women at least, go to the foundation of their control over their own bodies. Every action of my day, be it thinking, writing, running, having sex (of my own free will or not), smiling or being really pissed off, is an embodied action. So, my right to my body becomes every issue...foundational to who I am and how I vote. Claiming identity as a conservative feminist not only permits governmental control of women's bodies, but it exploits the hard-won gains of second wave feminism to become a joke, political jargon. This is not just a woman's issue, mind you. When we begin to see ourselves as members of a community, as relational beings, human oppression in any form becomes unacceptable. -sp
I think the line is hard to draw between someone behaving hypocritically and someone having a different idea about feminism than I have. I don't think that, particularly in the context of the power of individual narrative, it's appropriate to tell someone that she is not a feminist because of a litmus test issue like abortion. On the other hand, this villainization/marginalization of rape victims is an issue which is hard to reconcile with feminism, whatever form it takes. But, there are a lot of things that the conservatives do that I don't understand and vice versa. For example, they may think that they have a monopoly on Christianity and family values and I disagree. They may think that they can prove it via Leviticus passages aimed violently toward my gay friends. Again, I disagree. Therefore, what I'd like to do, is leave issues open for individual interpretation. On the other hand, I think Emily is right about this rape victim issue. It's very hard to see how anyone could call herself a feminist and allow this issue to pass.
what's an autoclave?
did palin call herself a feminist? i don't remember her claiming that label
Palin to my knowledge has not called herself a feminist, but she has employed rhetoric (as Clinton did) that is historically/culturally specific to 2nd wave feminism in the US in her acceptance speech of the vice presidency.
My point about abortion is that because it is built on privacy law is that it is not a litmus test, it becomes an issue of controling embodiment, foundational to all other issues. I agree that accusing someone of false consciousness because they do not agree with me might not be fair...but I also think that if we allow feminism to become wishy-washy third wave individual politics (whatever floats your boat and makes you feel personally empowered) we do all forms of feminism a disservice. Again, foundational to feminism, in both a national and global context, is communal responsibility. -sp
http://www.factcheck.org/
Just for fun
Did anyone else here the results of the CNN poll about Palin?
"...62 percent of men questioned have a favorable opinion of the Alaska governor, nine points higher than women....Fifty-seven percent of male respondents said Palin was qualified, 14 points higher than women."
Do you think it's because men are more likely to be Republicans? Or HRC supporters are insulted that McCain picked some random woman? Or because women don't support each other? Or maybe it's because she supports policies that aren't favorable to women.
Also, an autoclave is a machine that sterilizes instruments, media, and other stuff at high temperatures and pressures.
Kim is angry because Palin just sort of keeps implying that, if she can take care of her own children, anyone can. Kim points out that not everyone has a job that allows them to bring their baby to work. Also, not everyone is married to someone who has a job with un-traditional work hours. Also, some people get tired and need naps (I added that last part).
...so the point is that I think more men agree with Palin that most women are big whiners. Women, on the other hand, may want to throw things at her head.
On the abortion issue, I just wanted to play devil's advocate. I do want to note that I do believe it's a woman's right to choose what to do or not do with her own body. That said, most Republican's do not view it that way. Most Republican's view it as the right's of the unborn child. I have heard a lot of talk about the woman's right to choose, but , just for argument's sake, where do the right's of the child come in? or are these even an issue? - SA
So the abortion issue is something that I really struggle with. I think that in a perfect world it wouldn't be an issue. But the world is so far from perfect. Rape happens. Fatal genetic diseases happen. Poverty and desperation happen. And it seems like a woman in situations that would make her consider an abortion is better qualified than me to make the decisions about whether or not to have a child. And if politicians are concerned about the unborn children, perhaps they should focus on the situations that lead women to abortion - on making birth control accessible, preventing rape, bringing women out of poverty, and empowering women to control their bodies.
Post a Comment