on the character of Black Widow and misogyny
When the movie still wasn’t out in theaters, there were a lot of people complaining how Natasha was just going to be “the token girl” and how “useless” she’s going to be and how she’ll just be eyecandy for the male users while the Main Dudes save the day.
Now, the movie’s out and a lot of people were convinced that she was a great asset to the team. Her character was well-written, fleshed out and had depth. She was badass and confident but at the same time, she felt like a real human; she has things that affect her and is obviously troubled by them but she hides that well. She has her strengths and weaknesses. Well done, Joss!
But at the same time people are stillgoing on about how she shouldn’t have been included, how the movie would’ve been better without her and actively leave her out when talking about the movie. They only talk about her boobs or ass or how hot she was, completely stripping her of any other features except the token eye-candy. I honestly cannot explain it to myself in any other way: society has taught us that women are useless, weak, only exist so that guys can have something to look at and exploit, have no distinct characteristics and should let men save them.
Take a look at Hawkeye, for example - he spent most of the movie being possessed by Loki and afterwards had some snarky lines to deliver. Yet people are creaming their pants over him; how awesome he is, etc. Men aren’t prejudiced against, people always like male characters without much thought. But when it comes to women, people always judge first. Is she too weak? Too strong? Too unfeeling? Too feeling? Society has set these impossibly high standards for us to upholds but truth is: we, as women, will never be able to reach them.
In the same vein, Scarlett Johansson has been asked mainly about her tight suit, interview after interview; not about what her character is like or how it’s been developed, no no, she’s a woman who’s wearing a very tight catsuit and obviously that’s her main point. Captain America and Hawkeye also wear very tight suits but they’re rarely asked about them; Thor and Hawkeye show more skin than Natasha does, yet she’s regarded as the “sex object” because her zip is a little unbuttoned and hey guess what! She has boobs!
It’s 2012, the 21st century and misogyny is still rampant; sure, there’s some progress but it’s painstakingly slow. Black Widow is the only (non-powered!) female superhero in a team full of superpowered guys and she still holds her ground. Yet people are ready to hate on her immediately. Because she’s a woman and what is a woman doing in a superhero movie? Don’t you know superheroes are for guys only?
It’s disgusting.
Here are the rules! Either listen to an anti-choicer on television or go to an anti-choicer website. Get a shot glass.
Drink.
- Take a shot every time a pro-lifer uses the word ‘baby’ to refer to a fetus or embryo
- Take a shot every time they cut off a person’s face and only show their stomach
- Take a shot every time they show an developed infant to represent an abortion even when 88% of abortions occur prior to 12 weeks.
- Take a shot every time they talk about “lost fatherhood”
- Take a shot every time they flat out lie about birth control
- Take a shot every time they talk about God.
- Take a shot every time they talk about abstinence.
Okay by now you should be dead and the zombie revolution must have begun for you to be reading this.
one of them actually said Will is getting older and less hot, and he’d better appreciate anyone who wants to touch him or kiss him.
so is now a good time to talk about how rape culture is a thing that men of color deal with too?
Ooh, don’t get me started…
(Source: fuck-you8)
I got a message from the anon from an ask ladyatheist’s tumblr about mental ilness and PoC, and I got an anon asking for this information and I feel it is a good reference/starting point so I am making it into a post.
A lot of literature regarding people of color and mental illness is about the stigma within the Black community or Latin@ community, rather than the struggles faced from within mental health institutions, so I am mostly posting other kinds of links.
History
History of black people and mental institutions (link)
In Our Own Voice: African-American Stories of Oppression, Survival, and Recovery in Mental Health Systems (link) (pdf)
Racism and Mental Illness (link) (pdf)
Fact Sheets
African American Community Mental Health Fact Sheet
Bipolar Disorder and African-Americans
Mental Health and African Americans
Mental Health and American Indians/Alaska Natives
Mental Health and Asian Americans
“African Americans Have Limited Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care”
Journal Articles
“Barriers to Providing Effective Mental Health Services to American Indians” (link)
“Bias in Mental Health Assessment and Intervention: Theory and Evidence” (link)
“Disparities in Mental Health Treatment in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Implications for Psychiatrists” (link)
“Effective Coping Strategies of African Americans” (link)
“Ethnic Disparities in Unmet Need for Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Care” (link)
“Help Seeking for Mental Health Care among Poor Puerto Ricans: Problem Recognition, Service Use, and Type of Provider” (link)
“Racial Microaggressions Against African American Clients in Cross-Racial Counseling Relationships” (link)
“Racism and Mental Health: the African American experience” (link)
“Racism and Mental Health Into the 21st Century: Perspectives and Parameters” (link)
fuck off me nigga
pimp hand activated
???
The people calling Will Smith homophobic need to shut the fuck up forever.
That man is a stranger that waltzes through any of Will’s personal boundaries at a public event. He doesn’t just try to kiss him, he initiates full body contact, complete with an arm wrapped around the neck.
He then has the nerve to smile once he is pushed off, even when he receives the slap (which, let’s be honest, is barely more than a tap). He doesn’t apologize, even when he sees how upset he made Will. None of the people with Will step in.
If Will Smith really wanted to damage this man, he could do it. He’s been in enough action movies that he knows how to throw a proper punch and could probably lay this man out really quickly.
And let’s just take a minute to think about the shit that would be hitting the fan if this happened to one of the many white female actresses.
That arm around the neck. Every time I look at this clip, I stare at the arm & think about how white female celebs are shielded from close contact at red carpet events, and how many members of security will rush someone who tries to lean too far over the rope line, never mind actually grab someone. But in this clip the guard in the background doesn’t move an inch.
white ppl stay thinking they can be extra super friendly with ppl they dont know at all and black ppl do not play that shit.
THAT LAST COMMENT IS TRUTH. White people have this way of thinking the way to be inclusive is to treat us like I assume they treat their friends. But NO. This is not okay. After having out spaces invaded for centuries we are hypersensitive to this shit so
NO do not touch my hair.
NO do not put your arm around me.
NO do not touch my body all all.AT ALL. Not unless you are pretty close to me and even then, watch yourself.
YESSSS. White people love touchin my skin and hair and I’m like “Da fuqqq you doin?!”
^This
Will Smith had every right to push that man off him. What a creep ugh.
(Source: itsexclusive)
Let me tell you something: as someone who faces sexism on a very personal level, I have no interest in politely trying to educate misogynists when we live in a culture in which their misogyny has no repercussions. Our government is introducing bill after bill of offensive, woman-hating legislation, murder is still the leading cause of [death of] pregnant women, and rape is under-prosecuted at staggering numbers. Birth control is up for debate, governors are rolling back equal pay laws, and you think I have the energy to be polite to these people?
No.
Because it doesn’t do any good. There’s no evidence that being super nice to sexists, or racists, or homophobes, or bigots of any kind will make them see the error of their ways - it’ll just make them more comfortable to be around you because you’re playing by their rules.
My blog is one of the only times these people will face any repercussions for being bigots. And you know what? They can turn off the computer and go right back out into the world where they are sexist jackasses and people tolerate it or even encourage it. When I turn off the computer, I’m still in a world of sexist jackasses that are tolerated and even encouraged. There’s this culture of not having any accountability for being a bigot, and I’ve created one tiny space on the internet where that’s no longer true.
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor there see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”
- John Steinbeck
DEAD
Rihanna - feminist icon?
I just kind of lost all respect for her after she got back with Chris Brown. Lack of money/resources, having kids with a partner…those are usually the reasons it’s a lot easier said than done leaving an abuser. But she has money and resources out the ying-yang, no kids with Brown…so she chose to go back to him.
So I normally do not look at the responses or notes in my blog because it is often a lot to go through or I am just too busy. However, I saw this on my phone and I felt like I had to respond because this is really worrisome logic and I think this is something that needs to be address.
First of all, I chose this screencap because I thought it was kickass that Rihanna used a snarky ass response to some fucking slut-shaming and body policing. It’s one thing to disagree with someone’s outfit, but to equate covering one’s body and ‘classing it up’ is just not okay. The media been having fun trying to hate on her and I like that she fought back in her little way. While she herself may not be a feminist (I have no idea if she is or not - and frankly, right now I don’t care), the act of speaking out against that shit can be seen as a feminist act.
Secondly, I think it’s really fucking problematic for us to only find victims/survivors to return to abusers acceptable under certain circumstances. There is more to being in an abusive relationship than economic dependency. The person being abused can be more successful, have more potential for independence, have friends, etc. That does not change the inevitable mental and emotional manipulation that happens to someone abused. Remember, this person loves the individual that has created this terrible trap - even if it isnt physical it is most definitely mental. So there are more reason than just MONEY or CHILDREN for people to stay.
Many couples don’t have children. Many teens end up in abusive relationships and stay. Most of these teens are not economically dependent on their partner, but rather their guardians. Should we judge these teens who go back to abusers because there’s “no reason” to stay or return? No. Fuck that.
THIS SORT of mentality is what perpetuates this victim-blaming culture where we still hold this disproportional responsibility on the abused to avoid being abused. People lose respect for Rihanna and then Chris Brown is celebrated and the rest of us is told to “move on?”
Fine, say you lose respect for Rihanna. That’s your perogative. But DON’T create this hierarchy of ‘acceptable reasons to stay with your abuser.’ That’s really fucking wrong and that’s personally hurtful - I know what it’s like to be trapped mentally in an abusive relationship. It isn’t just about physical dependency. There’s so much more. And existing in a culture where the abused has to deal with so much more scrutiny not only for being abused, but for their behavior before and after that it is no wonder people feel inclined to stay.
It is so easy to blame yourself - I know I’ve done that and sometimes slip into that mentality today YEARS later, but I can’t IMAGINE how tough it is to have millions of people around the world blaming you, saying your abuser is innocent, etc. It can be so easy to really just give in to one’s feelings and take an easier (at least in the short run) choice to go back.
In the end, I totally know it must be hard for her. I know how hard it is for other survivors. We need to check ourselves when we decide to choose to comment on the decisions of people while in the really fucking hard period of going through a violence relationship. Perhaps I should not be respected for going back to abusers - to people who have bruised me, sent me to the hospital, raped me. But I know deep down I am not to blame and there are a million different reasons and other pressures that make it so hard to leave.
/end rant
BLESS THIS POST. And Rihanna never stops being hilarious on twitter.
fuck off me nigga
pimp hand activated
???
The people calling Will Smith homophobic need to shut the fuck up forever.
That man is a stranger that waltzes through any of Will’s personal boundaries at a public event. He doesn’t just try to kiss him, he initiates full body contact, complete with an arm wrapped around the neck.
He then has the nerve to smile once he is pushed off, even when he receives the slap (which, let’s be honest, is barely more than a tap). He doesn’t apologize, even when he sees how upset he made Will. None of the people with Will step in.
If Will Smith really wanted to damage this man, he could do it. He’s been in enough action movies that he knows how to throw a proper punch and could probably lay this man out really quickly.
And let’s just take a minute to think about the shit that would be hitting the fan if this happened to one of the many white female actresses.
That arm around the neck. Every time I look at this clip, I stare at the arm & think about how white female celebs are shielded from close contact at red carpet events, and how many members of security will rush someone who tries to lean too far over the rope line, never mind actually grab someone. But in this clip the guard in the background doesn’t move an inch.
I can’t stop staring at the woman behind him, in the scarf. How she goes from shocked to to grinning.
Yeah it’s so funny to watch someone get violated. Absolutely fucking hilarious.
Boundaries, people. Respect them. Ffffffuuuuuuuu
(Source: itsexclusive)
No means no, even when they’re toddlers
A few people have alerted me to this video of toddlers and you can watch as a little boy hugs a little girl multiple times and each time he does, she pushes him away. A few of the times, he seems to be prompted to continue by the person with the camera. It’s a full two minutes and nothing changes – he hugs her, she pushes him away, he gets up and hugs her again and she pushes him away again.
Clearly this isn’t street harassment because they know each other and it isn’t sexual harassment because they’re toddlers and don’t have an understanding of all that, but it is a problematic situation in which adults are standing by and letting (encouraging?) this little boy to do something the girl doesn’t want him to do and then instead of helping her use her words to tell him to stop, they’re letting her push him down over and over.
The Good Men Project linked to the video via the How to Be a Dad’s site, where the author labels the post “My Life with Women” and writes, “This one symbolizes every attempt I’ve ever made at relationships with the fairer sex… …. …. until my wife.”
The he writes, “I could be the misogynist here and make some comments about just how badly the lady little treats this fine, young man, but women are pretty great. Maybe this kid needs to get a job, buy a sweet ride (Power Wheels, perhaps?) and learn some Karate, proving himself a worthy love interest?”
And I find that very problematic. Implying that this little toddler and all women who reject men are stuck-up, bitchy, and only after good-looking or rich men is harmful. Instead of looking at the actions and saying, this girl doesn’t want to be hugged, they are focusing on the poor boy and how mean she is. She may have 10 reasons or only 1 for why she doesn’t want to be hugged by him and all of them are valid and should be respected.
No means no, even when you’re a toddler. Especially when you’re a toddler. Fifteen percent of sexual assault and abuse victims are under age 12. Teaching kids how to protect themselves at a very young age is crucial to helping them know how to prevent or get help if they are victimized and can teach them skills they can use all of their life.
This attitude that women owe men attention no matter what contributes to how, when some men are ignored or rejected by the women they harass on the street, they call them a bitch, a ho, throw trash at them, chase them, or tell them they were ugly anyway. Instead of thinking logically about all the reasons why a woman may not respond positively to a man who hollers at her on the street, men feel it is an affront on their masculinity and lash out.
Another problematic aspect of the video is the number of people who applauded how persistent the kid is. Some people in the comments of posts talked about being disappointed he never got her in the end. Guess what, you don’t always “get the girl” in the end. No means no! 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the U.S. We need to teach kids, especially boys because they are the bulk of the stalkers, not to follow or keep hugging etc women and girls who clearly don’t want that attention.
So those are my thoughts on the video, what are yours?
source: http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/2012/05/toddlers/
Unfortunately we don’t live in a “culture of consent.” Consent doesn’t mean a damn thing to most people. Instead, people feel entitled to do whatever the fuck they want simply because they’re physically able to and that is my biggest problem with the toddler video. That little boy wants to hug the little girl and is physically able to do so therefore he does DESPITE the fact that she repeatedly uses negative feedback methods to communicate her non-consent. She actively denies her consent to his invasion of her physical space and not only does he ignore it but the adults ignore it too. This is a teaching moment and both of those kids are learning valuable lessons. That little boy is learning that it’s perfectly fine for him to do whatever the fuck he wants and that not only will there be no negative consequences for violating consent but there will actually be positive consequences for it considering that the adult involved is encouraging his behavior. Meanwhile the little girl is learning the same thing - other people will violate her consent as though they have the right to do so, people who see it happening will encourage it and provide positive reinforcement for that behavior no matter how hard she fights to maintain her own agency, and in the end the only person she can count on for protection or to care about her consent is herself.
Since shit like this is what kids are being taught from day one it’s hardly surprising that when they grow up to be adults they act the same way only it becomes rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. This is rape culture in action and the only hope for ending it is for us to actively create a culture of consent, a culture in which consent is the most important thing in any and all interactions no matter what.
This is what I be talkin’ about y’all.
yep. my little one is quick to scream “get away” and run anytime she feels anyone she doesnt trust is getting to close to her personal space. people try to act like thats bad…nope. nope. she knows her body is her own. she is affectionate when she feels like it and thats fine. and she should always know that. you shouldnt be training kids to be silent and compliant to peoples demands of their bodies. EVER.
I refuse to make my kids hug or kiss anyone & that’s caused static with relatives who only see them once a year. But, I don’t want them to ever think anyone else has a right to their body. Frankly, I side eye anyone who thinks people don’t have a right to boundaries or personal space.
Yes to all of this.
(Source: captain-sonic)
MEANWHILE IN AUSTRALIA
BOBBLE-HEADED BIRDS
RABBITS MATING WITH RATS
TINY HERBIVOROUS BEARS
PLUSH TOYS MAGICALLY COME TO LIFE
LIZARDS-
WHAT THE FUCK
WALKING FEATHER DUSTERS
THE FUCK IS THIS IDEK BUT IT DESERVES A HUG
THE MOST FABULOUS BIRDS SINCE FLAMINGOS
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS THING IT’S LIKE A DOG BRED WITH A MEERKAT
WELL IT’S PRETTY CUTE I G- JESUSFUCK
AND MORE LIZARDS
FUCK MAN EVERYWHERE HAS LIZARDS WHAT’S THE BIG D- WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK
AND WHATEVER THIS THING IS WILL FUCK UP A HONEY BADGER
WHAT YOU THINK CUZ IT’S LIKE 80% DESERT HERE WE DON’T GOT PENGUINS FUCK YOU WE GOT PENGUINS IN SWEATERS
HEY I THINK YOU SAW THIS ONE IN A MUSEUM ONCE
ALSO HEY ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES ALSO THIS FUCKER
AND THIS GUY
AND THIS GUY WANTS TO KILL YOU TOO
AND HOLY FUCK LOOK AT THIS THING
JESUS CHRIST THEY COME IN POCKET VERSIONS
BACK TO THINGS THAT WANT YOU DEAD
WEREN’T EXPECTING THAT WERE YOU.
SO YEAH, COME VISIT AUSTRALIA.
WE’RE ALL FUCKING WAITING WITH OUR WEIRD SHIT.
P.S.
omg
I can’t
Fascinating. Terrifying. Maybe i’ll stick to my city park in the middle of Toronto. We get some interestingly coloured pigeons around here.
(Source: fairy-wren)
