Links - January 24, 2012

Links - January 24, 2012

Nine Deuce The third (and probably last) trans post of my life

Twisty Pinkness ensures replication of patriarchal ideals

Twisty Fairy tale Sunday 

The F-Word The World According to Porn



The F-Word Why Hollywood needs Help




The F-Word On Pornography and the Persistence of Patriarchy 



Metis' Blog on Muslim Feminists Hijab and niqaab and the ban 



Almost Clever To Betray

Written Off

Wow, I guess when you speak out against people being called terrible names like "shemale" and "trannie" and you get removed from blog rolls and link lists - this is truly telling, considering we get pretty disgusted when other groups of people are called degrading names.

It is baffling though, how speaking out against such name calling gets me virtually "kicked out" of the club (not that I was ever consciously affiliated with or represented by a particular organization or group) -- but, if that is how it is, then that is how it will be. However, it is better to speak up than to remain silent. But it does shock me to think of how few women wanted to discuss the actual name-calling that was the central theme of my last post. Instead, many decided to focus on their critiques rather than the actual issue presented in my post, which was regarding the way trans people are being talked about in some radical feminist spaces online.

People who disagree should not be treated like this, at least, it seems contradictory and unproductive as disagreement is a natural part of life and a natural part of growth. To claim that I am simply a "traitor" because I believe that trans people should be treated like humans and should not be called names is just absurd. How are we getting to the point now, in our ideas and politics, where any dissent from any other woman ultimately makes her a "write-off" and deserving of being virtually shit on?

I wonder how united such a movement can be if it is willing to shit on anyone who questions anything that is proposed or discussed within that movement?

Comments are disabled for this post as I am frankly sick of the links to random trans-related posts (by the way, I have read many of these posts throughout the year) and assaults on my character. This post is a reflective of my thoughts surrounding the aftermath of my last post, it is not here for discussion. If you want to actually have a discussion that does involve the central theme of that last post (the name-calling), the post is still open for comments.

Rage at Rage Against the Manchine, now Rage at Boner Killer?

photo found here

Well, shit. Here we are.
 I'm taking the step that will likely cause me to lose some readers. Twisty did it and now, Nine Deuce has also spoken up. Both radical feminist bloggers have "played" the "trans card" and raised concerned eyebrows at the recent discussions taking place in some of the radical feminist blog-o-sphere.


So, you guessed it! I will be yet another radical feminist blogger who will "play" the trans card, I will do so with what was originally an unpublished comment on Nine Deuces' blog. This post came about from my  discomfort with some of the language being used in parts of the online radical feminist community. The recent post at RATM has forced me to come to terms my unease and publicly respond. So, here is that comment expanded.

I think there is a difference between providing a critical analysis and being mean - one can be critical of a movement or individuals without being mean. But when critiques do become mean and resort to name-calling, they no longer appear as thoughtful feminist critiques. This is because it is simply not thoughtful to refer to an entire group of people as "she-males" and "trannies." This sort of name calling is disgusting. Just like it is disgusting when women are called names or those who are older, larger, less abled, less white, less straight, less "beautiful" are called names.

We know, as radical feminists, exactly how it feels to be called an array of horrible names. We know that name-calling is not an ideal path towards mature discussions. That said, there are trans activists who are abusive to radical feminists; I have witnessed name-calling on both sides. However, not ALL radical feminists take part in this just as not ALL trans people take part in abusing radical feminists or agree with what some of the abusive trans activists are doing or saying. 

Why should radical feminists sink to the same level of name-calling, if we know how this treatment feels, why should we use it against a group of people that, as Nine Deuce said, are part of an oppressed group. It is unfair to make sweeping and cruel statements against any oppressed group. It is never necessary to waste time feeling hatred towards others - it will not create any real change or discussion. Hurtful language, like "she-males," has no place in any analysis or in any situation. 

Update: There is NO censoring going on here, the only instances where I do not publish comments is when they are attacking of a particular group or written anonymously or by men.


All of my feelings on this subject are sketched out beautifully over at Rage Against The Manchine with her second post on the topic.  

Boner Killer Becomes "Women-Only" Space for Time Being

This whole woman's only space sounds like a keen idea as, once again I woke up with anti-feminist, anti-woman,  racist, sexist nonsense on my comment feed. 

Truly, I am sick and tired of my blog being used as a space for angry men  and sometimes even angry women feel teh menz are oppressed to the point where that they begin to abandon and deny their sisters' existence under patriarchy. 

This is, as my comment policy has always stated is my space, a room of my own. Since this virtual space is mine, I will enact some boner killing legislation to establish a dude-free, women's only space. 

Ironically enough, my male partner agrees with this idea. After all, he has heard me read out many of the abusive comments. 

And before the sobbing and convulsing starts - this is NOT censorship. My blogger status and status as woman prohibits me from any sort of power to actually "censor" someone. Men immediately start reciting the US constitution when they are not allowed to comment or show up in women's only space. Women are often denied such space- this space is not for men to complain and degrade women. This is blog was not created for men. This is not a space for you. 

So, from now or until I decide otherwise, this blog will be open to women. 

Have a good, boner-killing weekend! 

photo found here

What's in a Name?

Dear Readers, 


The title "Boner Killer" is starting to lose its once awesome hilarity for me lately. The name also sounds a tad less mature and does not reflect the serious issues and ideas discussed in this blog. So, I need suggestions from you. I want to remain anonymous so a good title is important. Please leave titles in my comment section - only serious names, please! The rules for posting anonymous will be pushed aside for this post. 


Yours truly,


_______________

Check out "A Place for Everywomon"

A new feminist blogger has emerged, and I want to give her a warm welcome - check out  "A Place for Everywomon" 

and because this post is far too bare, i'll had some entertaining photographs!

why can't this be on my wall?

soon, i will build an epic fort in my living room. 

nom nom!

nom nom nom!

cute cute cute!

all photos are from weheartit.org