daniellemertina: ai-yo: cosmicyoruba: sunisup: I’m reading up on the Memoirs of a Geisha controversy, since I’d neither seen the movie nor read the book, and the more I read about it, the more pissed off I get.  Basically it went down like this: Japanese woman tells white American man about her past life as a geisha.  White American man then writes a novel that sells itself as an accurate memoir of Japanese woman’s life, but instead falsifies a number of her life events, misrepresents her trade, and exoticises her culture.  He also names her as a source even though she specifically asked him to keep her anonymous.  Japanese woman gets death threats.  White American man becomes bestselling author. Then Japanese woman gets fed up and writes her own memoir to set the record straight.  Meanwhile, white American man’s book gets adapted into a film that grosses $162 million and wins three Oscars. This is why I can’t stand Memoirs of a Geisha and will side-eye anyone who claims that book as a favourite. never read the book watched the movie wasn’t anything special the actors were nice to look at i found this out after i read memoirs of a geisha. although honestly since it was written by a white guy you can’t expect anything better. it’s like they don’t get that fiction is fine but not when it’s about somebody’s culture and livelihood  and especially not if you’re marketing it as accurate. and the worst lie in the whole thing is that she sold her virginity to the highest buyer. why would you make something like that up?  her memoir is definitely on my reading list. i’m ashamed i didn’t read it before his but i hadn’t heard of it till after when i did research :/

daniellemertina:

ai-yo:

cosmicyoruba:

sunisup:

I’m reading up on the Memoirs of a Geisha controversy, since I’d neither seen the movie nor read the book, and the more I read about it, the more pissed off I get.  Basically it went down like this:

Japanese woman tells white American man about her past life as a geisha.  White American man then writes a novel that sells itself as an accurate memoir of Japanese woman’s life, but instead falsifies a number of her life events, misrepresents her trade, and exoticises her culture.  He also names her as a source even though she specifically asked him to keep her anonymous.  Japanese woman gets death threats.  White American man becomes bestselling author.

Then Japanese woman gets fed up and writes her own memoir to set the record straight.  Meanwhile, white American man’s book gets adapted into a film that grosses $162 million and wins three Oscars.

This is why I can’t stand Memoirs of a Geisha and will side-eye anyone who claims that book as a favourite.

never read the book watched the movie wasn’t anything special the actors were nice to look at

i found this out after i read memoirs of a geisha. although honestly since it was written by a white guy you can’t expect anything better. it’s like they don’t get that fiction is fine but not when it’s about somebody’s culture and livelihood  and especially not if you’re marketing it as accurate.

and the worst lie in the whole thing is that she sold her virginity to the highest buyer. why would you make something like that up? 

her memoir is definitely on my reading list. i’m ashamed i didn’t read it before his but i hadn’t heard of it till after when i did research :/

5 months ago  Notes (11950)

so-treu:

me @ 2012.

(Source: aliceinlesboland, via tranqualizer)

5 months ago  Notes (666)

"Why does a tragedy like 9/11 change everything about air travel, but numerous gun massacres CHANGE NOTHING?"

Justine Bateman, hitting the nail on the head. (via coketalk)

bcuz 99% of gun massacres are done by white ppl who should be constantly excused by their actions. 

and the 9/11 attacks were caused by da evil brown terrorists ewww. 

(via cynique)

(via fuckyeahcracker)

6 months ago  Notes (40062)

deliciouskaek:

thinkspeakstress:

medusaceratops-lokii:

thinkspeakstress:

He might not have been serious, but there’s HUUUUUGE problems with a white person comparing a person of color to an animal. That’s not excuseable, joke or not, he had no business. NONE.

“but there’s HUUUUUGE problems with a person comparing another person to an animal, regardless of race.”

Fixed.

Just FYI, more racism doesn’t cancel out the original racism, even if that person is white.

Gasp.

yup. this is what happens when context is removed for the comfort of white folks.

the centuries-old comparison BY white folks OF people of color TO animals is a thing that will forever have connotations that if people like medusaceratops-lokii aren’t willing to shut up and learn about, you will never understand.

it is the context of the entire post, and of the entire situation.

if you remove that context because it makes you happier or more comfortable to ignore it, then you are missing the entire point.

(Source: bracha-ncc1701, via karnythia)

6 months ago  Notes (131)

hi-mom:

mehreenkasana:

eastafrodite:

realfakescientist:

what is it with white people and being carried on thrones by non-whites? so much wrong with this, I don’t know where to start.

OH MY GOD.

Hmm. This looks awfully similar to this:

And this too:

Excuse me while I throw up all over these royal jerks.

Hey look, something that should be a MUCH BIGGER DEAL than topless photos. Goddamnit, this couldn’t get more tasteless without them actually wearing pith helmets.

(Source: paxamericana, via homoarigato)

9 months ago  Notes (2260)

Tea Party group called “True the Vote” plans on posting white operatives in black voting precincts on election day to challenge those voters’ authenticity.

bankuei:

freedominwickedness:

blog-anglophonic:

If you would not like to be approached by a hostile white person

who wants to “see your ID” before you even enter your polling place, you might want to contact these scumbags now and tell them to fuck off. They are planning to be out in full force on election day, mainly in areas which are majority nonwhite, and they plan on doing whatever it takes to keep you from getting into that booth.

http://www.truethevote.org

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/48773662#48773662

-

#true the vote     #voter suppression

Remember: even in states with voter ID laws, only an actual poll worker has any legal right to check your ID. The actual poll workers are inside the polling station. Anyone outside the polling station is not legitimate and should be told in no uncertain terms to FUCK OFF.

Also let the actual poll workers know if people are outside doing this.  They can call authorities to ARREST these people. 

(via rocketmf)

9 months ago  Notes (1522)
ayiman: beforethenightisover: motherjones: What’s wrong with this picture? This. “The Pepper Pike company that owns the Century Mine told workers that attending the Aug. 14 Romney event would be both mandatory and unpaid, a top company official said Monday morning in a West Virginia radio interview. A group of employees who feared they’d be fired if they didn’t attend the campaign rally in Beallsville, Ohio, complained about it to WWVA radio station talk show host David Blomquist. Blomquist discussed their beefs on the air Monday with Murray Energy Chief Financial Officer Rob Moore. Moore also confirms that they bused workers to the rally, and that the mine was shut down for the day (probably because so many workers would be at this “mandatory” rally). So even if workers wanted to, you know, work, they’d be forced to take a day off without pay anyway.” mittens and his corporate paymasters screwing workers out of their days wage just they can stand around and watch a hollow man in blue jeans deliver soundbites for a camera.

ayiman:

beforethenightisover:

motherjones:

What’s wrong with this picture? This.

“The Pepper Pike company that owns the Century Mine told workers that attending the Aug. 14 Romney event would be both mandatory and unpaid, a top company official said Monday morning in a West Virginia radio interview.

A group of employees who feared they’d be fired if they didn’t attend the campaign rally in Beallsville, Ohio, complained about it to WWVA radio station talk show host David Blomquist. Blomquist discussed their beefs on the air Monday with Murray Energy Chief Financial Officer Rob Moore.

Moore also confirms that they bused workers to the rally, and that the mine was shut down for the day (probably because so many workers would be at this “mandatory” rally). So even if workers wanted to, you know, work, they’d be forced to take a day off without pay anyway.”

mittens and his corporate paymasters screwing workers out of their days wage just they can stand around and watch a hollow man in blue jeans deliver soundbites for a camera.

(via ohladysamantha)

9 months ago  Notes (2842)
racebending: [IMAGE: In a promotional still from Cloud Altas, Asian actress Bae Doona cries as she is snuggled by Jim Sturgess in yellowface] If you don’t understand the controversy around Cloud Atlas, then in all likelihood, you are focused on the film in terms of its artistic quality. What you appreciate about the film is its grand vision: the sweeping soundtrack, grand special effects, universal concepts of reincarnation and rebirth, adventure on the scale of centuries or millennia. So I’d like to make something perfectly clear: our concerns are not about the quality of the writing, the story, the special effects, makeup artistry, or cinematography. Our discussion will be about social impact, culture, and politics. The nature of a multimillion dollar venture like Cloud Atlas is that it is shaped by culture and society. It is designed for the consumption of moviegoers. Millions of consumers will pay to see this film. The act of payment will encourage other films of similar cloth and make. The act of viewing will refine the viewer’s sense of pop culture, if only in a small way. … In watching the Cloud Atlas trailer, the parallels are clear. As with these other films, we see that white creators and performers are permitted to determine what it means to be Asian. It’s frustrating, because the trailer suggests a story that comfortably meshes with preconceptions and stereotypes of Asians: of a futuristic world of high technology and little soul, where the “all-look-same” vision of Asianness is directly translated into racks of identical, interchangeable Asian “fabricant” clones. It suggests a world where white actors (in yellowface) and Asian actresses enter into romantic trysts–while excluding the voices and faces of Asian American actors. … All too often in conversations about race in the 2010s, it seems that the racial conversation is all about performing the same racist actions but justifying them with new words. The use of yellowface, or even blackface, can be justified if the director uses the term “post-racial” or “colorblind.” But an honest look at statistics and demographics reveals that our society is anything but. We cannot enter a “post-racial” world by pretending problems do not exist, by pretending that lopsided representation is justified. Acting as an apologist preserves the status quo in favor of those who already have the lion’s share of representation, who “don’t care” about race issues because they are fundamentally content with the system. If you can see your race and gender reflected in 80% of the faces that dominate movie posters, then it becomes meaningless to you. It’s worth nothing. It doesn’t damage your self-esteem, as it does for American children of any demographic other than “white male.” For the rest of us, Cloud Atlas represents simply another film in the long tradition of Hollywood exclusion. It has been a very, very long road. We can only keep the discussion alive, despite how much further yet we need to go. An excerpt from Racebending.com’s latest article: The Cloud Atlas Conversation: Yellowface, Prejudice, and Artistic License.

racebending:

[IMAGE: In a promotional still from Cloud Altas, Asian actress Bae Doona cries as she is snuggled by Jim Sturgess in yellowface]

If you don’t understand the controversy around Cloud Atlas, then in all likelihood, you are focused on the film in terms of its artistic quality. What you appreciate about the film is its grand vision: the sweeping soundtrack, grand special effects, universal concepts of reincarnation and rebirth, adventure on the scale of centuries or millennia.

So I’d like to make something perfectly clear: our concerns are not about the quality of the writing, the story, the special effects, makeup artistry, or cinematography.

Our discussion will be about social impact, culture, and politics. The nature of a multimillion dollar venture like Cloud Atlas is that it is shaped by culture and society. It is designed for the consumption of moviegoers. Millions of consumers will pay to see this film. The act of payment will encourage other films of similar cloth and make. The act of viewing will refine the viewer’s sense of pop culture, if only in a small way.

…

In watching the Cloud Atlas trailer, the parallels are clear. As with these other films, we see that white creators and performers are permitted to determine what it means to be Asian. It’s frustrating, because the trailer suggests a story that comfortably meshes with preconceptions and stereotypes of Asians: of a futuristic world of high technology and little soul, where the “all-look-same” vision of Asianness is directly translated into racks of identical, interchangeable Asian “fabricant” clones. It suggests a world where white actors (in yellowface) and Asian actresses enter into romantic trysts–while excluding the voices and faces of Asian American actors.

…

All too often in conversations about race in the 2010s, it seems that the racial conversation is all about performing the same racist actions but justifying them with new words. The use of yellowface, or even blackface, can be justified if the director uses the term “post-racial” or “colorblind.” But an honest look at statistics and demographics reveals that our society is anything but. We cannot enter a “post-racial” world by pretending problems do not exist, by pretending that lopsided representation is justified.

Acting as an apologist preserves the status quo in favor of those who already have the lion’s share of representation, who “don’t care” about race issues because they are fundamentally content with the system. If you can see your race and gender reflected in 80% of the faces that dominate movie posters, then it becomes meaningless to you. It’s worth nothing. It doesn’t damage your self-esteem, as it does for American children of any demographic other than “white male.”

For the rest of us, Cloud Atlas represents simply another film in the long tradition of Hollywood exclusion. It has been a very, very long road. We can only keep the discussion alive, despite how much further yet we need to go.

An excerpt from Racebending.com’s latest article: The Cloud Atlas Conversation: Yellowface, Prejudice, and Artistic License.

(via jhenne-bean)

10 months ago  Notes (296)

basedlacigreen:

New Body Under Construction: THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT VIDEO LIST.

luxurioussugar:

yogarunrow:

I’ve collected as many workout videos online as I could-including Jillian Michaels, P90x, BodyRock, and more ALL FOR FREE! Now you have no excuse for working out! Muwahahaha

Cardio & High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Tone It Up Beach BABE video

BodyRock.tv Hot Body Workout video

BodyRock.tv 4 Minute Workout video

BodyRock.tv Hardest Workout Ever video

BodyRock.tvHard Bodies Getting Harder Workout

BodyRock.tv 6 Minute Workout video

BodyRock.tv Run The World Workout video

BodyRock.tv Hot Attack video

~

Jillian Michaels

Ripped in 30

30 Day Shred

6 Week Six-Pack

Yoga Meltdown Level 1 & 2

Banish Fat Boost Metabolism

No More Trouble Zones

~

All Over Body Toning

Tone It Up Arms, Abs, and Legs Pyramid video

Tone It Up Bikini Abs & Thighs video (with yoga ball)

Tone It Up Sandcastle Workout video

Tone It Up Bikini Body Workout with Self Magazine!

Tone It Up Bikini Blast Circuit Workout video

Tone It Up Bikini Body Workout with Self Magazine!

Pop Pilates Till The World Ends video

Pop Pilates Summer Slimdown Part 1 & Part 2

Bodyrock.tv I’m Into You Workout video

skinnyyogagirl’s 1000 Rep Workout

skinnyyogagirl’s Full Body Cardio & Strength Workout

skinnyyogagirl’s Burning Body Workout

~

Abs

Pop Pilates Flat Abs Challenge video

Pop Pilates 3 Minute Ab Challenge video

Tone It Up Tighten & Tone Your Abs video

Tone It Up Itty Bitty Bikini video

~

Legs & Butt

Pop Pilates Slimming Inner Thighs & Calves video

Pop Pilates Inner Thigh Insanity video

Pop Pilates Saddlebag Shaver video

Pop Pilates Standing Pilates for Legs, Butt & Obliques video

Pop Pilates Butt Blaster video

Tone It Up Bikini Beach Bum video

BodyRock.tv Abs Now Workout video (I know it says abs but it works the thighs more)

BodyRock.tv 300 Squats Challenge

skinnyyogagirl’s Legs & Butt Workout

~

Yoga

Dashama Sun Salutations video

Dashama Sun Salutations 2 video

Dashama Hip Stretches

Tara Stiles Bend It Like Tara video (my favorite stretching video)

sadienardini 40 minute yoga weight loss videos  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

exercisetv.tv Yoga Fitness Plus 45 minute video

exercisetv.tv Beginner Yoga 20 minute video

exercisetv.tv Yoga Sculpt 30 minute video

exercisetv.tv Yoga Fitness Fusion 45 minute video

Yogis Anonymous Hurts So Good Power Yoga 95 minute video

Yogis Anonymous Blissed Flow Yoga 90 minute (love love love this one!)

Post Running Stretch video from FlexibleWarriorYoga

YOGA:

Neck & Shoulders

Chest:

Arms:

Back:

Abs:

Hips:

Legs:

Full Body/Full Classes:

FULL BODY CARDIO WORKOUTS


Full body cardio core 20 minute workout

Most effective 20 minute cardio workout-Tabata Style

High intensity Fat burn cardio training 

Full body circuit Boot Camp workout

Zuzana Light-ZWOD #1 

Fitness-How To Tror workout

POP Sculpt: Total Body workout

Sexy Body Exercise Video

Model workout episode 1

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred: Level 1

Walking cardio shape up

The thanksgiving BIG BURN workout

Cardio Groove n’Burn Workout video by ExerciseTV

Pilates-Exercicios Alongamento

Bootcamp Calorie burn by ExerciseTV

Full body workout by eFit

Cardio Fat blast workout

Insanity 20 minute workout-fat burner

Total body workout 30 minutes

Fitness-suicie sweat workout

Victoria’s secret model workout

Food baby HIIT workout (POP cardio)

Bare Fitness-Girl fight

POP pilates: New body makeover

Bikini Blaster 1 HIIT it hard

15 minute total body boot camp

Fat blasting 10 minute workout

Pump it up
 

ABS
 

Killer abs workout

Tabata workout abs in 4 minutes

Sunkissed ABS workout

Hardcore ab workout with blogilates

6 minutes abs of steel ab workout

Core Rhythms Full workout

25 minutes abs and obliques workout

The Bikini abs workout

Reduce Tummy

Yummy abs workout

Lose bellyfat

Fitness-10 minute ab workout

Amazing abs workout

Best core workout ever

HIIT workout for abs and obliques

INSANE abs in 5 minutes

POP Pilates: Intense ab workout

Crazy slim abs 

Stomach exercises to lose belly fat

5 minute abs workout

Flat belly workout 

Standing abs workout routine

Flat stomach exercises

Abs of envy workout

Pumped up sexy abs workout

BOOTY


Bikini booty Thong workout 

MaliBooty workout

Hot booty firm up

POP Pilates: Butt blaster

Butt and Cleavage workout

How to get a perfect butt workout tutorial

10 minute booty shaking waist workout

Beach bum workout 

Best butt workout ever

What make you bootyful butt challenge

POP Pilates: Beyonce bootylicious Bum butt Badonkadonk Bonanza 

Pilates butt burner 

3 weeks to an awesome butt

Butt like a Brazilian 

Quick butt workout

Butt lifting exercises 

Best exercises for buttocks

LEGS


How to get skinny looking legs

Thinner thighs and legs workout

How to slim and tone those thighs 

Pumped up kicks workout

Squat challenge

Tone it up Thighs workout

Sexy legs workout 

10 minute Ballerina beauty, long legs, tight booty

Love your legs workout

Leg slimming exercises

ARMS


FGF Ultimate Upper body workout

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Upper body pulse workout

Killer sculpted arms workout

Upper back, arms and chest workout 

50 caliber arm workout

Toned triceps challenge 

YOGA 


20 minute Yoga class for complete beginners 

Yoga for weight loss-morning and evening routine 

Yoga for strong slim legs

20 minute weight loss & fatburning Yoga Workout

Hatha Yoga flow 55 minute class

Yoga for bedtime 

Jennifer Aniston’s Yoga ab workout

Yoga booty goddess booty

Yoga morning routine 

Hot Yoga challenge

Yoga Meltdown with Jillian Michaels

Basic Breathing-Beginner Yoga

Insanity 

Fit Test

Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Cardio Power & Resistance

Cardio Recovery

Pure Cardio

Cardio Abs

Core Cardio & Balance

Max Interval Circuit

Max Interval Plyo

Max Cardio Conditioning

Max Recovery

Insane Abs

Max Interval Sports Training

Upper Body Weight Training’

Jillian Michaels

Ripped In 30 
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4 

6 Week Six Pack
Level 1
Level 2 

Yoga Meltdown
Level 1 & 2 

30 Day Shred
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3 

No Trouble Zones
Video

Banish Fat Boost Metabolism 
Video 

Insanity 

Fit Test

Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Cardio Power & Resistance

Cardio Recovery

Pure Cardio

Cardio Abs

Core Cardio & Balance

Max Interval Circuit

Max Interval Plyo

Max Cardio Conditioning

Max Recovery

Insane Abs

Max Interval Sports Training

Upper Body Weight Training

Livestrong How-to videos

Cardio

Abs

Arms

Butt

Legs

Yoga

Butt

Bikini booty Thong workout 

MaliBooty workout

Hot booty firm up

POP Pilates: Butt blaster

Butt and Cleavage workout

How to get a perfect butt workout tutorial

10 minute booty shaking waist workout

Beach bum workout 

Best butt workout ever

What make you bootyful butt challenge

POP Pilates: Beyonce bootylicious Bum butt Badonkadonk Bonanza 

Pilates butt burner 

3 weeks to an awesome butt

Butt like a Brazilian 

Quick butt workout

Butt lifting exercises 

Best exercises for buttocks

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Back

Butt

Core

Legs

Upper Body

Hybrid Workouts

Full Body

Beginner Workouts

Partner Workouts

Stretches

Cardio

Lower body at home workouts 

If you don’t have access to a gym try these exercises at home:

If you have access to a gym try these machines & equipment:

These are my favorite leg videos:

THANK YOU BASED GOD!!!

(Source: yoga-run-row, via theirriandjhiquishow-deactivate)

10 months ago  Notes (1664)

Why “Love is All You Need?” amounts to straight people jacking off onto a movie script and calling it progress.

justaguywitharrows:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821524/

Let’s talk about this movie, tumblr. The premise of this movie is that the roles have been reversed. Instead of straight people being the privileged majority and gay people being the oppressed minority, it’s the other way around. In a world where being gay is normal and straight is not, two heterosexual people fall in love and must face the derision and oppression of the world. 

Seems okay so far, right? WRONG. Here is a list of the reasons why this premise is fucked up, in the order I’m going to talk about them:

1. It is recentering the conversation from being about oppressed people to their oppressors. (AGAIN). 

2. It is privileging straight stories over queer stories. 

3. It is holding up straight people are more sympathetic than queer people. 

4. It /IS/ playing into gay panic. 

Points the first and second. So supposedly this movie is helping the gay rights cause by exposing oppression. You know what would do the same exact thing? Making a movie about gay people being oppressed by straight people. The thing that actually happens. There’s actually no really good reason to reverse the situation. (I know you’re going to argue with me on this, but stay with me. I’ll get to that.) In fact, in doing so, all this movie accomplishes is making the conversation not about the actual people being oppressed. Again. This happens all the time. Most of the time when oppressed people talk about how they are victimized, their oppressors immediately begin trumpeting about how they’re not all that bad and how can those naughty marginalized people be so mean and heartless as to accuse them of doing bad things?

We really, desperately need to stop talking about straight people and start actually talking about queer people. I know this switcheroo seems innocuous at face value but it’s unconscionable to fictionalize our oppression and make the viewer cry for the straight people when they’re the ones hurting us on a daily basis. It’s unconscionable to erase our pain like that. Our pain is real and it kills our own every day. Mapping it onto the bodies that actively perpetuate that pain and death? Wow that’s really fucked up. Like I said, it’s 100% possible to accomplish the same thing, which is exposing the damage of oppression, except actually telling it like it is. Why does it need to be about straight people? Point the third: If you are saying it’s so that straight people can empathize then what you’ve just said is that people care more about straight people than queer people. According to that argument, when straight people hear stories about gay people being oppressed they don’t care. In which case, that’s y’all’s fucked up problem. Maybe you should go stand in the corner and think about why you don’t care about anybody but yourself. 

Finally, I stand by my point that this movie DOES play into gay panic. No, it is not the intent of the movie makers to create a dystopia where gay people have taken over the world and now oppress straight people. But do you see how that is actually the exact story being told? Intent isn’t magic and it doesn’t erase the reality of what is on the screen. How come apparently the way to get through to non-queer people, according to the premise of this movie, is by showing them a reality where queer people are the majority and it causes “straight oppression”. (Excuse me a moment while I laugh like a hyena. Moving onward.) You must be aware, dear reader, that gay panic is a real thing. That real people are genuinely afraid of queer people. Afraid enough to hurt us and kill us and deny us services and our basic human rights. You must also be aware that there are people who regularly complain that it’s too hard to remember not to be heterosexist or cissexist, or just generally not an asshole, and that being “politically correct” is oppressive to their free speech. In case you’re not, those people do exist and us queers know because we’re the ones who have to deal with them. And just because this movie doesn’t intend to pander to that fear doesn’t mean that it isn’t pandering to it anyway. These things don’t exist in a vacuum. Our media is born into a world full of prejudices and oppression and to not be aware of the context into which we set forth our creations is, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, outright harming people. 

So yes. I do know what the creators of Love is All You Need? intended. And I don’t care, because it’s still a fucked movie that offends me and makes my overall life more difficult. If you tried to help a marginalized group and all you managed to do is piss them the fuck off, maybe you haven’t succeeded. And maybe you should listen when they tell you that you’re not helping, you’re just talking about yourself and hurting them in the process. 

(via homoarigato)

10 months ago  Notes (1116)

fuckyeahreactions:

11 months ago  Notes (67)

infiltratortits:

elizabitchtaylor:

film about a group of men getting into shenanigans= “comedy”
film about a group of women getting into shenanigans= “chick flick”

film about a friendship between two men= “buddy flick”
film about a friendship between two women= “chick flick”

emotional film about father/son relationships= “drama” 
emotional film about mother/daughter relationships= “chick flick” 

film about a young man finding identity= “coming of age”
film about a young woman finding identity= “chick flick”

(via seriouslyamerica)

11 months ago  Notes (21957)

(Source: awkwardfeministmoments)

1 year ago  Notes (59)

womenaresociety:

Nerds and Male Privilege (definitely worth a read!)

I want to tell you a story.

A few years ago, I was dating a girl who was decidedly not nerd curious. She tolerated my geeky interests with a certain bemused air but definitely didn’t participate in ‘em… not even setting foot inside a comic store on new comic day. She’d wait outside until I was done… which could be a while, since I was friends with several of the staff.

She came in the store exactly once, after I’d explained that no, it’s a pretty friendly place… well lit, spacious, organized and with helpful – and clearly identified – staff members who were willing to bend over backwards to make sure their customers were satisfied.

She was in there for less than 4 minutes before one mouth-breathing troglodyte began alternately staring at her boobs – evidently hoping that x-ray vision could develop spontaneously – and berating her for daring to comment on the skimpy nature of the costumes – in this case, Lady Death and Witchblade. She fled the premises, never to return.

When both the manager and I explained to him in no uncertain terms as to what he did wrong he shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, I was just trying to help you guys! She couldn’t understand that chicks can be tough and sexy! Not my fault she’s a chauvinist,” he said.

And that was when I shot him, your honor.

So with that example in mind, let’s talk about a subject I’ve touched on before: Male Privilege and how it applies to geeks and – more importantly – geek girls.

MALE PRIVILEGE: WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY?

I don’t think I’m breaking any news or blowing minds when I point out that geek culture as a whole is predominantly male. Not to say that women aren’t making huge inroads in science fiction/fantasy fandom, gaming, anime and comics… but it’s still a very male culture. As such, it caters to the predominantly male audience that makes it up. This, in turn leads to the phenomenon known as male privilege: the idea that men – most often straight, white men – as a whole, get certain privileges and status because of their gender.

(Obvious disclaimer: I’m a straight white man.)

In geek culture, this manifests in a number of ways. The most obvious is in the portrayal of female characters in comics, video games and movies. Batman: Arkham City provides an excellent example.

The women are all about sex, sex, sexy sextimes. With maybe a little villainy thrown in for flavor. They may be characters, but they’re also sexual objects to be consumed.

I will pause now for the traditional arguments from my readers: these characters are all femme fatales in the comics, all of the characters in the Arkham games are over-the-top, the men are just as exaggerated/sexualized/objectified as the women. Got all of that out of your systems? Good.

Because that reaction is exactly what I’m talking about.

Y’see, one of the issues of male privilege as it applies to fandom is the instinctive defensive reaction to any criticism that maybe, just maybe, shit’s a little fucked up, yo. Nobody wants to acknowledge that a one-sided (and one-dimensional) portrayal of women is the dominant paradigm in gaming; the vast majority of female characters are sexual objects. If a girl wants to see herself represented in video games, she better get used to the idea of being the prize at the bottom of the cereal box. If she wants to see herself as a main character, then it’s time to get ready for a parade of candyfloss costumes where nipple slips are only prevented by violating the laws of physics. The number of games with competent female protagonists who wear more than the Victoria’s Secret Angels are few and far between.

The idea that perhaps the way women are portrayed in fandom is aleetle sexist is regularly met with denials, justifications and outright dismissal of the issue. So regularly, in fact, that there’s a Bingo card covering the most common responses. Part of the notion of male privilege in fandom is that nothing is wrong with fandom and that suggestions that it might benefit from some diversity is treated as a threat.

But what is that threat, exactly?

In this case, the threat is that – ultimately – fandom won’t cater to guys almost to exclusion… that gays, lesbians, racial and religious minorities and (gasp!) women might start having a say in the way that games, comics, etc. will be created in the future. The strawmen that are regularly trotted out – that men are objectified as well, that it’s a convention of the genre, that women actually have more privileges than guys – are a distraction from the real issue: that the Privileged are worried that they won’t be as privileged in the near future if this threat isn’t stomped out. Hence the usual reactions: derailment, minimization and ultimately dismissing the topic all together.

As much as my nerdy brethren wish that more girls were of the geeky persuasion, it’s a little understandable why women might be a little reticent. It’s hard to feel valued or fully included when a very vocal group insists that your input is irrelevant, misguided and ultimately unwelcome. It’s small wonder why geekdom – for all of it’s self-proclaimed enlightened attitudes towards outsiders and outcasts – stil retains the odor of the guy’s locker room.

HOW MALE PRIVILEGE AFFECTS GEEK GIRLS IN REAL LIFE

Don’t make the mistake of thinking male privilege is solely about how big Power Girl’s tits are, fan service and jiggle physics in 3D fighters. It affects geek girls in direct, personal ways as well.

Remember the example I mentioned earlier with my then-girlfriend in the comic store? Her opinions were deemed mistaken and she was told she didn’t “get it”… because she was a girl.

Y’see, one of the issues that nerd girls face is the fact that they are seen as girls first and anything else second. And before you flood my comments section demanding to know why this is a bad thing, realize that being seen as a “girl” first colors every interaction that they have within fandom. They’re treated differently because they are women.

We will now pause for the expected responses: well that’s a good thing isn’t it, girls get special treatment because they’re girls, guys will fall all over themselves to try to get girls to like ‘em so it all balances out.

If you’re paying attention you’ll realize that – once again – those reactions are what I’m talking about.

Y’see, nobody’s saying that women don’t receive different treatment from guys… I’m saying that being treated differently is the problem. And yes, I know exactly what many of you are going to say and I’ll get to that in a minute.

Male privilege – again – is about what men can expect as the default setting for society. A man isn’t going to have everything about him filtered through the prism of his gender first. A man, for example, who gets a job isn’t going to face with suggestions that his attractiveness or that his willingness to perform sexual favors was a factor in his being hired, nor will he be shrugged off as a “quota hire”. A man isn’t expected to be a representative of his sex in all things; if he fails at a job, it’s not going to be extrapolated that all men are unfit for that job. A man who’s strong-willed or aggressive won’t be denigrated for it, nor are men socialized to “go along to get along”. A man can expect to have his opinion considered, not dismissed out of hand because of his sex. When paired with a woman who’s of equal status, the man can expect that most of the world will assume that he’s the one in charge. And, critically, a man doesn’t have to continually view the world through the lens of potential violence and sexual assault.

Now with this in mind, consider why being a girl first may be a hindrance to geek girls. A guy who plays a first person shooter – Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield, what-have-you – online may expect a certain amount of trash talking, but he’s not going to be inundated with offers for sex, threats of rape, sounds of simulated masturbation or demands that he blow the other players – but not before going to the kitchen and getting them a beer/sandwich/pizza first. Men will also not be told that they’re being “too sensitive” or that “they need to toughen up” when they complain about said sexual threats.

Men also won’t have their opinions weighed or dismissed solely on the basis of how sexy or attractive they are. The most common responses a woman can expect in an argument – especially online – is that she’s fat, ugly, single, jealous, a whore, or a lesbian – or any combination thereof – and therefore her opinion is irrelevant, regardless of it’s actual merits. This is especially true if she’s commenting on the portrayal of female characters, whether in comics, video games or movies.

Men can expect that their presence at an event won’t automatically be assumed to be decorative or secondary to another man. Despite the growing presence of women in comics, as publishers, editors and creators as well as consumers, a preponderance of men will either treat women at conventions as inconveniences, booth bunnies or even potential dates. Many a female creator or publisher has had the experience of convention guests coming up and addressing all of their questions to the man at the table… despite being told many times that the man is often the assistant, not the talent, only there to provide logistical support and occasional heavy lifting.

Men are also not going to be automatically assigned into a particular niche just based on their gender. A girl in a comic store or a video game store is far more likely to be dismissed as another customer’s girlfriend/sister/cousin rather than being someone who might actually be interested in making a purchase herself. And when they are seen as customers, they’re often automatically assumed to be buying one of the designated “girl” properties… regardless of whether they were just reading Ultimate Spider-Man or looking for a copy of Saint’s Row 3.

Of course, the other side of the coin isn’t much better; being dismissed for the sin of being a woman is bad, but being placed on the traditional pillar is no less insulting. Guys who fall all over themselves to fawn over a geek girl and dance in attendance upon her are just as bad. The behavior is different, but the message is the same: she’s different because she’s a girl. These would-be white knights are ultimately treating her as a fetish object, not as a person. It’s especially notable when it comes to sexy cosplayers; the guys will laude them for being geek girls and celebrate them in person and online. They’ll lavish attention upon them, take photos of them and treat them as queens…

And in doing so, they’re sending the message that women are only valued in geek culture if they’re willing to be a sexually alluring product. Everybody loves Olivia Munn when she enters the room ass-cheeks first as Aeon Flux, but nobody is particularly concerned by the girls dressed in a baseball tee, jeans and ballet flats. One of these is welcomed into geek culture with open arms, the other has to justify their existence in the first place.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN TO YOU?

The reason why male privilege is so insidious is because of the insistance that it doesn’t exist in the first place. That willful ignorance is key in keeping it in place; by pretending that the issue doesn’t exist, it is that much easier to ensure that nothing ever changes.

Geek society prides itself on being explicitly counter-culture; nerds will crow about how, as a society, they’re better than the others who exclude them. They’ll insist that they’re more egalitarian; geeks hold tight to the belief that geek culture is a meritocracy, where concepts of agism, sexism and racism simply don’t exist the way it does elsewhere. And yet, even a cursory examination will demonstrate that this isn’t true.

And yet geeks will cling to this illusion while simultaneously refusing to address the matters that make it so unattractive to women and minorities. They will insist that they treat women exactly the same as they treat guys – all the while ignoring the fact that their behavior is what’s making the women uncomfortable and feeling unwelcome in the first place. They will find one girl in their immediate community who will say that she’s not offended and use her as the “proof” that nobody else is allowed to be offended.

Changing this prevailing attitude starts with the individual. Call it part of learning to be a better person; being willing to examine your own attitudes and behaviors and to be ruthlessly honest about the benefits you get from being a white male in fandom is the first step. Waving your hands and pretending that there isn’t a problem is a part of the attitude that makes women feel unwelcome in fandom and serves as the barrier to entry to geeky pursuits that she might otherwise enjoy.

Bringing the spotlight onto the concept of male privilege as it exists in nerd culture is the first step in making it more welcoming of diversity, especially women.

*Thanks to Madoka for bringing this to my attention.

(via jhenne-bean)

1 year ago  Notes (30294)

"It’s like that poem I read… back in Alaska, there’s a poem from Africa. I wanna read it to you: When I born, I black. When I grow up, I black. When I go in sun, I black. When I scared, I black. And when I die, I still black. When you’re white, when you born, you pink. When you grow up, you white. When you go in sun, you red.. and yet you call me colored? See…. see… this is what I mean. We are all diverse. White people are just as colored. We don’t carry any privilege."

Sarah Palin, September 2008, Judson Baptist College, Huntsville Alabama. (via sarahpalinquotes)

OH GOD, I CAN’T EVEN

(via fattiesinlove)

Wow…

(via bookishfeminist)

How does this in any way, shape, or form translate to white people not having privilege? God I hate this woman.

(via slightly-delusional)

Is this even for real? I can’t believe someone could be so far off from the point, but then again, it’s her. She completely missed the point.

(via fsufeminist)

“When I was born, I was black. 
When I grow up, I am black.
When I go in the sun, I am black.
When I‘m scared, I‘m black.
And when I die, I’m still black.

When you’re white, when you‘re born,
You‘re pink.
When you grow up, you‘re white.
When you go in the sun, you’re red.

And yet you call me colored?”

I didn’t even think Sarah Palin could have made that quote racist, but lo and behold…

(via fsufeministalumna)

1 year ago  Notes (167)