Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Relating to Roosevelt's Sister
My recent change of self-perception and awakening to the disability rights movement has set me on a learning spree. All of a sudden I'm discovering some of the best blogs on disability, activists, writers and scholars (not only online but also few I am finding myself reaching out to) dealing with disability issues, and a new interest (not just interest, facination as well) in the field of disability studies. I want to do M.A. in it, preferably from TISS because they are one of the few universities in India that offer the course, they seem to be more accommodating of PWDs and it's worth. I'm actually relieved that the passion to do something for others like me is building up more than the fear of likely resistance I will have to deal with when presenting the wish to my parents. In a rather obvious yet strange way, I'm discovering myself. And seeing everything about me or what I've been through, finally, from a different angle - my side. The side of silenced voices, the 'special' children, the intitutionalised 'threats', the receivers of 'be exceptional or be dead' attitudes...and those challenging the status quo.
So when I read Rosmarie Garland Thomson's essay "Roosevelt's Sister: Why We Need Disability Studies in the Humanities", it was something that I could relate to in many places. Taking Judith Shakespeare from Virginia Woolf's famous book A Room of One's Own, she creates a similiar character, Judith Roosevelt, who has cerebral palsy and is the sister of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In a clear and realistic way, her life is narrated both in the traditional setting and contemporary period.
So when I read Rosmarie Garland Thomson's essay "Roosevelt's Sister: Why We Need Disability Studies in the Humanities", it was something that I could relate to in many places. Taking Judith Shakespeare from Virginia Woolf's famous book A Room of One's Own, she creates a similiar character, Judith Roosevelt, who has cerebral palsy and is the sister of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In a clear and realistic way, her life is narrated both in the traditional setting and contemporary period.
Virginia Woolf is probably our greatest modernist writer and our most creative feminist thinker. In Woolf's 1928 collection of feminist essays, A Room of One's Own she, invents a character she calls Judith Shakespeare, the imaginary sister of the famous playwright, who is equally creative and ambitious as her brother. In her amusing, but instructive essay, Woolf uses the figure of Judith Shakespeare to show the social constrictions women who wanted to write faced. Woolf invents Judith, who as Woolf has it, must stay home to care for the family while her ambitious brother Will goes off to school and then to London to try his hand at theater, and the rest is history for him. Dutifully, Judith obeys until her father plans to marry her to an odious neighbor. When she refuses, he beats her, and she runs away to the London stage door to offer her talents, where they are rejected. She becomes pregnant by a charming fellow actor she meets that first day. Disgraced, Judith dies alone in childbirth and is buried in an unmarked grave.
I'll offer here another figure to think through the social constrictions facing disabled women. Following Woolf, my heroine will be Judith as well. But this is not Judith Shakespeare; rather this is Judith... Roosevelt, the younger sister of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
continue reading here..
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Before You Ask Someone A Question, Ask Yourself:
Is this something I need to know? Is this information any of my business? Is this information something I can get elsewhere, like Google or Wikipedia, so as not to waste the questioned’s time? Might my question trigger or seriously upset the questioned? Why do I feel entitled to this information, and why might that entitlement be wrongly assumed? Am I being respectful, appropriate, and inclusive in my phraseology? Do I acknowledge that I am not entitled to an answer, and am I willing to accept silence or a denial of information as an answer?
- via bittergrapes
It's not that they're too rude or arrogant if you don't get a reply. Maybe, just mabe, they've answered it a million times before and are tired of it. Maybe the information is something widely available on the internet and still people (more annoying when those on the internet itself) ask the same thing like they're the first person to bring out such a 'clever', 'new' question. Maybe they have the right answer and know what they want to say but just can't put it into words that will convince you.
It is especially important to keep these in mind when you're asking to those people who have to regularly deal with the same questioning and yet suceeding very little in pushing understanding through the questioner's biases and prejudices when answered. Feminists, PoC, LGBTQA, PWD.. (don't know the full forms? I ain't gonna say it this time, Google them.). However, most marginalized people are willing to educate others about their condition because they know speaking out and bringing their problems to light is the only way to awaken a sleeping society. It's only that we as outsiders (and more so if as perpetuators) have an equal responsibility to 'put an effort' at 'finding out' on our own if we can, without expecting them to neatly and carefully position everything into our heads.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Feminism - Why We Still Need It..
Identifying yourself as a feminist today can lead to many people immediately assuming you are a man-hating, bra-burning, whiny liberal or 'god forbid', a lesbian. Maybe a certain radio talk show host will give you the honor of being labelled as a "Feminazi" or "slut." Even among more moderate crowds, feminism is still seen as too radical, too uncomfortable, or simply unnecessary. Feminism is both misunderstood and denigrated regularly in pop media which makes people, especially women themselves, want to stay clear from any associations with the label, not having an understanding of what it actually is.
A group of students from Duke University had started an online campaign asking men and women why they need feminism as an effort to fight back against these popular misconceptions surrounding the feminist movement. There is an overwhelmingly widespread belief among students that today’s society no longer needs feminism. Therefore, it is important to challenge existing stereotypes surrounding feminists and assert the importance of feminism today.
These are some of the photos from around the web that I liked. There are tonns more you can check out on Tumblr, 'Who Needs Feminism' page on Facebook, etc.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Satyamev Jayate - Better Than Initial Impressions
It wasn't the media hype or the general excitement among people that made me decide to watch the show 'Satyamev Jayate'. Anything involving Bollywood or cricket celebrities are bound to be hightly hyped and trending in India because of the way these celebrities are literally 'worshipped' (Google on Rajnikanth if you don't get what I mean). It was the theme that I liked - social issues. Not often do you get to see these being discussed on Indian channels and most of the time when they do, it's almost always not satisfactory. They would have missed several vital points or not even touched on the main causes, which I think is basically useless, because if you don't go into root of the problem, you are not solving anything but only finding temporary solutions that won't change anything substantially. So occasionally when these kind of programs come up, although without much hope, I feel like watching them.
I couldn't see all the episodes that have been aired till now since I had exams in between, but the ones I saw didn't fully let me down. I'm not going to write about all of them, but there was this one on domestic violence that was exeptionally well done. I had actually missed it, luckily a friend at Nirmukta brought it to notice.
There were so many aspects of this particular episode that impressed me. Going along the lines of his review:
- A discussion about the social SYSTEM called patriarchy
- In light of the above, the STRUCTURAL oppression of women was glaringly evident in the horrible stories that the guests on the show shared. This is not just individual-on-individual violence, a fact "men's rights" activists overlook.
- A male cop acknowledging how hard it is for women to go to the police - the police itself being a male-dominated, male-identified institution (again - social SYSTEMS!) that "drinks from the same well" - and steps like sensitisation training that can be taken.
- The man at the end who did a brilliant job of explaining the harm that normative masculinity - a.k.a. "the man box" - does.
- Many sombre, perhaps enlightened faces in the all-male audience.
These were highy important strides made in the show. The topic of patriarchy is the least likely to be discussed usually, but here it did. And it was so Awesome to see that! I was nearly teary-eyed. That is what you need to talk about and tackle if you want to really create a change.
This post would be unjustly incomplete if I didn't mention about an amazing personality that I came to know through this episode - Kamla Bhasin. Bhasin is a renowned feminist activist and gender trainer in South Asia. She has written extensively on gender issues. Most notable among her publications are: Borders and Boundaries: Women in India’s Partition, co-authored by Ritu Menon, Rutgers University Press, 1998, and What is Patriarchy? Kali for Women, 1993. I hope you don't miss out her interview during the show, you'll be missing something truly wonderful if you did..
Of course, I don't believe a single show is going to make long-lasting impacts on the mindsets of people who have been conditioned to these oppressive standards and ways of thinking for such a long time. If other channels too bring out more similar programs and keep the awareness-spreading aflame, then we can hope for some good things. Because in India, where people are unwilling to listen to activists and social workers who have been fighting for the very same causes since decades but can be all-attentive when movie stars occasionally come along and say something (no offense meant to Aamir Khan, I'm only stating how things are), maybe television can do some help if used well. Until then it's only going to be like the morning alarm - when it rings you wake up, come into your senses for a brief moment and look at the time, then put the alarm on snooze and go back to sleep till it rings again.
I couldn't see all the episodes that have been aired till now since I had exams in between, but the ones I saw didn't fully let me down. I'm not going to write about all of them, but there was this one on domestic violence that was exeptionally well done. I had actually missed it, luckily a friend at Nirmukta brought it to notice.
There were so many aspects of this particular episode that impressed me. Going along the lines of his review:
- A discussion about the social SYSTEM called patriarchy
- In light of the above, the STRUCTURAL oppression of women was glaringly evident in the horrible stories that the guests on the show shared. This is not just individual-on-individual violence, a fact "men's rights" activists overlook.
- A male cop acknowledging how hard it is for women to go to the police - the police itself being a male-dominated, male-identified institution (again - social SYSTEMS!) that "drinks from the same well" - and steps like sensitisation training that can be taken.
- The man at the end who did a brilliant job of explaining the harm that normative masculinity - a.k.a. "the man box" - does.
- Many sombre, perhaps enlightened faces in the all-male audience.
These were highy important strides made in the show. The topic of patriarchy is the least likely to be discussed usually, but here it did. And it was so Awesome to see that! I was nearly teary-eyed. That is what you need to talk about and tackle if you want to really create a change.
This post would be unjustly incomplete if I didn't mention about an amazing personality that I came to know through this episode - Kamla Bhasin. Bhasin is a renowned feminist activist and gender trainer in South Asia. She has written extensively on gender issues. Most notable among her publications are: Borders and Boundaries: Women in India’s Partition, co-authored by Ritu Menon, Rutgers University Press, 1998, and What is Patriarchy? Kali for Women, 1993. I hope you don't miss out her interview during the show, you'll be missing something truly wonderful if you did..
Of course, I don't believe a single show is going to make long-lasting impacts on the mindsets of people who have been conditioned to these oppressive standards and ways of thinking for such a long time. If other channels too bring out more similar programs and keep the awareness-spreading aflame, then we can hope for some good things. Because in India, where people are unwilling to listen to activists and social workers who have been fighting for the very same causes since decades but can be all-attentive when movie stars occasionally come along and say something (no offense meant to Aamir Khan, I'm only stating how things are), maybe television can do some help if used well. Until then it's only going to be like the morning alarm - when it rings you wake up, come into your senses for a brief moment and look at the time, then put the alarm on snooze and go back to sleep till it rings again.
Monday, 25 June 2012
Misogynist Minds
Misogyny is an unreasonable fear or hatred of women. It is an emotional prejudice based on phobia or dislike. It has no formal ideological position other than to denigrate females.
Misogynists have amazing minds. There's a lot we can learn from them. Especially for women, if they want to discover their true selves and get more inner understanding. Here are a few thoughts based on observation, reading and some unavoidable experiences of living in a patriarchal society:
- Misogynists don't like to come out in the open with their hatred. They take refuge behind religion, gender stereotypes, patriarchy, custom, tradition, family values, honor etc.
- Misogynists think they know more about women's bodies, their choices and emotions than women themselves. They are 100% sure that when we talk about one woman, it means ALL women.
- Misogynists like to carry their sexism around. According to them 'women-folk' are a different 'species' whose main purpose is to care and provide sex.
- Misogynists believe women love to spend their whole day in front of the mirror. They think this is what causes sexual crimes against them, but women who don't do it are surely lacking something.
- Misogynist can be found in male or female gender. They grow up in rigid patriarchal environments. Surprisingly, misogynsts come from seemingly liberal environments too.
- Misogynists think it's ok to rape women during a war because war is all about destroying your enemies life and property. And we know all women belong to some or the other men, right?
- Misgynists with religious beliefs don't like atheist women. They don't like women who don't subscribe to religions that 'teach them their place'. They like religion because it gives them sanctions and rules on how to oppress women so it makes the job easier. The women who see through this are clearly stubborn and arrogant.
- Misogynists without religious beliefs think sexism is something only religous people do. They blame religion for treating women badly and remain ignorant of the misogyny within atheist circles.
- Misogynists think only men can rape. And only women can prevent it.
- Mysogynists don't like lesbian women. Because it's the main duty of a woman to sexually satisfy men and lesbians don't do that. They instead 'choose' to go with other women and not be 'real' women.
- Misogynists may or may not support rape but they have the ability to empathise with rapists. They think it's the woman's responsibility to avoid it because hey, when a guy is busy doing the raping how can you give him the additional burden of stopping it. Wearing short skirts, walking in dark corners, going out late at night, not learning defense methods etc are all the causes for rapes to happen.
- Misogynists don't like women who disgree with them, speak sense or have strong opinions of their own. They believe women should learn in silence and be only good listeners.
- Misogynists think they have a great sense of humor. And they love to display their great sense of humor through rape jokes, pejorative mother-in-law and bad-wife jokes etc. But negative humor about fathers-in-law and husbands are offensive.
- Misogynists give high value to respect - when it comes to receiving it. The don't understand it's a mutual thing.
- Misogynists think sports is a 'guy-thing'. They watch only men's matches and games. Women ought to be preparing sandwiches while they're doing so.
- Misogynists appear to be obsessed with female sexual anatomy, their fears centering on the vagina. They find feminists annoying because feminists make women sound like more human than mere breathing sexual objects.
- Misogynists rely on stereotypes, myths and misrepresentations to propagate their misogyny. Ancient people's understanding of human bodies and oppressive tradional practices/beliefs are more intellectually satisfying for them than the knowledge provided by modern science and medicine.
- Misogynists often support crimes against women and also commit crimes against women. In the end, they explain how women were responsible for it and women could have prevented the harassment if they tried. Those who didn't try, deserved it.
- Misogynists hate women/men pointing out their misogyny or even generally talking about it. They instantly resort to saying 'feminism is one-sided', 'men face oppression too' or report cases where 'other women face more worse situations hence the current incident is invalid'.
- Misogynists like to carry their sexism around. According to them 'women-folk' are a different 'species' whose main purpose is to care and provide sex.
- Misogynists believe women love to spend their whole day in front of the mirror. They think this is what causes sexual crimes against them, but women who don't do it are surely lacking something.
- Misogynist can be found in male or female gender. They grow up in rigid patriarchal environments. Surprisingly, misogynsts come from seemingly liberal environments too.
- Misogynists think it's ok to rape women during a war because war is all about destroying your enemies life and property. And we know all women belong to some or the other men, right?
- Misgynists with religious beliefs don't like atheist women. They don't like women who don't subscribe to religions that 'teach them their place'. They like religion because it gives them sanctions and rules on how to oppress women so it makes the job easier. The women who see through this are clearly stubborn and arrogant.
- Misogynists without religious beliefs think sexism is something only religous people do. They blame religion for treating women badly and remain ignorant of the misogyny within atheist circles.
- Misogynists think only men can rape. And only women can prevent it.
- Mysogynists don't like lesbian women. Because it's the main duty of a woman to sexually satisfy men and lesbians don't do that. They instead 'choose' to go with other women and not be 'real' women.
- Misogynists may or may not support rape but they have the ability to empathise with rapists. They think it's the woman's responsibility to avoid it because hey, when a guy is busy doing the raping how can you give him the additional burden of stopping it. Wearing short skirts, walking in dark corners, going out late at night, not learning defense methods etc are all the causes for rapes to happen.
- Misogynists don't like women who disgree with them, speak sense or have strong opinions of their own. They believe women should learn in silence and be only good listeners.
- Misogynists think they have a great sense of humor. And they love to display their great sense of humor through rape jokes, pejorative mother-in-law and bad-wife jokes etc. But negative humor about fathers-in-law and husbands are offensive.
- Misogynists give high value to respect - when it comes to receiving it. The don't understand it's a mutual thing.
- Misogynists think sports is a 'guy-thing'. They watch only men's matches and games. Women ought to be preparing sandwiches while they're doing so.
- Misogynists appear to be obsessed with female sexual anatomy, their fears centering on the vagina. They find feminists annoying because feminists make women sound like more human than mere breathing sexual objects.
- Misogynists rely on stereotypes, myths and misrepresentations to propagate their misogyny. Ancient people's understanding of human bodies and oppressive tradional practices/beliefs are more intellectually satisfying for them than the knowledge provided by modern science and medicine.
- Misogynists often support crimes against women and also commit crimes against women. In the end, they explain how women were responsible for it and women could have prevented the harassment if they tried. Those who didn't try, deserved it.
- Misogynists hate women/men pointing out their misogyny or even generally talking about it. They instantly resort to saying 'feminism is one-sided', 'men face oppression too' or report cases where 'other women face more worse situations hence the current incident is invalid'.
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