Jailed soldier Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Private Bradley Manning, came out as transgender, requesting that she be referred to as a woman from now on. Subsequently, many media organizations refused to distinguish her with feminine pronouns. Additionally, the military denied her hormone therapy treatment. My least favorite piece of misogyny/gender politic-related issues this week […]
Barbara Holm
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Mark Millar Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main This weekend, Kick Ass-2 writer Mark Millar defended his use of rape as a plot device in his fiction. He has employed it in the comics Wanted, The Authority, Nemesis and now Kick-Ass 2. In an interview for The New Republic, Millar responded to the criticism, “The ultimate [act] that would […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Tongue-Kiss Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main In my 7th grade sex ed class we were shown a diagram chart of kisses—not as hot as it sounds—ranging from tongueless to a full-on tonsil sports reference. The teacher said if a girl kissed a boy with her tongue she never got over it, and that the first boy to […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Zooey Deschanel Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main Recently, I saw comedian Natasha Leggero do a joke about the way that some women project childlike vulnerability in order to gain male attention. I laughed (my high-pitched childlike laugh) and then cringed (vulnerably) worrying that I embodied this quality. I hate the idea that women might infantilize themselves for male […]
Posted inPolitics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Victim Blaming Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main Last week, Marte Deborah Dalelv, a Norwegian woman working in Dubai, accused a coworker of sexual assault. The police completely dismissed her allegations. On top of that, Marte was then arrested for having sex outside of her marriage—which is illegal there. I think the scarlet letter they wrote on her chest […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Texas Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main My period has always been irregular—or as I like to call it, “adorkably quirky”—so I’ve had a lot of pregnancy scares. I’ve taken pregnancy tests while hiding in the stairwell at work because I didn’t have time to go home before an open mic. And in those two minute increments, I’ve […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Emotional Towel-Cape Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main As a stand-up comedian, I incessantly spew out my most vulnerable, passionate opinions about gender, anxieties, politics, and the philosophy behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Recently I was ranting about sexual objectification, just to get a workout going, and one of my friends said, “Just calm down, you’re overreacting.” They were […]
Posted inPolitics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Slut Shaming
Illustration by Carolyn Main My girlfriend Code Name recently met a male suitor and upon witnessing their courtship, an acquaintance took him aside and warned him, “You shouldn’t date Code Name. Don’t you know her sexual history?” That’s so offensive. So WHAT if Code Name has dated men you’ve met before? That doesn’t mean their […]
Posted inPolitics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Girls in Football Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main I didn’t play team sports, surprise. I did do track and cross country (individual sports) and they helped me a lot with my awareness of my body—albeit not with group dynamics. Although I didn’t partake, I recognize and genuinely envy the emotional and psychological benefits of socializing in a physical format […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Guns ‘n’ Babies Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main Whether or not I eventually want children, I know that were I in that predicament today, I would exercise my right to choose. Due to a lot of health issues I had during puberty, I’ve had oodles of pregnancy scares, not bragging. Because of that I’m super pro-choice. A person’s right […]
Posted inSexual Politics
My Least Favorite Piece of Misogyny This Week: Comic Book Edition
Illustration by Carolyn Main I’m a girl and I like reading comic books. Don’t propose to me. Last week saw the release of the new X-Men which features an all-female team. And, of course, this week featured a backlash on message boards. My least favorite piece of misogyny this week is sexism against women in […]
Posted inSexual Politics
Object Lessons: On Sexual Harassment and Loretta Smith
Last week, Baruti Artharee—policy director for Mayor Charlie Hales—introduced Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith to a crowd like this: “Here’s our beautiful commissioner, Loretta Smith—mmm, mmm, mmm—she looks good tonight.” Sometimes I feel like straight men don’t understand that sexual harassment at an after-work party or a bar or a (gasp) comedy club still counts […]