Category Archives: Feminism

The Rise Of The Right Isn’t All Just About Class | Race Files

Consider the religious right. Are they a class movement? I argue no. They’re self-described cultural warriors, organized out of a born-again evangelical movement that rose as a response to sudden changes brought about by the baby-boom/free love/civil rights/anti-war/feminist uprising of the mid-last century by leaders who politicized what it meant to be “born-again,” exploiting the conservatism that dominated a cultural movement. During the height of religious right wing attacks against LGBTQ people and abortion, we were in a growing economy. The spoils of that growth may have been hoarded almost exclusively by the top ten percent, but the perception of good times was widespread throughout the middle class, and was demonstrated through the enthusiasm with which so many middle-classers responded to dot.com bubble investment opportunities that went bust. Never has the stock market been such a popular forum for the articulation of “hope” married to individualism than during the tech-bubble 90s.So let’s get this one straight so that class reductionists don’t steal the real opportunity presented by the fight against the right: class matters absolutely, but the rise of the right isn’t near as much about class as it is about culture, who gets to control it, and what that means about American cultural identity.I know opponents of “identitarianism” (the term for identity activists who they equate with neoliberals) will hate this, but those of us they’ve labeled “identitarians” include a not inconsiderable faction that understands that identity politics is, maybe, one of the most virulent expressions of anti-intellectualism out there. That’s right, we are able to hold a critique of identity politics while also having the sensitivity to recognize that you have to start with people where they’re at when you’re organizing a popular front for change. It’s an act of walking and chewing gum at the same time that I strongly recommend.Culture and identity are inseparable. We are cultural animals. This is what makes people distinct from other species. Identity is what holds cultures together. In order to win a more just world, we need to put political change in the context of cultural transformation and acknowledge this reality and not waste our effort trying to wish it away.

Source: The Rise Of The Right Isn’t All Just About Class | Race Files

UP dancer gang-raped by 4 company executives in Lucknow – Times of India – How long before men of the world unite and say no more and mean it!?!

A 25-year-old dancer was allegedly gangraped at gunpoint by four manager-rank employees of a renowned Ayurvedic drug company in a hotel room after an office party in Banthara, 20 km from Lucknow, early Sunday morning.The four accused, Satyavir Singh, Devraj Singh, Rashtriya Bhushan Bharti, and Paresh Tomar, all in their 30s and residents of Lucknow, were arrested and sent to jail after being produced in court. The manager of the hotel, Saurabh Sachchar, was also arrested for allowing a dance troupe to perform in the hotel in violation of norms.

Source: UP dancer gang-raped by 4 company executives in Lucknow – Times of India

Here’s Why Simone Manuel Needed to Bring Up Race At the Olympics | Dame Magazine

The sight of our happiness, achievements and success disrupt the entrenched dehumanization of black girls and women. The only thing more disconcerting than #BlackGirlJoy is #BlackGirlRage. It is no wonder that many are mad that Black women athletes are using their platform to speak truth to power.“I feel unsafe all the time. I had someone follow me home from practice and try to report me to police,” noted Ibtihaj Muhammad, a Black Muslim American women and the first Olympian to wear a hijab. “I’m very vocal about these things because I want people to know I’m not a novelty, I’m not special in any way, I’m a woman who wears hijab and these are my experiences.”Her comments sparked outrage on social media from the Trumpian corner of the nation, which described her comments as “shameful” and “insulting.”The collective voices of Simone, Gabby, Muhammad, and others deepen the power in showcasing talent, skill and dominance, along with one’s political voice. In that spirit of resistance, Manuel, Muhammad, countless women on the USA basketball team, are using their athletic talents and voices to make clear that Black Lives Matter, that Black humanity must be seen, and Black genius is everywhere. In doing so, these Black women are carrying on a proud tradition of Black women at the Olympics who have not been afraid to speak up about racism at a time when much of America wishes they would pretend that their nation’s original sin of slavery and its racist legacies didn’t exist, especially when the eyes and ears of the world are upon them. Their work is reminiscent of the iconic moment when gold-medalist sprinter Tommie Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos raised black-gloved fists during the American national anthem at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City—a move that was heavily criticized at the time, but has now become a treasured moment in American sports and Civil Rights history.Once again, Black women are giving the world language about protest, freedom and humanity. Only this time—unlike in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements—their voices and views are front and center. As with Black Lives Matter, and protests from Ferguson to Baltimore, from New York to Los Angeles, it is young Black women, who are visibly organizing for justice and change.

Source: Here’s Why Simone Manuel Needed to Bring Up Race At the Olympics | Dame Magazine

Hey Ho, It’s Old: England Embraces Punk Rock 40 Years Later – The New York Times

In July, the singer Viv Albertine of the band the Slits visited the British Library for a talk connected to Punk London. While there, she stopped by the institution’s punk history exhibition to scrawl over the names of prominent female punk artists in permanent marker onto to the show’s signage.Continue reading the main storyRELATED COVERAGEForty Years On, What Does Punk Rock Mean? AUG. 14, 2016FROM OUR ADVERTISERS“What about the women!!” she wrote on a sign, crossing out the names of male punk groups and replacing them with female-driven acts like Siouxsie and the Banshees and X-Ray Spex.The concerts of the summer of ’76 proved a crucible: In the months that followed, punk broke into public consciousness across Britain. The Clash, the Buzzcocks and the Damned gained nationwide attention. And the Sex Pistols became tabloid sensations, both for their wild behavior and their boundary-pushing lyrics, particularly for “God Save the Queen,” an anti-monarchical screed that suggested the queen was the head of a “fascist regime.”

Source: Hey Ho, It’s Old: England Embraces Punk Rock 40 Years Later – The New York Times

Rio 2016: Puig overcomes Kerber to make Olympic history for Puerto Rico | Sports | DW.COM | 13.08.2016

Monica Puig produced a devastating final set to beat Angelique Kerber 6-4 4-6 6-1 in the women’s final and claim gold for Puerto Rico, their first in Olympic history.Puig, ranked 34 in the world, went into the match as the underdog as she faced off against in-form Kerber, the world number two and reigning Australian Open champion.Puig, by contrast, had never made it beyond the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam tournament – and the odds were stacked against her.The 22-year-old claimed the first set as Kerber suffered a shoulder injury. But the German roared back in a close second, only for Puig to run away with the third.Victory for Puig came in a dramatic seventh game of the final set when she saved six break points before taking gold on a fourth match point when a Kerber forehand sailed wide.”Oh my God,” she screamed before breaking down in tears and parading her national flag around centre court.

Source: Rio 2016: Puig overcomes Kerber to make Olympic history for Puerto Rico | Sports | DW.COM | 13.08.2016

For Simone Manuel, Gold Ripples Beyond the Pool – The New York Times

She was just bawling,” Neal said. “She was like: ‘I’m so happy you guys are my teammates. I couldn’t have done this without you guys. I love you.’”Manuel’s sentiments meant the world to Neal, who was disappointed when she did not qualify for these Games in an individual event.“Why I broke down in tears and why I felt so much emotion when she won was because I was there with her every step of the way,” Neal said. “I knew exactly what it took to get to that point and win a gold medal firsthand.”How long will it take for swimming in the United States to become colorblind? Is one gold enough to change the questions Manuel and Neal face?“I think this definitely catapults us many steps forward,” Neal said, adding, “I think just that one medal will bring so many different people into the sport and inspire so many different people.”Manuel, who on Friday qualified for Saturday’s 50-meter freestyle final, said she looked forward to the day when she is known simply as a champion.After the 100 final, she said, “I would like there to be a day where there are more of us and it’s not Simone, the black swimmer, because the title ‘black swimmer’ makes it seem like I’m not supposed to be able to win a gold medal or I’m not supposed to be able to break records.”

Source: For Simone Manuel, Gold Ripples Beyond the Pool – The New York Times

‘This is who I am’, says first female MP to wear Māori facial tattoo in NZ parliament | World news | The Guardian

“I’m proud as a Māori woman to sit alongside her in parliament restoring to our political landscape a symbolic gesture of rangatiratanga [self-determination] previously dissuaded during our colonial struggle to give vote to Māori women in their land of inheritance.”Mahuta had the moko kauae inked over the weekend, alongside 13 other prominent Maori women. They are usually bestowed on high-ranking Māori women as a reflection of their standing and mana, or power, in the community. The group were also marking the 10-year reign of Māori king Tuheitia Paki, and grieving deceased relations. Mahuta said the moko was both highly individual and also intrinsically linked to her tribe, whanau (family) and bonds to the rivers and mountains of New Zealand.

Source: ‘This is who I am’, says first female MP to wear Māori facial tattoo in NZ parliament | World news | The Guardian

False Promises: Avoid ‘Miracle’ Rice and Just Eat a Carrot | Inter Press Service

Golden rice is a false miracle. It is a disease of nutritionally empty monocultures offered as a cure for nutritional deficiency. In fact, golden rice, if successful, will be 400 per cent less efficient in providing Vitamin A than the biodiversity alternatives that women have to offer. To get your daily requirement of Vitamin A, all you need to eat is one of the following:Two tablespoons of spinach or

Two tablespoons of spinach or cholai (amaranth) leaves or radish leavesFour tablespoons of mustard or

Four tablespoons of mustard or bathua leavesOne tablespoon of coriander chutneyOne-and-a-half tablespoon of mint chutneyOne carrotOne mangoSo, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

One tablespoon of coriander chutneyOne-and-a-half tablespoon of mint chutneyOne carrotOne mangoSo, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

One-and-a-half tablespoon of mint chutneyOne carrotOne mangoSo, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

One carrotOne mangoSo, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

One mangoSo, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

So, if you want to be four times more efficient than 107 Nobel laureates, just eat a carrot!Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

Not only do these indigenous alternatives based on women’s knowledge provide more Vitamin A than golden rice ever will, and at a lower cost, but also provide multiple other nutrients.Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

Our critique of golden rice is that even if it is developed, it will be inferior to the alternatives women have in their hands and minds. Women are being blocked from growing biodiversity and spreading their knowledge to address malnutrition, by rich and powerful men and their corporations who are blind to the richness of the earth and our cultures.Through their monoculture of the mind, they keep imposing monocultures of failed technologies, blocking the potential of abundance and nourishment. As I wrote in 2000, blindness to biodiversity and women’s knowledge is a blind approach to blindness prevention.

Source: False Promises: Avoid ‘Miracle’ Rice and Just Eat a Carrot | Inter Press Service

No prison for Colorado college student who ‘raped a helpless young woman’ | US news | The Guardian – Woman violated, assaulted, raped; Guy gets no prison – though found guilty. Crap!

A jury convicted Austin James Wilkerson, 22, of sexually assaulting a “helpless” woman on 15 March 2014 when prosecutors say he “isolated and raped the half-conscious victim” after he had told his friends at a St Patrick’s Day celebration that he was going to take care of her.Wilkerson – who eventually admitted that he “digitally and orally penetrated” the woman while he “wasn’t getting much of a response from her” – was potentially facing four to 12 years in state prison for the felony offense.The law, however, gives judges discretion to issue lighter sentences, and in Boulder County court on Wednesday, district judge Patrick Butler ruled that the former student should not serve any time in state prison. Instead, he ordered Wilkerson to serve two years of so-called “work release” and 20 years to life on probation.That means that Wilkerson, who was suspended from the public university, will be able to work or go to school during the day and will have to return to a county jail at night while he serves his sentence.

Source: No prison for Colorado college student who ‘raped a helpless young woman’ | US news | The Guardian