What are we teaching our children?

Samira, veiled woman from Salalah, Oman

Samira, veiled woman from Salalah, Oman
Originally uploaded by Eric Lafforgue

If skyscrapers spoke genders would the man or woman be the Empire State building?

“Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no 

concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its battles 

have been for education, for the vote, for better working conditions, for safety 

on the streets, for child care, for social welfare, for rape crisis clinics, women’s 

refuges, reforms in the laws. If someone says, “Oh, I’m not a feminist”, I ask, 

“Why?  What’s your problem?”  (Dale Spencer)

Please do NOT be afraid or hesitant to whip out this quote to anyone who tries to put the feminist movement on blast.

Riot Grrls - (wo)manifesto

Riot Grrrl subculture of neo-feminist punk women in their late teens and early twenties created a flourishing nationwide underground network. This movement roots began as early as 1976. They are doing this without leadership, at the underground level, and outside of the academic institutions.

A group called 7 Year Old Bitch (part of the Riot Grrl movement) have a song called "Dead Men Don't Rape"

"I don't have pity not a single tear

For those who get joy from a woman's fear

I'd rather get a gun and just blow you away

Then you'll learn first hand

Dead men don't rape"

Although I am not one for violence, I am in favor of shaking up mainstream media's messages.

“Woman must write her self: 

must write about women 

and 

bring women to writing.”

Appalling Unlawful Arrest in Canada's Captial

It was September 26th 2008 and Stacey Bonds was walking home from an after-hours party on Rideau Street. She was stopped by police officers whom asked for her name, after they had found nothing on their computer they told her to continue walking home. She turned around and asked them why they had stopped her in the first place because she was not disturbing anyone. Afterwards things took a rapid turn, Const. John Flores showed Ms. Bonds the back of the crusier, the video tapes show her being co-operative all the way down to the police station. During initial part of the police search someone had a hand inside Ms. Bonds’ pants, down around her upper leg or hip area. We can see the formation of a fist or hand inside her tight white pants on the videotape and it is at that point that Sgt. Desjourdy says that he saw Ms. Bonds mule-kick Special Constable Morris. Ms. Bonds was forced to the ground with a riot shield, and then subjected to a strip search, with the male officer cutting off her top and bra. Ms. Bonds was strip searched by three police officers only to be left partially clad in soiled pants in a jail cell for three hours the only motive being vengeance.

It’s not the first time Sgt. Desjourdy (the male officer who cut off Ms. Bonds top and bra) has been under investigation. Days before this 2008 case, he kicked and Tasered a female prisoner in the cell block twice. In 2009, he pleaded guilty under the Police Act and was demoted for three months from sergeant to constable. Only demoted. 

"It’s an appalling example of abuse of power and misconduct on the part of the police. It’s a complete disregard for her dignity. It’s shocking,” Webber, the prosecuting lawyer, said.

Ms. Bonds is considering to launch a lawsuit against Ottawa Police. Justice must be served, the public must know.

Bra Burning

It would be the highlight of ANY textbook if readers saw women burning their bras but sadly the infamous bra burning act did not happen. In 1968 during a protest at the Miss America Pageant bras, girdles, nylons and other articles of restricting clothing were tossed in a trash can. It was a symbolic bra burning act critiquing the modern beauty culture. Going braless was a revolutionary act - being comfortable above meeting social expectations.

One Illinois legislator was quoted in the 1970s, responding to an Equal Rights Amendment lobbyist, calling feminists "braless, brainless broads."

I appreciate early feminists challenging the status quo. They fueled a revolution by just removing one piece of undergarment. Genius. 

Final Thoughts: I definitely think we all need a freedom trash can, what would you put in?