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History of Feminism

In reply to the discussion: Men get it [View all]

BainsBane

(55,325 posts)
34. I think it's about reclaiming power
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 01:24 PM
Feb 2014

that they may not have in their personal lives or offline in general, more than not having a life at all.
Note that the concerns we have raised, like a hostile environment, have been prohibited in workplaces for decades. I have never worked anywhere or been in a public place where pictures of that sort were acceptable. That's not to say that men don't have them in their own homes, but they typically know better than to impose them to female acquaintances. The actions here are somewhat similar to those that led to the landmark sexual harassment case, Jensen vs. Evelyth Taconite, but since this is the internet we are spared some of the more disgusting behavior that accompanied the posting of sexual images of women to claim the mine as exclusive male space and humiliate the female miners in an attempt to force them out of their jobs.

If you work for a public agency, a non-profit of any kind, a corporation, or any employer who is concerned with following labor law, the sort of behavior that is common on DU is strictly prohibited. Some here have been clear as to their motives. One referred to it as "civil disobedience." They think they are protesting a "handful" of HOF members. What they are actually opposing is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that forms the legal basis for sexual harassment law. The same is true with threads insisting that African Americans be "honored" when presented with obviously racist and stereotypical fried chicken and watermelon dinners. They resent that they should be asked to take into account the concerns of anyone who is different from them, and they are striking out in anger. Witness some of the hostile reactions in my thread with photos of female athletes. A couple of people referred to it as "sickening" and promoting "victimization."

The protestations that only a few radical feminists find the posting of commercialized sexualized images objectionable simply do not ring true. Is it possible that none of those people has held a job at any point in the past thirty years? If they had, they would not find these concepts unfamiliar. Or, more likely, do they know exactly what they are doing and are determined to create a hostile environment designed to drive out many women and people of color to establish DU as pre-modern male space?

Ultimately, the responsibility for all of this lies with the administrators. What is particularly incongruous is that it is members of the Democratic Party's major constituencies, African Americans and women, who are treated as interlopers, as outside the mainstream. The fact is we are not. Rather, some are seeking to reestablish a fiefdom for a particular kind of white male dominance that hasn't existed in this country for at least twenty-five years. I believe they do so precisely because they feel so disempowered offline and they hold women and people of color responsible for that.

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Men get it [View all] BainsBane Feb 2014 OP
A lot absolutely do. TDale313 Feb 2014 #1
That is a great thread and yeah,I absolutely believe sufrommich Feb 2014 #2
I'm hoping this thread you link is sending a major message--to admins as well. hlthe2b Feb 2014 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author A-Schwarzenegger Feb 2014 #6
I also PMed him shortly before he locked it BainsBane Feb 2014 #7
I wonder if skinner is aware that even though DURHAM D Feb 2014 #11
It is a great thread gollygee Feb 2014 #4
agreed. nt BainsBane Feb 2014 #5
Bonobos make me objectify women... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #8
How is your boss holding up? Squinch Feb 2014 #10
... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #13
That's where the hope and the love is ismnotwasm Feb 2014 #9
I saw a lot of names of people who seldom get involved in these Squinch Feb 2014 #12
yes, really. BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2014 #18
I know, that makes me so mad, too. kcr Feb 2014 #28
I agree. BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2014 #30
good, maybe people are tired of the pro libertarian bs JI7 Feb 2014 #14
They are creative BainsBane Feb 2014 #15
they went there? BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2014 #31
Just posted in that thread. UtahLib Feb 2014 #16
I'd like to think that most of us chromosome-challenged types do. riqster Feb 2014 #17
Probably our Patriarchal society to blame. ErikJ Feb 2014 #19
Yes, but society is comprised of individuals BainsBane Feb 2014 #20
The problem is the women objectify themselves also ErikJ Feb 2014 #21
Watch this BainsBane Feb 2014 #22
You cant deny this is a very Patriarchal society. Women will ErikJ Feb 2014 #23
The question is what are YOU going to do? BainsBane Feb 2014 #25
So who do you want us to focus on? KitSileya Feb 2014 #27
You can't objectify yourself when society objectifies you before you even know what's going on. redqueen Feb 2014 #24
wow. powerful statement by John Berger. Thanks for posting that. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #36
maybe they are doing it for their girlfriend, why do guys assume it's all for some guy ? JI7 Feb 2014 #26
Yes Warren does 'get it' JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #29
This board almost is a support group to some people. JoeyT Feb 2014 #32
And this is why JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #33
I think it's about reclaiming power BainsBane Feb 2014 #34
This - yes yes yes! JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #35
this Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #37
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