Comments on: “Not buying what you’re selling” feminism

By: supa

supa — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 03:59:18 +0000

Are you talking about that Daniel Quinn book, Stephanie? It’s a good’un.

I would like to start from scratch, too. I call do-over.

By: Stephanie A.

Stephanie A. — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:29:37 +0000

Excellent post.

I have a Canadian friend who opened my eyes to the way that American culture taints the rest of the world. Between that and reading “My Ishmael” I feel like I’m in this cultural purgatory. On a personal level I find it nearly impossible to leap away from all of these expectations and lifestyle ideals, but at the same time, I look aroudn and see how wrapped up in the expectations and ideals I am. I really do want to turn our culture on its head, letting everything that holds us back fall out and then start from scratch.

By: cameo

cameo — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:54:34 +0000

count me in for the march!

By: Izzy

Izzy — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 03:40:40 +0000

You have touched on issues that are always on my mind. I try to talk to other women about them and they look at me like I’ve lost my mind.

Until now, I was under the impression that “A Perfect Madness” was primarily about motherhood but clearly it encompasses much more.

Thank you for taking the time to write this amazing post.

I am SO with you.

By: You are not your iPod » How to get in touch with your Representative in DC

You are not your iPod » How to get in touch with your Representative in DC — Tue, 16 May 2006 21:15:27 +0000

[…] Although, I must confess that I have been lurking within the walls of another blog that has prompted a very interesting conversation. Check it out, Supafine has brought up some really interesting issues. The comments generated deserve to be elaborated upon. […]

By: LL#2

LL#2 — Mon, 08 May 2006 17:27:00 +0000

all th above being said - how often do you express your thoughts to your representative? how often do you follow what is being voted on unless it makes major headlines? bills are being presented every day on a variety of topics. i think the most important part of government is knowing what your representatives are doing. for anyone interested… check out congress.gov

if you don’t like what the government is doing, let your senators and representatives know, unstead of just talking to friends and family about it. anyone in Congress worth their salt will give you a reply, and even if they do not agree with your point of view, they will explain theirs.

By: supa

supa — Mon, 08 May 2006 00:28:28 +0000

Lori, I agree: we pay taxes in good faith, expecting the government to provide, in return, the above public services for us all. And when I criticize the government, I am not criticizing the many, the wage-earners, the Joes and Janes; I am aiming at the upper eschelons of Congress and the White House.

Jen: Oh, how I wish I could have seen that musical. That, and Avenue Q. Man, all the best theatrical satire is in New York. … (said the girl who never goes to local shows, so how the hell does she know).

And I think your point is perfect. There is quite a lot of fuss made over unborn children, but the already-born ones don’t seem to merit the same attention, at least from the Religious Right.

By: supa

supa — Mon, 08 May 2006 00:24:45 +0000

Neil wrote:

I would think that the hard-working Mom has as much in common with the hard-working Dad as she does with the woman interested in abstract gender issues.

Neil, I do get your point. And I think a lot of people think the same thing. But sometimes what might seem like “abstract gender issues” are actually concrete life issues.

Hmmm. This post is a conflation of politics and feminism and indignation, and perhaps certain of the points I raise need to be addressed simply and individually rather than in one chunk.

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 07 May 2006 20:56:46 +0000

As usual MB, you have put into words what has been in my head…you are awsome. But I’d also like to add this comment about our Government (now this is not an original thought I am actually stealing this idea from an off Broadway show I saw a couple of weeks ago). The Government is all about supporting the rights of unborn children (i.e. anti-abortion) however what happens when these children are born and their parents are unable to support them there will be no medicaid, no assistance with housing. But doggone we saved a baby that a mother didn’t want. Does this make sense to anyone? Just thought I would throw that out. (BTW that idea is from the show “Bush is Bad” soundtrack well worth it and available on amazon.com song “The Culture of Life)

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 07 May 2006 06:26:42 +0000

That was a powerful statement, but I’d like to think these issues are not just women’s issues. I think part of the problem is that society still approaches some of these problems as one of gender rather than that of class and politics. As you correctly noted, there are some mothers who have concerns about getting the right nanny and others who need to make ends meet. I would think that the hard-working Mom has as much in common with the hard-working Dad as she does with the woman interested in abstract gender issues. This is not to denigrate the importance of modern feminism, but acknowledging that politics crosses across gender lines.