Thursday, March 08, 2007

Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | This is idiocy, not feminism

Goddess Day at St. John's


Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | This is idiocy, not feminism

I am not saying that there should be total homogeneity in what we discuss on women's day...What is not relevant is fun-packed dancing from around the world, spice workshops and fashion shows. Fashion is to international women's rights as Agassi kitchen utensils are to gay rights. Yes, some women are interested in fashion; some gay men own more than one brightly coloured fish slice. But it is an outrage against people who take liberties seriously - who embody the core of feminism by interpreting it as a war that hasn't been won until it's been won for all women - to trivialise these matters...It's this kind of hijacking of meaningful collective action that did for the women's movement in the first place, that made today's young women think you could believe in equal pay as a regular person, but as soon as you called yourself a feminist you had to stop shaving your legs and start eating pulses. Tell stories and dance as much as you will - but not on International Women's Day. Make your own day of celebrations. Call it Gullible Idiots Unite. Have it in April.

I still get email from my (former) church and couldn't resist saving this one (and it's real--I couldn't make this up):


Goddess Day

Saturday, October 15th
8:30 a.m. til 4:00 p.m.

St. John’s Church
760 First Avenue, Chula Vista

A day created to empower and celebrate women, individually and collectively.
This conference will include: speakers, music, dance, chair massage, labyrinth, gourmet lunch, shopping and renewal. (Cost: $30 includes all)

Keynote: Rev. Rhonda McIntire, “The Universal Feminine”

Presenters: World-Renown Artist, Eleanor Wiley, “Creating Your Own Sacred Prayer Beads”

Mary Cruz, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Community Outreach Director, “Breast Cancer What Every Woman Has to Know”

Spend time with holistic professionals:
Lori Gritz, Acupuncturist, presents the Wellness Toolbox
Ruby Grosso, Labyrinth Facilitator

Vendors:
The Healthy Spirit Gift and Bookstore
Scents of San Diego Homemade Soaps
Paula McCarten Jewelry
Granny’s Gifts (unique potions, brews and wands)
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Weekenders Clothing
Cookie Lee Jewelry

To Register or for More Information:

Call: Susan O’Shaughnessy 619-482-8872
The Healthy Spirit 619-427-1210


I thought the point of feminism was to liberate us from femininity, to fix things so that we could get guy jobs and didn't have to crap around with labryrinth-treading, chair-massage and little herbal teas. But look at this: here we have the new presbyter as the old priest writ large: a woman priest lecturing housewives on the ewig weiblich--health, jewelry, make-up and scented homemade soaps.

I got involved in the Church and, for the first time in years, in the Real World outside of Academia, when my kids were at the parish day school. I realized straightaway that I'd have to relearn all the Real World Rules about what women could, should and should not do. I made some faux pas. After our church burnt down we had to move furniture to the parish hall. I got into the spirit of things and was cheerfully shoving around stuff when I stupidly got onto moving a spinet piano along with about half a dozen young working class males. This piano was on wheels and I'd had no problem moving it together with an elderly lady who was even shorter than me in the past. But when we'd gotten across the courtyard to our destination, one of the guys yelled at me, "What are you trying to prove?" He immediately apologized and I didn't turn a hair, but I felt like I'd been socked in the stomach.

After that, I was careful. When the rector announced that he needed volunteers to paint the parish hall, I rode by and checked to see that there were women working before I got out with my rags and paint brushes. Later, when he solicited volunteers to dig for an underground pipe I packed a shovel in my van but was careful to check out the scene first. There were a bunch of young working class males in tee-shirts, conferring as they leant on their shovels. I drove by and went home, filing away the maxim: "women may paint but may not dig."

This is trivial, compared to the problems most women face--in particular, getting decent jobs at decent pay. But it's irritating. Women always have to be cogniscent of what is gender-appropriate, understand when an invitation to everyone really means men only. This is one of the petty vexations of being female: ALWAYS having to worry about whether a particular behavior is "ok for a woman" and understanding where the no-go areas are. Some seem to know the Rules instinctively, but not me--I invariably screw up and am embarrassed.

I was driving through a residential neighborhood when I got a flat. I ran out, grabbed the jack and spare tire and set to work. As I was loosening the lug nuts I realized the people on the porch of the house in front of which I was parked were watching and talking about me. They worried that I'd be offended if they offered to help. The take was, again, that I was trying to prove something, to make some feminist statement. I realized that I was supposed to have asked them if I could use their phone to call AAA (but I don't have AAA). I was in a sweat. Like everyone who has ever changed a tire I knew that the last lug nut would stick. I knew that I would stand on one side of the wrench, bouncing up and down to dislodge that nut, praying that it would come loose, while the crowd on the porch watched.

Incredibly, it didn't stick. I got all the lug nuts off, changed the tire and drove off. But it was a close call.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Small piece of advice: if you loosen all the lug-nuts before you jack the wheel off the group, the last lug-nut is less likely to stick, thereby lessening the likelihood of having to jump up and down on the wrench.

Unknown said...

I do that. Jack it up first and the wheel turns around. Damn thing still sticks and it's mystical because it's always the last lug nut, isn't it.

Anonymous said...

Feminism is not so much about escaping femininity as it is about taking a step back every once in a while to reevaluate and refine it.

Unknown said...

You have your feminism, I have mine--or call it what you like. My goal is escape.

Anonymous said...

privat sex

Geile Girls

Live Girls

Anonymous said...

[url=http://welcome-casino.aoaoaxxx.ru][img]http://s49.radikal.ru/i125/0912/82/a90aea46452a.jpg[/img][/url]

[IMG]http://s44.radikal.ru/i105/0912/3d/c3f5c104cbf9.jpg[/IMG]


[url=http://welcome-casino.aoaoaxxx.ru][img]http://s49.radikal.ru/i124/0912/f7/111db4a5bc4e.jpg[/img][/url]














































[u][b]We can be found by these keywords:[/b][/u]
[url=http://welcome-casino.aoaoaxxx.ru/sitemap.html]lago tahoe montbleu casino resort spa [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/black-bear-casino.html]casino guide http 2007onlinecasinos com [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/paris-casino-and.html]casino de tigre [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-sign-up-bonus.html]atlantic city casino headliners [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/imdb-plot-the-casino-job-2009.html]sporting casino com [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/the-palms-casino-las-vegas.html]bono automticos casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/french-lick-casino-indiana.html]casino juego black jack [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-black-jack-roulette.html]craps casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/best-online-casino-com.html]casino ship [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/mille-lacs-casino-minnesota.html]taj mahal casino atlantic city [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/flamingo-casino.html]sistema ganar ruleta casino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/morongo-casino-cabazon-california.html]casinos santa fe [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/casino-flotante.html]casino latino [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/treasure-island-casino-sale.html]hoyle casino game [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/argosy-casino-kansas.html]casino tragamonedas [/url]
[url=http://vegasonlines.net/peoria-casino.html]atlantic casino city poker [/url]
empresa francesa grupo casino
[b]casino internacional internet[/b]
letra de la cancion en tus manos de casino
casino internacional internet
[b]pachanga casino temecula ca[/b]
jugar casino gratis
[u]online gaming casino[/u]
catalonia bavaro beach golf casino lujo
cleopatra jones and the casino of gold
[b]casino internacional linea[/b]
descarga casino royal
no deposit instant casino bonus money

Anonymous said...

[url=http://seghan.ru/go.php?sid=35][img]http://s003.radikal.ru/i203/1001/17/1008f12c7936.jpg[/img][/url]












[url=http://vonzura.misslich.de/sitemap.html]buy geronimo cigarettes [/url]
cheap cigarettes buy online now buy cigarettes with checking account buy cigarettes in south carolina
[url=http://powjxun.wieder-mal.de/sitemap.html]cheap cigarettes buy cigarettes online [/url]
buy cheap cigarettes from buy cigarette carton where to buy cigarettes in nh
[url=http://botziho.485.at/]order cheyenne cigarettes [/url]
buy cigarette packs buy native cigarettes in canada buy cheap 100s menthol cigarettes
[url=http://cauvzah.weinend.de/]buy glamour menthol cigarettes [/url]
buying online l&m menthol lights cigarettes where to buy cheap cigarette cigarette buy one get one
[url=http://deuaexj.naheliegend.de/]buy player cigarettes [/url]
buying cloves cigarette canadian mail order brides cigarettes can i order cigarettes online
[url=http://ubpscsn.pro.ac/]buy filter kools cigarettes online [/url]
prison order cigarettes new york buy cigarettes in salamanca ny buy clove cigarettes online
[url=http://qzexaua.flackert.de/sitemap.html]illegal to buy cigarettes online [/url]
buy smoking cigarettes buying cigarettes online safe e cigarette order
[url=http://qzexaua.flackert.de/]buy cigarettes herbal pa [/url]
buy basic cigarettes california cigarette tax stamp purchase order cigarettes to buy on line
[url=http://wcsoius.biz.co.nl/]to buy cheap cigarette [/url]
buy marlboro lights cigarettes buy wholesale cigarette tobacco cigarette buying age
[url=http://deuaexj.naheliegend.de/sitemap.html]order newport cigarettes online [/url]
buy imported cigarettes buy cheap winston cigarettes buy cigarette

Anonymous said...

good morning dudes. I'm actually into shoes and I have been digging as far as something that meticulous model. The prices due to the fact that the shoes are approximately 320 bucks on every page. But completely I bring about this location selling them someone is concerned half price. I really love those [url=http://www.shoesempire.com]prada sneakers[/url]. I will absolutely order those. what can you say about it?

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://seghan.ru/go.php?sid=35][img]http://s001.radikal.ru/i194/1001/f2/3b8e742581a0.jpg[/img][/url]












[url=http://utenti.multimania.it/peexcal/]buy camel cigarettes in [/url]
buying tax free cigarettes online buy class b cigarettes buy cigarettes on the
[url=http://utenti.multimania.it/haisjzu/]want to buy cigarettes [/url]
buy barclay cigarettes made in europe electronic cigarette cartridge order cigarette boat buy
[url=http://utenti.multimania.it/pxioeei/]buy cigarettes in amsterdam [/url]
american spirit cigarettes order cigarettes native indian mail order i buy cheap cigarettes in
[url=http://utenti.multimania.it/xbftjof/]buy barclay cigarettes [/url]
buy menthol cigarettes online buy old gold cigarettes online buy cheap winston cigarettes
[url=http://utenti.multimania.it/faoozxa/]where to buy cigarettes under 18 [/url]
prison order cigarettes new york buy cigaretts but dont smoke buy cigarettes at 16
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/weljgzi/]buy japan cigarettes [/url]
what age you can buy cigarettes indian reservations buy cigarettes buy cigarettes under 18
[url=http://members.multimania.nl/sisebku/]buy cigarettes canada online [/url]
buy vantage cigarette online buy indian reservation cigarettes online minimum age to buy cigarettes

Anonymous said...

hi there bros. I'm honestly into shoes and I have been searching for the sake of that meticulous model. The prices seeking the boots were around 200 bucks on every page. But completely I base this location selling them as a remedy for half price. I in reality like these [url=http://www.shoesempire.com]gucci sneakers[/url]. I will absolutely order those. what do you think?

Anonymous said...

hi there bros. I'm actually into shoes and I was digging for the sake of that exact model. The prices for the velcros were all over 350 pounds everwhere. But for all I base this area selling them someone is concerned half price. I in reality want those [url=http://www.shoesempire.com]gucci sneakers[/url]. I will definetly order these. what can you say about it?

Anonymous said...

Howdy,

I mostly visits this website[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url]theenlightenmentproject.blogspot.com really contains lot of useful information. I am sure due to busy scedules we really do not get time to care about our health. Here is a fact for you. Research displays that closely 80% of all United States grownups are either fat or weighty[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url] Therefore if you're one of these individuals, you're not alone. In fact, most of us need to lose a few pounds once in a while to get sexy and perfect six pack abs. Now next question is how you can achive quick weight loss? [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss[/url] is not like piece of cake. You need to improve some of you daily habbits to achive weight loss in short span of time.

About me: I am webmaster of [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss tips[/url]. I am also mentor who can help you lose weight quickly. If you do not want to go under hard training program than you may also try [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/acai-berry-for-quick-weight-loss]Acai Berry[/url] or [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/colon-cleanse-for-weight-loss]Colon Cleansing[/url] for effective weight loss.