DISCUSSION FORUM:
feminism and its influence on the portrayal of sexual power



This is an archive page for June 2001.

Where reader comments are of interest or raise significant points I will publish my response in dialogue pages such as this one. (Private comments are not published.) Reader comment excerpts are in black text and my replies in red text.
Please send your scathing critiques and observations to sarcasmo@bigpond.com


From: BSweetcocoa73@aol.com
Subject: Ladies, stop the whining!
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001

I just wanted to say that I enjoy this website. I never realized male bashing could be so hurtful, but it is and it's wrong. From way it looks, this trend will continue. Most of it comes from being hurt by men in their lives. But a lot of time, heartache could have been prevented by using judgement and good sense before getting involved to begin with. Women are in such a rush for a committment, they (myself included) often ignore signs that could have been there all along that this person was wrong.

I believed that when feminism began, women started out wanting fairness and equality that may have been lacking, but soon extremists took over and seem to be causing a reverse sexism. They don't realize that this is only creating a deeper division between the sexes and true equality may never be acheived. I am a black woman and I could say that because of slavery and past injustice, every single white person is bad, even if they are not racist. But I know that this isn't true, and on the same note, it is not fair to hold all men accountable for the actions of a few.


From: Rachelle7782@aol.com
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001

I feel that these so called facts and opinions about feminism and the "way things" really are, are just tiny matters you have focused in on. Feminism is and I mean is a strong feeling and passion to bring women much more confidence in being their true selves. You are being blind to the many truths out there.

What is Feminism really about? What labels a women successful in most men and women's opinion? How have are little girls been raised? Many things that a little girl grows up to hear is no worse than some of the prejudiced out dated views, morals, beliefs, and attitudes little boys grow up brainwashed by. But ultimately feminism is not blaming but in their own way righting the wrongs. Taking back their right to be more than what "Men" think they are. If you are a women who has lived life blind to these pre justices on television, in movies, in school, bla bla bla, I feel sorry for you because you wont be of any help to making the world a better place for our children. IF you are a man who sees that men and women are living by our ancestor's out dated and sometimes flat out wrong ways and you have worked not to feed into this or accept the role than I'm proud of you. If you're the other men then you're just taking offense. If you are a women who has opened your eyes and fought back to keep your light than I'm proud of you but I also feel for you in the heart of your battles.

I have left the movie theater because my heart fails to take another "fist in the face." I have tried to ignore this and enjoy the movie after all I paid for it and deserve equal entertainment. Well, I drive home crying because my true self won't let me get by with accepting lies. My heart goes out to my niece who has to hear little boys saying things like you hit like a girl. Or being told by her first employer that she should start wearing makeup. Or by her first boyfriend that she shouldn't talk about her female problems like her period (herself) or her feelings in a round about way. These are just minor to the big sexist problems there are that work against women not for them. It would take a hundred books to really show the blind how and what we have realized and not accepted the ignorance still out there.

If you really cared you would be working hard to understand women and the way to truly make them feel like their a worthy part of this world their true selves and all. You can deny them and find ways to point your finger at them but for centuries we have, and yes we have been undermined and blamed. It's true there are filthy women too. But what does that have anything to do with feminism. Some men are too scared to set us free from the past. Racist barriers in society have been acknowledged, why not the sexist ones? White men have faced up to it, well at least the majority of them. Black men have finally been heard when they say we have not yet had a black president. Well, you know what I would like to say we have not yet had a women president. Let me tell you women don't you worry because were working hard to get there. Women have been told that it's there fault that there not as successful. But we are as successful, we have worked against the odds and were beating them. Suppression has been a major problem for my great grandmother and further back. It's still a problem. But we are living in a great time. We're allowed to open our mouths and disagree with men. Just like I disagree with this website for it's lack of insight and it's inability to see the whole picture and not in a lame light.

I can't correct you false misunderstandings but you can. I'm not saying that women are the only one's faced with problems but I'm saying I won't sit back and ignore them like black women and men once accepted their role as slaves. I won't be a slave. I'm very intelligent and strong mentally, physically, and spiritually. I think that the way the world grows is by first acknowledging that we need to. we are not perfect no one is. We have much more room to grow. There are so many thing we have done right to get us where we are and there are so many things women and men alike will do right to get us where were going. But it's going to take the strong who can look in the face of their weaknesses, faults and learn from them. Be strong enough to ask the bigger questions. Like, Where do we want our women and men to be in the next century?

I want much more dignity and respect. It's also true when you learn to give respect you will be much more respected and happier in the long run. I understand that Evolution or Revolution doesn't happen over night but it's starts with thinking and understanding that things can and will get better. Slavery was ignorance but even in this day and age we work against racism. Look at the whole picture. We have more than racism to work to eliminate. Racism is not the only ignorance that still thrives. I look at all this in a positive light. We learn and grow because of the things we don't yet know. We learn and grow from the mistakes we make. There is not light without dark. We must experience dark to know what's truly light.


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