1. DON’R WRITE A POEM ABOUT RAPE.
Must read. I’m not even much of a poetry fan, but found this stunning: Don’t Write a Poem About Rape.
2. Gloria Steinem: Women Are Never Front Runners
An exquisite exposition about the differences between Obama’s candidacy and Hillary’s candidacy, due entirely — entirely – to gender. Please read. In fact, please copy it to someplace where it will be safe.
3. I Met Gloria Steinem Once.
She was speaking at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, on the occasion of her 40th birthday. Steinem is my personal favorite hero of the Women’s Movement, with Ellie Smeal close behind. There were so many wonderful, brillliant women — I absolutely honor them all. But I wanted to BE Steinem, with her rapier wit and incredible gift for feminist analysis.
Anyway, it was a huge crowd, and women in the audience were astounded at how good she looked for 40. Her response? “This is what 40 looks like. We women have been lying about our ages forever, but this is how 40 really looks.” We all laughed.
First, I wish that Julie Buffaloe-Yoder had kept that letter. I would love to be able to help shame that editor for the misogynist hatemonger that he is. It would be nothing short of justice if his name and his own words could be spread across the internet.
Second, This quote is very, very telling.
“What worries me is that male…voters were seen as gender-free when supporting their own, while female voters were seen as biased if they did and disloyal if they didn’t.”
Could our society’s inherent sexism be any more clear? She’s very right when she points out again and again and again that a woman needs far more experience than a man to be considered just as qualified. I hope that the growing backlash against such blatant sexim can rally people.
Hi, Thom! Thanks for stopping by. I couldn’t agree with you ore about that neanderthal misogynist posing as a literary editor.
And I agree re Steinem. I thought her analysis right on the money. Every woman should read it, IMO. And think of this: those who were saying Clinton wasn’t qualified were NOT saying Obama wasn’t. He’s had less time in the Senate, and yet he’s qualified but Clinton isn’t? Strange, very strange.