Category: What women want

“Sexualize me, but don’t sexualize me”

Rebecca Watson is a “skeptic” (i.e. agnostic with atheistic tendancies) who is leading a crusade against Richard Dawkins. It started when Watson wrote about an early morning elevator encounter that she had where an inept suitor hit on her.

Just a word to the wise here, guys. Don’t do that. I don’t know how else to explain how this makes me very uncomfortable, but I’ll just sort of lay it out: I was a single women in foreign country in a hotel elevator with you, just you, and I. Don’t invite me back to your hotel room right after I finish talking about how it creeps me out and makes me uncomfortable when men sexualize me in that manner.

Dawkins commented on the encounter and basically said he didn’t think it was that big of a deal. That got Watson’s feminist hackles up and she is leading a boycott of his work. Now her fans want to boot Dawkins out as a leader of the atheist movement.

The entertainment value of atheists cannibalizing their own is somewhat humorous. Even more funny is how Watson is crusading against being sexualized when this is the woman who has previously published “pin-up” calendars sexualizing women. Last year, she promoted other nude calendars featuring nude men and women as “sexy.”

So to summarize, the woman who started “an organization dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking among women around the world” sexualizes women while railing against the thought crime of being sexualized.

Here is a thought. If you don’t want to be sexualized, don’t participate in the systematic sexualization of women. That would be a good first step in promoting critical thinking among women.

(hat tip: Mark Shea)

What really matters

Rebecca Walker is the daughter of feminist icon Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple. Last week, Rebecca Walker published an essay in the Daily Mail about her experiences being raised by a mother who taught her that children enslave women. Her mother even wrote a poem that compared her to a calamity.

In spite of this upbringing, Rebecca discovered she wanted children. Eventually she met a man who became her “partner” and got pregnant. When she told her mother that she was pregnant and had never been happier, the feminist icon said she was shocked. Soon after Alice Walker cut off all contact with her daughter, said she was no longer her mother and is even rumored to have removed Rebecca from her will.

In spite of this all, Rebecca says

“I am my own woman and I have discovered what really matters – a happy family. “

Can I get an Amen?

I find Alice Walker’s response puzzling. Doesn’t feminism stand for women choosing their own path? What about self-determination. Feminism walks hand in hand with the “pro-choice” movement. In feminism and abortion, pro-choice does not include the choice to have children.

Pro-choice is not

A news story from earlier this week:

U.K. Artist Kills Herself After Aborting Twins

A British artist, expressing remorse and regret, hanged herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, London’s Sunday Telegraph reported.

“I should never have had an abortion,” Emma Beck wrote in a note she left. “I see now I would have been a good mum.”

The note continued: “I told everyone I didn’t want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is to late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no one else does.”

There can be no mistake, there is an abortion industry that is anything but “pro-choice.” Pro-choice does not pressure women into having abortions. Where are the women’s groups defending women from being pressured into abortions? No one stood up for this woman’s right to choose. They were only concerned with performing more abortions.

Why is it that pro-choice does not include the choice not to have an abortion?

Testosterone deficiency

Thursday night was my first class of the new semester. The class is technical editing. Many people in the program warned me to not take any other classes while I’m in this one. Supposedly it is challenging and time consuming.

There are only seven students in the class. I am the only man. Yep, six other women. I’m not sure why the technical communications program has so many more women than men. Yes, there is a writing component but this program is also heavy in technological courses like html and xml coding, mulitmedia authoring – things that women generally aren’t known to flock to.

Then there is the problem that men are outnumbered by women in college these days. It sure is evident in my program. Where did all the men go?

Understanding women

A friend sent this to me. Honeybun confirmed its accuracy:

Words Women Use

Fine
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

Five Minutes
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour.
Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

Nothing
This is the calm before the storm. This means “something” and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with “nothing” usually end in “fine”.

Go Ahead
This is a dare, not permission, DON’T DO IT!

Loud Sigh
Although not actually a word, the loud sigh is often misunderstood by men. A “Loud Sigh” means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over “Nothing”.

That’s Okay
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. “That’s Okay” means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

Thanks
This is the least used of all words in the female vocabulary. If a woman is thanking you. Do not question it, just say you’re welcome and back out of the room slowly.

Men and women

Honeybun recently told me to wash out a water bottle. Sure, I’ll wash out the lip, but probably not fill it with soap to do the inside.

This is where men and women are different. If I’m cooking and I need some water for the recipe, I use the measuring cup, dry it out and put it back in the cupboard.

Honeybun would use the measuring cup, and put it in the dishwasher where it will be washed…with water.

I love being married.