In memory of Adrienne Rich, Lesbian Poet (1929-2012) by Kittredge Cherry
Posted on the Feminism and Religion project
I light a memorial candle for lesbian feminist poet and essayist Adrienne Rich, who died March 27, 2012 at age 82.
Rich was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. Her writing was a guiding light to me and countless others, both people of faith and secular readers. The following lines from her poem “Natural Resources” (from The Dream of a Common Language: Poems 1974-1977) became like a creed for many of us.....
The Legacy of Original Intentions: The Non Violence of Wonder Woman by Nick Pumphrey
Originally posted on the Feminism and Religion project
What would a superhero comic be without Pow, wham!, Zap, and even a Boom! (insert your own campy sound bites from... more What would a superhero comic be without Pow, wham!, Zap, and even a Boom! (insert your own campy sound bites from Batman). Oddly enough, when psychologist William Marston created the character of Wonder Woman, he did not intend for her to be a violent character. When villains shot their mere bullets, she simply would deflect them with her indestructible bracelets. Instead of stooping to the level of her attackers, she would wield the lasso of truth, capture her foes, and force them to admit their malevolent deeds. Meanwhile, creator William Marston was actually developing the first polygraph using changes in blood pressure as exemplified in Wonder Woman’s lasso. Wonder Woman was not the first female superhero; however, she was the first non-violent one. While other writers like Siegel and Shuster (Superman’s creators) were using their religion as inspiration, Marston drew on the women of his life as example. He intended to have a peaceful, warrior woman, who was more than equal on grounds of “sex,” and could stop the tyranny created by war and hatred (i.e. men) without having to embrace it. He wanted an example for young girls to idolize and a way for boys to embrace feminine power.
ON NOT GETTING WHAT WE WANT AND LEARNING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE BY CAROL P. CHRIST
Originally posted on the Feminism and Religion project
Many women’s dreams have not been realized. How do we come to terms with this thealogically?
Although I am... more
Many women’s dreams have not been realized. How do we come to terms with this thealogically?
Although I am as neurotic as the next person, I am also really wonderful—intelligent, emotionally available, beautiful (if I do say so myself), sweet, caring, and bold. I love to dance, swim, and think about the meaning of life. I passionately wanted to find someone with whom to share my life. I did everything I could to make that happen—including years of therapy and even giving up my job and moving half way around the world when I felt I had exhausted the possibilities at home.
The First Casualty Of War by Daniel Cohen
Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project
This is the tale of the first death in the Trojan War.
The Greek army was gathered in Aulis. Its men had... more
This is the tale of the first death in the Trojan War.
The Greek army was gathered in Aulis. Its men had come from many towns and islands. Some were there with dreams of glory, some with dreams of gold. Others were there because their chief had demanded their presence, and either loyalty to the chief or fear of him had brought them.
The fleet was waiting and the soldiers were ready to embark. But for weeks now the wind had been blowing from the wrong direction, and the men were getting restless at waiting so long. They were beginning to think of the harvest – they had expected that the war would be won long before harvest time – but that was now so close that many men were making ready to go home, and some had already gone.
Is Baptism a Male Birthing Ritual? By Michele Stopera Freyhauf
Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project
Quite a number of years ago I had a conversation with one of my professors, a feminist theologian, who posed the... more Quite a number of years ago I had a conversation with one of my professors, a feminist theologian, who posed the question “Why do I need a man to purify my baby with the waters of baptism? Is there something wrong or impure about the blood and water from a mother’s womb – my womb?” Before you jump and shout the words Sacrament or removal of original sin, this question bears merit in exploring, especially in today’s world where women are taking a serious beating religiously, politically, and socially. In today’s world, violations and rants are causing women to stand up and say STOP! This is MY Body. This outcry was provoked by chants of ethical slurs against women– Slut! Prostitute! Whore! The cry got even louder when the issue of religion and government was raised in the fight of healthcare coverage of contraception. The cry got even louder with the enactment of the laws in Virginia and Texas (and many other states to follow suit) that forces women to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds in early stage abortions. The mandatory insertion of a wand into a woman’s vagina (mandated by the government, mind you), is a violation and has women crying RAPE!
Modesty Codes in Pentecostalism and Mormonism by Amanda Pumphrey
Originally posted on the Feminism and Religion project
“You look like a lesbian.” “Why do you want to look like a man?” “Hey, boy head!” These were just some of the... more “You look like a lesbian.” “Why do you want to look like a man?” “Hey, boy head!” These were just some of the responses I got from friends and family when I decided to cut off my hair. The gendered connotations that come with how one decides to wear one’s hair are an overarching signifier of the dominant culture’s obsession with normative appearances. Many religious institutions and congregations uphold normative understandings of appearance and dress. Growing up in a conservative town in rural South Georgia and being raised within a Pentecostal tradition came with many challenges regarding gender, sexuality, and dress.
Download (.pdf) WOMEN ARE NOT SLUTS, RUSH, DOUCHE-BAG IS NOT FUNNY, JON, AND SEXISM IS MORE THAN “INAPPROPRIATE,” MR. WHITEHOUSE SPOKESPERSON! by Carol P. Christ
Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project
Why is it OK to insult women, our bodies, and our sexuality in ways that it is no longer OK to insult other groups?
The recent controversy over Rush Limbaugh’s rant about Sandra Fluke would not be so important if Limbaugh were not the “voice” allowed to say things that Republican politicians cannot say in public. Republican politicians wish to appeal to men who would say exactly what Rush said, while watching Fox News or over a beer with their buddies.
The Virgin-Whore split is alive and well in our culture. Sandra Fluke finally did get to testify in a hearing called by Nancy Pelosi. She assumed a woman’s right to choose when and with whom we have sex and whether and when we will have children, but she did not focus on sexual freedom. One of her examples was a married woman who could not afford birth control and another was a woman who needed birth control pills for reasons having nothing to do with sex or sexual activity. She did not appear in Congress in a mini-skirt (though she should have had every right to do so) but in a business suit. Yet she was called a slut and a prostitute and asked to post porno films of herself on the internet.
Bareed Mista3jil: Negotiating Gender, Sexuality, and Religion in Lebanon by Amy Levin
Originally published on Feminism and Religion project
It’s not often (enough) that I (have the time to) come across non-academic books that articulate and reflect some of... more It’s not often (enough) that I (have the time to) come across non-academic books that articulate and reflect some of the most complex intersections between religion, gender, and sexuality. Those that do are commonly produced in the Western hemisphere, often representing the voices of Euro-American cultures and religious traditions. That is why I want to give voice to Bareed Mista3jil, a book, or collection of “41 true (and personal) stories from lesbians, bisexuals, queer and questioning women, and transgender persons from all over Lebanon.” Bareed Mista3jil was published in 2009 by the organization Meem, a community of lesbian, bisexual, queer women and transgender persons (including male-to-female and female-to-male) in addition to women questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity in Lebanon. The purpose of the book is to give voice to those in Lebanon with non-conforming sexualities and identities in order to give hope to this under-represented, often silenced population. Here is a description from Meem on the origin of the book:
No Tolerance to Intolerance! We are different but we are all equal!
Yesterday in Tbilisi a peaceful protest for LGBT rights to mark the International Day Against Homophobia ended... more Yesterday in Tbilisi a peaceful protest for LGBT rights to mark the International Day Against Homophobia ended in a physical scuffle when religious groups violently disrupted the gathering. In this letter, I try to search for reasons for intolerance and explain the calamity of certain actors by structural factors.
The Virtues of Dockside Dalliance: Why Maritime Sugar Girls are Safer then Urban Streetwalkers in South Africa's Prostitution Industry
in Susan Dewey & Patty Kelly (Eds.), Policing Pleasure: Sex Work, Policy and the State in Global Perspective (New York: NYU Press, 2011), pp. 86-99
South African sex workers are exposed to different amounts of violence depending on the prostitution sector that they... more South African sex workers are exposed to different amounts of violence depending on the prostitution sector that they work in, such as the street, truck stop, hotel, agency, brothel, and dockside trades. By comparing the structural features of these sectors, we can not only gauge the likelihood of violence within each, but also devise more precise policy instruments to reduce violence at an industry-wide level. I focus here on the neglected dockside prostitution sector, showing how its structural characteristics enhance the women’s power vis-à-vis their clients. Detailed policy recommendations conclude the article.
Navigating Risk: Lessons From the Dockside Sex Trade for Reducing Violence in South Africa's Prostitution Industry
Sexuality Research & Social Policy: Journal of NSRC, 4/4 (Dec 2007): 106-119
The diversity of South Africa's prostitution industry exposes sex workers to varying levels of violence. The street,... more
The diversity of South Africa's prostitution industry exposes sex workers to varying levels of violence. The street, truck stop, hotel, agency, brothel, and dockside trades are characterized by different structural features that determine the prevalence of client, police, and third-party abuse against prostitutes. Comparing the structural elements of each sector allows not only gauging the likelihood of violence within a given niche but also devising more precise policy instruments to reduce violence at an industry-wide level.
This article, "Navigating Risk," focuses on the dockside prostitution sector in Cape Town and Durban, showing how its structural features enhance the women's power vis-à-vis their clients and the police. It discusses 5 key variables that influence the likelihood of violence within each prostitution sector:
* the social and legal status of the client
* the location of the negotiation
* the location of the sexual act
* the level of discretion in the solicitation process
* and the role of third-party involvement
Detailed policy recommendations conclude the argument.
148 views
Seen by:
The Women of Durban's Dockside Sex Industry
in Rob Pattman and Sultan Khan (eds.), Undressing Durban (Durban: Madiba Press, 2007), 441-452.
This article, "The Women of Durban's Dockside Sex Industry," looks at the lives of female prostitutes in... more
This article, "The Women of Durban's Dockside Sex Industry," looks at the lives of female prostitutes in Durban's dockside sex sector. They solicit at a nightclub catering to foreign sailors. The paper considers their experiences as sex workers and how they deal with stigmatization, family concerns, chemical abuse, moral dilemmas, diseases, and violence. It assesses their fears and frustrations. And it ponders their dreams and longings for what they hope to achieve through this work.
The article concludes with the idea that dockside women are relatively empowered compared to their streetwalking & brothel-working counterparts. Since most hail from upcountry locales, they successfully live "double lives" that protect them from family and communal reprisal. Since their clients are foreign transients, the men pose no threat to their identities (they have no social power outside the dockside world). Since the women solicit from a safe nightclub, they retain the right of refusal. And because they're the knowledgeable locals, they choose the location of sex, which enhances their power to insist on condom-use.
Ironically, these upcountry women are perhaps the most cosmopolitan citizens of Durban as they entertain dozens of nationalities every evening.
The social dimensions of changing in gender identities across the world
by Mara Maretti
Working paper by Mara Maretti, Lara Fontanella, Francesca Fortuna, Annalina Sarra
In this working paper we consider a cross-cultural research on gender identity transformations. The principal aims of... more
In this working paper we consider a cross-cultural research on gender identity transformations. The principal aims of our typological analysis are the delineation of a different perspective on gender definition, out of the gender binary code, and the highlighting of the main features of the emerging multiple gender profiles.
Summary: Introduction p. 1. – Research design p. 2. – The sample composition p. 4. – Multiple gender profiles p. 14. – Masculine vs feminine scale p. 15. – Personal and social information p. 17. – Intimacy p. 22. – Self-representation p. 32. – Gender roles p. 35. – Feelings and personal satisfaction p. 41. – Elements of socialization p. 44. – Open conclusions p. 52. – References p. 54.
Mask/Unmask. Überschreitungen von Grenzen rassifizierter Zugehörigkeiten in zwei Erzählungen über Rom_nija
published in: Zonen der Begrenzung
Aspekte kultureller und räumlicher Grenzen in der Moderne. Ed. by Gerald Lamprecht, Ursula Mindler, Heidrun Zettelbauer. Bielefeld: transcript 2012.173-186.
In this contribution I'm discussing a recent Czech film (Roma Boys - Přiběh lásky by Rozalie Kohoutová and David... more
In this contribution I'm discussing a recent Czech film (Roma Boys - Přiběh lásky by Rozalie Kohoutová and David Tišer) and an Italian novel (il circo capovolto by Milena Magnani). In my analysis, I emphasis different strategies of longing and rejection for Romani identities, which are seemingly coherent and homogeneous. The film under scrutiny here challenges ascriptions to members of Romani communities and renders the often underlying racialising narratives visible. Furthermore, the film can be understood as a sophisticated examination of processes within the Romani movement and it's reception within majorities, that emphasise notions of a homogeneous and holistic, single 'European Romani minority'.
In the tradition of the enlightenment the modern European arts staged Romani people as figures of backwardness, savage and myth. These narratives contribute to the establishment of a fixed, essential border between Romani and Non-Romani people, that seems to be almost impossible to cross afterwards. Milena Magnani's novel is based on this understanding, as the plot concentrates on the impossibility of assimilation within a ‘Non-gypsy”-Environment. Thus, nature is reclaiming what allegedly belongs to her and claims the Romani body to be its property. As the discussed film proves, these connections are so thoroughly linked to cultural borders, that it remains impossible to question them without putting the finger on the meta-level of narration. Apparently, it is only possible to challenge those stories in achieving a deconstruction of the way in which they are told.
6 views
Seen by: Gender-Swapped Doctors Are Our New Favorite Form of Doctor Who Cosplay
An interview of me by Charlie Jane Anders, published at i09 in 2012.
Discusses the ways in which femme Doctor cosplay in the Doctor Who fan community is both a response to a lack of... more Discusses the ways in which femme Doctor cosplay in the Doctor Who fan community is both a response to a lack of female protagonists/heroines in the show and a way to destabilize gender within the fan community.
"I Am Not A Sidekick": Femme and Crossplay Doctor Cosplay
Still drafting. Will be published in Queers Dig Time Lords, edited by Sigrid Ellis. Will be published by Mad Norwegian Press in March 2013.
Discusses the trend of femme and crossplay Doctors in the Doctor Who cosplay community, and suggests that these... more Discusses the trend of femme and crossplay Doctors in the Doctor Who cosplay community, and suggests that these cosplays make several rhetorical moves, including resisting a narrative in which men are heroes and women are sidekicks, destabilizing gender by visually marking femininity and masculinity as performative, and subverting a hierarchy in which things coded as "feminine" are devalued.