Every Issue Is a Feminist Issue

April 30, 2008 | 9 Comments

I should have written this earlier. In response to this, this, this:

The Sean Bell case is a feminist issue for a few reasons. Here they are, laid out neatly, in an orderly fashion:

When Sean Bell was murdered (yes, it was murder in my opinion) his murders left behind his fiancee and their children. The murder directly affected her life as well as the lives of countless other women. One of the reasons some women are single mothers is that their partners are murdered or imprisoned. This is a feminist issue.
This line from the NY Times, emphasis added: “the shooting was the act of a frightened group of disorganized police officers who began their shift that night hoping to arrest a prostitute or two and, in suspecting Mr. Bell and his friends of possessing a gun, quickly got in over their heads.”
The shooting happened the night before Sean was to be married. The relationship context of the story is important. There are feminist implications for this contextual analysis as well as implications for how the Sean Bell story was told in the media, ie, tragedy is always more tragic when you put a sobbing woman’s face on it. (Example, when discussing war in a negative way, the story is always “women and children were raped, killed…” but when discussing war in a positive way, the story is always, “Mr. hero rescued women and children…”.)

Also:

Every issue is a women’s issue. I’m not sure Feministing and Feministe did great feminist-specific analysis of the issue, but I think their intent was to reflect this idea that every issue affects women. Obviously, I feel that every issue a feminist issue. For example, I wrote animal rights is a feminist issue, too.
Historically, leveling the playing field for women has often meant lowering (some) men instead of raising (all) women. This is a shame and we, feminists, should pay attention to it. This is why I believe our definition of feminism should NOT be equality with men, but should rather be abolishing sexism and misogyny.
Kyriarchy - a new word I just learned that describes what I’d been using patriarchy to describe. For example, I wrote “Smashing the patriarchy necessarily involves dissolving the ‘might makes right’ argument. Everywhere it is found. Everywhere.” here where I defined patriarchy as “the power structure that is not fluid, that accumulates wealth, resources, and power, that tends to rest in the hands of rich, old, white men, that silences dissenting voices, that created and sustains the unleveled playing field.” in the comments. I believe that oppression is oppression.

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Feminism, Philosophy and Guidance, Racism
9 Comments to "Every Issue Is a Feminist Issue"

New Vegans On The Soapbox

April 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Please take a look at these blog posts from new Vegan Soapbox writers:

Jen wrote Just Another Vegan Stereotype? - here’s a snippet:

From the awkward pause after the question was asked, however, I gathered reviews from the non-vegan set were less than favorable. I guess they feel that we’re self-righteous and more than a little arrogant. It’s a complaint I think I lot of vegans (and vegetarians) hear on a regular basis, at least when you’re trying to broach the subject with non-vegans. I’m the first to admit it’s a touchy subject, but if I think I’m better than you I promise it has nothing to do with veganism and everything to do with the fact that I’m smarter, cuter, and a much snappier dresser. Plus I look better in hats. That alone gives me a reason to feel smug.

Alex wrote Thoughts On The Recent Shark Attack - Here’s a taste:

George Bernard Shaw said, “When a man wants to murder a tiger, it’s called a sport;
when a tiger wants to murder him, it’s called ferocity.” [...]

The death of the individual is tragic, but we mustn’t deflect blame from that individual, and all others who freely participate in these activities, onto a morally blameless animal.

It is our species that creates these situations of conflict, and yet as a species, we are incapable of accepting our responsibility for doing so. We develop land heavily populated by raccoons, for example, and then argue that we must, as a matter of necessity, murder those raccoons that happen to find themselves on our property because they are “pests” or a nuisance. This is the height of infantile reasoning, and Speciesism.

Alex wrote another piece, too, called We Are All Guillermo Vargas in which he discusses how everyone is complicit in animal abuse or exploitation, particularly people who eat meat:

Finally, just think about your own lives and the lives of other carnivores you know: How healthy do you believe you and they are, really? It’s not the vegan/vegetarian population with the exceedingly high rates of diabetes, hypertension, clogged arteries, heart attacks, obesity, etc.

With this knowledge, is it still reasonable to argue that consuming meat is satisfying an essential human need? The truth is, you eat meat to satisfy a desire or a want, nothing more. As people have so succinctly put it, “I just like meat.”

I ask this question then: What is the difference between you consuming meat because it satisfies your desire to taste charred body parts (e.g., steaks, hamburgers, chicken) - there is no real human need to eat these things - and those individuals who prod a kitten with a hot iron because it satisfies a desire to see the kitten suffer? Both are desires, not needs, and both are trivial reasons for acting; trivial reasons that suffer unspeakable harms on another being capable of feeling it all.

So, please go take a look and give them your feedback >>

Just one note before you comment there. Vegan Soapbox is a safe space for vegans. The comments policy is here, the main points being:

No pro-meat, pro-dairy, pro-eggs, pro-hunting, or anti-animal discussion.
No personal attacks. Argue against the idea, not the person.
No content inappropriate for minors, such as profanity, sexual content, promoting illegal activities, etc.
No racist, sexist, homophobic, ageist, abilist or otherwise hateful comments.
No lying. Please do some fact checking and cite your source with a link or name of the document.

Thanks to Alex and Jen (who both also blog at That Vegan Girl) and thanks to all the readers and commenters here and at Vegan Soapbox!

(And by the way, if you’re a vegan and you want to contribute to the Vegan Soapbox, please let me know. You can email me privately at admin @ vegansoapbox.com )

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Animals, Blogging, veganism
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Gabby Needs A Home

April 30, 2008 | 2 Comments

This is Gabby. She’s in the NYC area. Here’s what her petfinder page says:

Not only does she sport a beautiful brindle and white coat, she’s got a heart of gold. Gabby was abandoned by a family she loved who moved somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs. She lived with several children and claims to be completely house broken! Despite her unfortunate label of “pit mix,” Gabby doesn’t show an ounce of aggression toward anyone and gets along with other dogs. She’s 2 years old, spayed and vetted. She’s looking for a home that will give her unconditional love and commitment.

To adopt Gabby, please call (678) 640-1177.

Visit her petfinder page here to learn more >>

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Homeless Pets
2 Comments to "Gabby Needs A Home"

Margaret Cho Interview

April 30, 2008 | 1 Comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YRravizAeo

A recent interview with Margaret Cho. She’s ridiculously funny. I love her.

The YouTube description says:

“The hilarious comedian, Margaret Cho, is on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos to discuss her vagina, her career, and her newest stand up tour, ‘Beautiful.’”

Posted by Elaine Vigneault | Filed Under Miscellaneous
1 Comment to "Margaret Cho Interview"