feminist blogs in english

Just wondering why is it when women express some sort of strength, power, rebellion or act outside of what we are “supposed” to, it’s labelled as a syndrome?

Battered-women syndrome...what else is she supposed to do? Sit there and take his shit all the time? Is she not acting logically?

Violent-girls syndrome...what the eff is that anyway? When teenage boys are being violent and getting into fights it’s a normal part of them turning into men...why the double standard?

This fucking bullshit pisses me off!!!

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I've had a couple of conversations with men recently that have been partly sparked by their finding out about this blog, and partly my none-so-subtle probes for material to add to said blog. What I've generally de-duced is that men in their twenties are ignorant of the relevance of most feminist issues and think feminists are in varying degrees: full of hot air, lesbians, killjoys. Men are lateral thinkers - we are told - and so is it very surprising that most of the ones I have consulted find it hard to grasp the links between various treatments of women in various arenas and subject areas? Perhaps not. Against my better judgement, I decided to send a quick interview round my office (6 women, 19 men - and I don't even work in banking) to see if I was selling them short. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised by some enlightened answers I asked three questions. 1) What do you think feminism is? 2) Who do you consider to be a prominent/good example of a feminst? 3) Do you identify with any feminist values (as you understand them)?
Maybe this was too much reality for a Wednesday afternoon marketing agency environment, or maybe I can't rely on my co-workers (who I sadly also consider friends) to give honest/serious answers. Despite this the responses I got were - aside from being rather creative and humourous - the best examples I could have asked for on males' perceptions of feminism and its champions. The transcripts below are the only two responses I received...perhaps their navigation away from the topic is proof of their ignorance of it? Or maybe they're just Neanderthals. Answers on a postcard.

Male Specimen 1

Q: What do you think feminism is?
A: Some sort of contraption, game or sex toy
Q: Who do you consider to be a prominent/good example of a feminst?
A: As in personality or someone I know? Beckham is one. Stringfellow another. Me!
Q: Do you identify with any feminist values (as you understand them)?
A: Some, yes. I have three sisters and a mother, and you so I don't have any other choice, do I?

Male Specimen 2

Q: What do you think feminism is?
A: Feminism is the belief that Cats are our all encompassing gods and they created man, then woman as an after thought! This was the belief system of the ancient Egyptians.
Q: Who do you consider to be a prominent/good example of a feminst?
A: I have 2 cats but I don’t think they’re to be worshipped. Saying that, if one of my cats comes into the lounge, I let them have it and go up to my room, so I guess they are above me in social standing.
Q: Do you identify with any feminist values (as you understand them)?
A: Like I said, I look up to cats, but that’s where I draw the line. The sphinx is amongst my favourite 5 ancient statues!

Words fail me.

Until now I have suppressed the urge to discuss what I consider to be one of the biggest issues facing young feminists today, for fear of not being able to fully express without waffling what my problem is with it. This entity is all around us, omnipresent and all-encompassing in its reach and influence, which is why limiting myself to a few succinct paragraphs was never going to happen. It is of course...(drumroll please)...the media. Press, TV, film, music, advertising, marketing, PR – these are all components of this huge and monstrous being, one that didn't even exist not so long ago, and which is now an inextricable part of our lives, however subconsciously that may be. People I speak to about this issue are often offended at the suggestion that they are in any way controlled or influenced by the media – as if this is implying some sort of weakness or lack of intelligence on their part. This is not the case, the media is a powerful being - far be it from me to deny that. It's far more influential than any world leader: one only has to look back on George Bush’s election to the United States presidency and Fox News’ involvement in/orchestration of it to agree with me there. Similarly, when Bush wanted to whip up support for his war on Iraq, he didn’t take it upon himself to appeal to his people – the propaganda campaign incited by the media did a far more efficient job. It stands to reason therefore that if the media has enough clout to facilitate wars and elect presidents, it is capable of making mincemeat of ‘little’ issues like…oh I don’t know…body image or gender politics.

The current and enduring media obsession with female celebrities’ (delete as applicable) weight/age/dress sense/relationship status/professional validity are symptoms of and perpetuating factors in the objectification of women. Simple as that. Of course we all buy into it, this constant cycle of adulation, titillation and criticism and we’ve reached the stage where its considered acceptable for men to pick up a newspaper and look at a naked female body, and for a woman to launch a scathing attack on another woman for gaining a couple of pounds. A male friend of mine, having being on the receiving end of a rant of this nature, said to me: “I thought you were more intelligent than that.” He simply couldn’t see that a Page 3 girl is more than just a pair of tits for a man to look at. His argument was this: its harmless, it’s not hurting anyone, the girl’s making good money, it’s only a pair of tits. So who’s the dummy here? Forgive me for being concerned about the wider implications for women when a naked female is not only plastered across a national newspaper as ‘entertainment’ for men, but is ridiculed to boot with the inclusion of News in Briefs a snippet of the model's thoughts on a serious news matter, which clearly she is meant to know nothing about. Apparently this is all too subtle for men to detect. The media represents women in various ways, but this tabloid representation is the one that worries me most as its strutting around under our noses every day, and people don’t seem to realise the seriousness of the message it promotes. Regardless of a woman’s choice in what she does for a living – I’m sure most Page 3 Girls aren’t forced into the job – this stereotype of buxom, promiscuous woman with no brain, subservient to men’s whims and fantasies is very dangerous, as well articulated on The F Word. It is the infant in a family of ideas that includes more serious manifestations of female subjugation. Now it’s just a pair of tits, but its consumption nonetheless – it’s still suggesting women’s bodies are there for the consuming, available to buy (now in a paper, maybe later on a street corner) and available to consume (look at for now, but how long before men start helping themselves). Naomi Wolf's amazing The Beauty Myth best exposes this flagrant equation of women's looks with commercial worth - a woman's beauty is currency. The woman is therefore a commodity, the subject of ownership that could only be male. The natural bi-product of this kind of representation is for crimes like rape, prostitution/solicitation and general violence towards women to be perceived as less crimes because they involve women, who may be considered ‘fair game’ or ‘up for it’. I’m not sure anyone with a brain could dispute this much.

So what’s sparked this latest rant? Well, its not often I make visits to The Sun newspaper website, but something I read about yesterday compelled me. Not content with publishing images of women day after day in print, The Sun are rolling with the punches of the digital age and have come up with something that truly disturbs me: The Desktop Keeley. Apparently Keeley Hazell is the paper’s most popular “Page 3 Stunna” and as such is now the basis for a web tool so utterly degrading it makes Page 3 look like the Yellow Pages. Instead of just gawping at Keeley’s nubile form in the paper every day (which I guess is a bit impractical if you have a job to do) those who download this application can now order her about and are actually invited to “Play with [her] whenever you want”. I feel sick. The misogyny on display here is blatant and unashamed and what’s more – its already proven extremely popular. Great.This excerpt from the The Sun’s articulate sales pitch says it all really, in more than one sense of the phrase:

“Dressed [or should that be undressed?] in a stunning range of lingerie, Keeley will be at your beck and call 24/7 and comes armed with all the information you need, whether it’s celeb’s drunken antics, the latest football transfer news or the Page 3 girl of the day.”

Excellent range of interests you’ve got there, boys. I can only assume that the intended audience for this product are young to middle aged professionals who have constant access to a computer (i.e. work for a living). This is also a damning indictment on them surely? Is this really what we’re interested in as a nation? I’m sure it’s not…and I do actually have some faith in mankind. I’m not saying that men are in on this on an individual level – what I’m saying is that these attitudes are so richly embedded in every aspect of society and paraded around as if they are an acceptable norm that people start to believe what they are told. This sort of thing is NOT harmless and for those that refuse to see the damage that it could cause, let’s put it another way: whatever way you look at it, having a half naked avatar running around on your computer screen spouting out unimportant titbits (excuse the pun) about other naked/drunken women is hardly conducive to a productive working day is it? Packaging this up as a cool gadget and tailoring it to the digital market is a clever ploy –passing it off as a bit of fun for the modern man is distracting from the point and lulling the public into thinking this is OK. Like women don’t already have enough trouble in the 21st century workplace.

The verdict is in for Anne Darwin, who I posted about last week. Unsurprisingly she’s been found guilty of deception, and her part in the scam to net £250,000 through fraudulent insurance claims is apparently as serious as the actual perpetrator of the crime, her husband John Darwin. While Mrs Darwin’s involvement is clear, the extent to which her defence of ‘martial coercion’ stands up is not as clear. In any case, this defence doesn’t seem to have been given any serious consideration anyway. Reports of Mr Darwin’s controlling behaviour and manipulation of his wife (despite accounts from people who know her that she is an unassuming woman of meek character) have been largely ignored as if they are the inevitable accusations of a desperate woman. For me, the jury is still out on Ann’s alleged submission to a crime which was of her husband’s design but I think we have been too quick to overlook the claims that she might have been pressured into it. Common attitudes towards marital control and domestic violence (mental and emotional as well as physical) seem to dictate that Anne would have found it easy to refuse to take part in the scam, that she would have handed her husband in. Unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as that. If, as she claims, Anne Darwin was a victim of her husband’s manipulation (the ‘marital coercion’ defence has only been used 5 times in the last 75 years so there is little in the way of precedent to draw upon) she would have found it very difficult to refuse him and would have believed herself to have no choice but to partake in the scheme. The irony for me is that the defence is not oft used because it is considered anachronistic, or ‘not appropriate to modern conditions’ (according to a request to abolish it is 1977!). People need to open their eyes. Martial coercion – in short the ability of one spouse (not necessarily the husband) to control another and influence their decision to participate in unlawful activity – exists in more ways we’d like to admit, and because its taboo and something we don’t like to admit still exists, laws that are designed to provide protection from it are being ignored, or worse destroyed. Worrying stuff.

When I first heard about That White Girl I hated on it. Had I actually thought I was the only white girl who loved hip hop as an agent for social change? I think I did. I felt my experience was so unique that I was surprised and ultimately relieved how similar J-Love's story was to my own. It never feels good to feel misunderstood.



And then I found out that J-Love was the same person who wrote "WHITE LIKE ME: 10 Codes of Ethics for White People in Hip Hop" an article I reference in my research project "The Block: A Hip Hop Ethnography." I consider that body of work to be curriculum for schooling white people on how to interact within Hip Hop and the movement as a whole. What I greatly appreciated in the piece was that she called for whites to school whites.


I have watched white youth struggle to grasp (or simply retreat into denial) about the fatality behind their whiteness. I think that with this massive social evolution taking place in front us and Hip Hop being of an age to recognize true growth in our culture, our larger American society and the Human race as a whole, that now is a good time to post these codes up for our younger white brothers and sisters joining the struggle.

I struggled for many years about my white identity, both the legacy it was borne from and the consequences that legacy has had on my global community both past and present. I was hurt, angry, confused, shocked and betrayed. The brutal legacy of white identity is what has always driven me to participate in the struggle so that I can aid in the total destruction of white supremacy.

WHITE LIKE ME10 Codes of Ethics for White People in Hip Hop
by J-Love

This is written by a white person, intended for white people who are engaged in the culture of Hip-Hop. It is created in the spirit of personal and collective growth and development for white people who choose to live by the cultural standards of Hip-Hop. White people are talked about a lot within Hip-Hop in terms of who buys the most records, who controls the industry, the white kids in the burbs who go crazy over it, even white artists who have made it despite their whiteness. But rarely is there talk of how white people affect Hip-Hop, and how Hip-Hop affects us. What are the roles and responsibilities of whites involved in this cultural movement? Have we merely self-imposed ourselves into a culture which doesn't want or need us?

It is time for white folk to stand up and be bold in the dialogue of race and culture, to push the relatively mild interpretations on how and in which way we fit, or don’t fit. Check this 10 point code of ethics for white Hip-Hop heads and see if you can get down with this. Code of Ethics


1. Be aware of your whiteness;As simple as it may sound, it seems as if many white folks down with Hip-Hop try to avoid the fact that they are white, at all costs. This must stop. Acknowledging your whiteness is an important step in recognizing that regardless of who you are as a person, we come from a lineage steeped in racism and white supremacy. We come from an ancestry of oppression, who’s legacy still lives and breaths in the form of institutionalized racism and countless social and economic injustices. This is what we come from, and that we cannot change. What we can change is what we do about it.

2. Be conscious of your unearned privilege;We carry around a *backpack of free hook-ups that we have done nothing to earn. From it we extract a set of VIP passes, gold credit cards, universal passports, and blank checks, all of which gives us more power, more open doors, an unfair advantage *(This concept was originated by Peggy Macintosh and is widely used to break down white privilege). Your skin color is an asset in this world. The more you understand this concept that better you will be at negotiating that power and, as much as possible, figuring out a way to end its’ unfairness.


3. Be deliberate in your role as an ally;An ally means that you participate as a supporter in a movement; you are aware of the ways in which your privilege undermines indigenous leadership, and in understanding that, actively advocates for indigenous leadership ( even if that doesn’t mean you). An ally is someone who lends resources, and who understand their personal goals in the context of a cultural-historical struggle for self determination. White people are allies within hip-hop culture. Let’s work toward leadership that reflects the cultures and communities where it was born. That doesn’t mean that we can’t be active and feel invested in the culture, but we must be aware of how racism plays out in the power paradigm of America, and how it is controlling Hip-Hop culture.

4. Be knowledgeable of the history of the culture;As with any part of our lives, knowledge, wisdom and understanding are the pillars of self and community enlightenment. It is imperative that you study Hip-Hop culture as you would study your own culture, in order to better understand who you are, where you come from, and where you are going. Precisely because we are coming into a culture that was originated by people of color, it is on us to learn and become knowledgeable of Hip-Hop history.


5. Be open to being educated by others;When you’re secure about yourself, you’re more open to acknowledging things you don’t know, or have questions about, or ideas that warrant a good discussion. Listen to what other people have to say about Hip-Hop, and be in the mindset of appreciating new or different information from varying sources. The information you know about Hip-Hop is not stagnant. The lessons are infinite.

6. Be open to educating other white folks;White people don’t always feel like they have an obligation to talk about issues of race and privilege with other white people. However the education and exchange is most critical amongst white people who have the power to create change in the industry and in everyday life. Help white people in power positions to understand the reasons why Hip-Hop exists in the first place; why it’s so important in your life, how it relates, or doesn’t relate to your life experiences. Be confident in your expression of self, and push for the very conversations people try to hide behind.


7. Use your skin privilege to benefit the culture;In this world because of your whiteness you have access to almost anything, and you didn’t have to do anything to get this access. So use the juice that you have to lend support to the culture, any which way you can. Whether it be connections, money, negotiating with folks that won’t feel as threatened talking to you because you’re white, or becoming a cultural interpreter, whatever is needed to benefit your community.

8. Pay homage to the originators of the culture;Once you learn the history of Hip-Hop it is your responsibility to speak on it, educate others, and consistently give props where props are due. One reason why some white folks may not want to do this is because it further magnifies the point that they had nothing to do with creating Hip-Hop. Not that white people haven’t contributed to Hip-Hop since its’ birth, but its’ inception was purely melanin related. So when your in your ciphers, whatever that looks like to you, talk history, pay respect to the creators of the culture your living.


9. Don’t think you are the exception to the rule;YOU ARE NOT THE COOLEST WHITE PERSON IN THE WORLD! (By the way, this code relates to me also) You are not so different and unique as to warrant a special ‘cool white person’ pass. Are you still trying to be the ONLY white person in the crew? Do you feel animosity when other ‘cool’ white kids come around and deflate your ego? Do yourself a favor, instead of trying to diss that other white kid, explaining how they fake or whatever, maybe your should take the time to connect with someone who may be similar in some ways to you. Don‘t push them away or be ashamed, build with them and see them as part of a community within a community.

10. If you can’t abide by the codes, get out; Nuff said.

It is up to each individual to read and digest this 10 point code of ethics. If you find yourself getting angry, upset, or uncomfortable at what you read, then know that you are in a good space. It’s uncomfortable to look at yourself and deal with the ugly realities of the origination of the ‘isms’ and realize that you are inseparable from them. That your skin symbolizes the color of blood and betrayal for colonized people around the world. Stay in the feeling of dis-comfort, for it is in that very feeling that you will find your truth pushing you toward transformation. This is not about feeling guilty. It is about acknowledgement, acceptance, and action. Take your place in Hip-Hop, but do it with consciousness and integrity, for only then can you really call it your own.

Peace. written by J-Love

CNN.com

Bless his heart, Frank Calloway is a 112 year old schizophrenic who has lived in institutions for most of his adult life. He draws beautiful folk art, full of color and energy that may turn out to be really valuable. The art world is beginning to pay attention.

Maybe there's hope for me yet. By this standard, I've got another 65 years to learn to paint.

Friday afternoon I was at work smoothing out the details for an event Hip Hop Congress would be putting on the next day for the local youth. As I was discussing the details outside in the blazing sun, keeping a friend company while he sucked on a cancer stick, I noticed Damone a familiar MC from my younger years in the local underground scene. I wasn't shocked to see him since I'm still around underground hip hop everyday. As my coworker engaged him in conversation I eventually confessed that I remembered him from an old school rap group Lackadaisical, a three MC group (which once included Traxamillion) that was part of a larger clique that contributed greatly to the history of Bay Area Hip Hop.

As I revealed to him that I too was old enough to recall the mid-90s in great detail, he revealed to me that Jesse Jones a talented yet troubled MC from the group was killed by the police two years ago.I had to fight back the tears that began to sting my eyes. I had known Jesse through my daughter's father, a music producer, while I was still a teenager. He was very humble as a person yet very confident as an MC. I also recalled the chaotic and reckless vibe that extended from him, as there can be when living inside Hip Hop. I actually ended up cutting the walk down memory lane short and needed to leave to go process Jesse's death on my own time without forcing the rest of the crowd to relive their grief.

I was saddened and disgusted by the nature of Jesse's death, a horrifyingly typical scenario in this culture. I don't know if Jesse still rapped. I don't know anything about him passed the years I saw him perform with Lackadaisical. Life took us down different paths. I often heard stories about him that lead me to believe he was living that gangster lifestyle, I lifestyle I had succumbed to for many years myself.I can remember the last time I saw Jesse; it was over a decade ago. I was worried when I dropped him off. I knew he was young and emotional. I knew he was feeling desperate as we all do when we begin to make that trek from child to adult. I remember searching for the right words to help him keep his head up. That day has been replayed in mind through the years when I would wonder what happened to him. Some of us can navigate through that time easily unscathed, some of us come out battered but safe and some of us falter to a system that tries to fatally oppress us. It makes me so damn angry.

I wish that Jesse was here. But that's a selfish wish. If he is better off than I am grateful that God brought him Home. I wish that I could have found the words that last day I saw him to help ease his scattered mind. The nature of Hip Hop forces you to deal with horrendous tragedy but that doesn't mean that it gets easier to deal with the senseless deaths that comes along with it. In fact I am so sick of it!

So here I am writing this down to pay respect to the late Jesse Jones. I hope that he can feel my love.