"I'm a s-l-u-t"

Ok, I am rarely overtly political here, but I had to share this video. Unless you live under a rock, you've heard about Rush Limbaugh's Sandra Fluke comments--about how she's a slut and a prostitute who should put her sex tapes on the internet so that we can watch them since she wants us to pay her to have sex, etc. Of course this was a general attack on women, and as such, women are responding.

Here's one awesome response:

 And here's a rather interesting read about legislation that is being proposed around the country that reduces women's rights in terms of contraception and sexual health. It even mentions the possibility of a sex strike.

Liberals have also caught some heat for their choice of language. Bill Mahr defends himself and his use of the c-word on his show; he uses freedom of speech as one defense, and his second defense is the fact that he used the c-word against Sarah Palin, not against all women. It was not, he argues, a general criticism but a very pointed one. What are your thoughts? Is it sexist for a man to call any woman the c-word? Wouldn't he be crucified if he called a black man--even one that no one liked--the n-word? Are the two comparable? I think that because women and blacks have both been historically oppressed, they are somewhat comparable (although the history of the n-word is far more significant than the history of the c-word), and perhaps our pointed criticisms of people do not have to reference their race or gender. Name calling just seems like a rather crass way to make a point anyway.

Another interesting comment that he makes: Arizona legislatures want to make it legal for doctors to lie to women in order to prevent an abortion. WTF?! Does anyone know anything about this?

Femivore?

Recently, my students and I read Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," and our discussions and examination of the historical context of the story centered on the history of the bored/depressed housewife which wasn't a crisis until after industrialization. Before industrialization, for most except the rich, everyone within the family unit had a role in the survival of the family. Women and men alike worked together to grow and preserve vegetables, hunt or raise meat, and clothe the family. After industrialization, migration into the cities, and the rise of a consumer-based middle class, suddenly the housewife's importance became more tenuous, less defined and vital. She was expected to rear and raise the kids (who after the age of 5 spent much time in school), clean, and shop.

Discussing this history, I began thinking about how urban farmers are again redefining the roles of the family unit. My thoughts on this were rather nebulous, but it struck me as interesting how many of us (myself included. My move to Portland was in no way an accident) choose to live in urban centers where we can commute by bike or public transportation while simultaneously growing a kitchen garden, shopping at farmer's markets, and even raise our own chickens and bees. There's an interesting irony in all of it.

That's why I found this article, "The Femivore's Dilemma" by Peggy Orenstein, somewhat resonant and interesting. I'm not really a fan of the term "femivore's dilemma," (It seems to imply "eating women." Ha!) and I hadn't thought about this issue in terms of female empowerment, since my boyfriend and I both work and then come home to build hives and gardens and coops. But when connected to the history of feminism, I find it an interesting part of the evolution/revolution of our culture.

And in a sense, I can relate. Teaching is a vocation of love, but I'm also met by public contempt. Scapegoating teachers for the problems of our public education system seems to be increasingly popular. (See Obama's Race to the Top.) I was laid off last year, and this year, I am working over 10 hours a day as a long-term sub paid hourly (for 40 hrs./week, mind you) with aproximately 170 students and no health benefits or vacation pay. Of course, I'm glad to have work, and I will apply for full time jobs in the hopes of a better economy and a bunch of other hopes (such as a revolution within the public education system). But if it comes to the point where I wallow in under-employment or being overworked for little pay, I will replace that dream with my secret dream: not to be a stay-at-home wife or mom. Rather, to be a stay-at-home farmer.