No. No, Nope, Nope, No, Nu-uh, You're Kidding Me...

Everyone who's had the displeasure of engaging in a spirited debate with me knows that I'm extremely liberal in a firmly moderate way when it comes to issues of feminism. I still consider myself a feminist, but I go out of my way to call out what I see as problematic behavior on both sides of the fence. I try desperately to see both sides of any argument. While I believe feminism is and was a necessary movement that has afforded so much good for our society, I believe that with any movement, there are extreme elements that not only provide their own problematic viewpoints, but also pollute the roots of the movement in subtle ways.

But I'm absolutely not here to harp on what I perceive to be the shortcomings of a social movement that I support (this time). I need to blast the other side of this issue, because holy shit are privileged white males tearing out my last nerve (I say knowing full well that I fall squarely into that demographic).

Today, I had the misfortune of stumbling upon a Reddit thread about a false rape conviction. Predictably, the comments in it were largely misguided, shameful, abhorrent, and downright ignorant. There was, however, one gem that carried a glossy sheen more blinding than the rest;

http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/264tdv/til_brian_banks_was_ordered_to_serve_5_years_in/chnt6jv

I had originally upvoted (Reddit's system of Likes) this comment having interpreted it as a mockery of how absurd it is that we don't focus on the problem of rape in our society and instead focus on the concerns that arise from that problem. I thought it was really clever at first glance!
Then I saw the first few comments under it and re-read it a few times.

Dear Christ, I think this person is actually making fun of the root phrase about teaching men not to rape...

And the subsequent comments are virtually all agreeing with this person... How is that even..?
No. Alright. Back up. I'm going to try to pick this apart, one grueling misconception at a time.

1. You know how many women I would have raped by now if it wasn't for someone teaching me not too? /s

This is not how sociology works. People are not born bad or good as you are implying, anonymous internet patron. People are actually taught what behavior is acceptable to model and what behavior is unacceptable to model. This is why people in impoverished homes are more likely to commit crime- their upbringing often lacks an educational background as well as structure and discipline, while the environment encourages a life of crime for a number of factors.
People are not born rapists, nor are they born saints. People are taught how to act, and our individual personality adjusts to our environment combined with how we conceive of the world as we age. This accounts for individual differentiation, since biology does play some role. This explains why identical twins, reared separately, still wind up very similar to each other despite differing environments. It also explains why environment directly impacts crime rates, IQ, and a host of other life factors.

In short, what I'm saying in response to you is "Maybe a lot! Who knows?"

2. None of this in any way defends the original quote. But I know that a lot of feminists just like pissing in the face of men, and love issuing long screeds in defense of the indefensible.

No one is defending false rape allegations. They're defending the ideology that we should fix the root issue, which is poorly raising our children and poorly reinforcing our culture. Most feminists are just looking for things like making sure that they and their loved ones aren't being raped. Spitting in the faces of men specifically is something we might more appropriately attribute to specific, extreme sections of the feminist movement. The quote itself is completely defensible for the reason I stated above.

3. I've recently been seeing people give advice about how to stay safe at the Fifa World Cup in Rio. Shouldn't they be focusing on instead telling the criminals in Rio to stop?

Sorta', yeah. Telling someone when they're already a criminal to stop isn't very effective though (still better than waiting until after they're done and punishing them). No, what the quote means is that we should teach our kids how to appropriately behave, which includes nuanced differentiation between what is and what is not okay. Leaving any open gaps invites people to learn the lessons from society directly. This, in turn, perpetuates the problem. When we have a society where, for example, 33% of Pakistani police believe that women sometimes deserve rape, then we're inviting our kids to potentially take these lessons away as acceptable.
By our inaction, we are potentially allowing our children, peers, loved ones, students, etc. to make the incorrect assumption that some rape is "legitimate" and some rape isn't.

4. lol a feminist blog. bleh. No there isn't a "sea of rape" going on. ffs. Just because feminist said so. Is a bullshit blog women are all victims etc. Just bullshit.

In fairness, this depends on your definition of the hyperbole "sea," however, going by the statistics found here once again: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics
We can use the UN's baseline of 250,000 reported rape/rape attempts per year in 68 countries.
If we assume the low-end of the UK's studies which estimate 75-95% of rapes go unreported (and I can't imagine how many attempted rapes go unreported), then we can assume that 250,000 is, at minimum, only about 1/4 of the actually number, indicating at least a million per year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

That's about double the estimated homicide rate per year in the world.
So yes. Yes I would use the word "sea," going purely by low-estimate statistics. The blog post that was linked to you was not to be taken as a study or a fact, it was to be taken as an argument which presents studies, facts, claims, and a logical progression of thought.



I'm so angry, I can barely see straight.

Perjury sucks. It is illegal for good reason.
Provided the account in the article linked is accurate, the woman who did this deserves the book thrown at her.

But you know what would stop false rape claims? If we address the societal problem of talking about false rape claims as though that is the major issue at play here- if we address the societal problem of ignoring rape is a serious concern- if we address the societal problem of dismissing some rapes and holding others as "legitimate"- if we talk about why people grow up and commit crimes, maybe we'll fix the over-present crime itself, which would fix the false reporting of that crime in tandem.

What is being advocated here by these people is akin to a doctor trying to treat the numb arm symptoms of a heart attack without treating the fucking heart attack or, even better, addressing what caused the heart attack in the first place!

I'm not going to fare particularly well with this message, but I am going to post a copy of this argument on several of the offending comments on Reddit.

Okay!

My fingers look like they've been run through a wood chipper, but if that's the worst to come out of this descent, I'll take it.
My mood has picked up quite sharply, and the feelings of doom and gloom are vanishing with the rain. (Normally, rain makes me feel good, so I'm not sure what this is about)
Suicidal ideation was there, but brief.

I'm sorry to anyone who may have worried about me. This crap is still new to me since the medications are doing weird and unpredictable things to me. I appreciate your support and concern, and if I don't voice that appreciation enough, it's because I'm a butt.

We're gonna' take this one step at a time, and be careful and cognizant for a little while.

*deep breath*
We got this.

Welp

Goody.

They're back.
Let's see how long I can ignore them this time, eh?

Why Are You Singing?

A sad, sorrowful song, built of one part guilt, two parts helplessness, and three parts pity.
You sing it because I cannot let go. You sing it because you are aware of the black hole that is my mind, refusing to release even the smallest idea from its clutches.
You sing it because logic has failed and reason has not shifted the powerful pull.

You sing it because you want me to get better.

So why can't I?
Why won't I?

You sing it because you didn't want to get trapped here with me.
You sing it because our brief time knowing each other showed signs of wounds too deep to contend with.
You sing it because it would be a nice place if it wasn't so destructive.
You sing it because you don't know what else to do.


You sing with all your heart, hoping that some part of it will actually hit home.

Each one of you sings it because you want to appeal to the part of me that's still human.

I'm hearing the song...
But will I listen to it?

http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/410071

Or maybe I'm being too self-centered. Perhaps I'm simply a stubborn stain on the wall that refuses to clean up. A blemish that will not leave. There are no songs. No focus. Just exasperated sighs when the problem does not go away.
Either way, here I stay unwilling to rest for anyone's sake, including my own.

Fractured

Even as the sun beams and breaks the cold,
Winter's bane, the herald of warmth...
I find myself torn; cracked; fractured.
And while I am frail, I am not shattered.

Every move is one closer to being alone,
No longer walking tired together.
I have been sinking; slowing; folding.
And while I am plagued, I am not stopping.

Each day is new step forward,
But several stumbles backward.
I had been tall; excited; engaged.
And while I have tried, I am not cleansed.

Earth will always keep moving,
Though I feel it is ceasing.
I was flying; healing; living.
And while I have cried, I am not defeated.




It's been a while since I've had a nasty depressive bout, but this one's hurting pretty badly. I can't tell how much of it is the reduced SSRI intake versus my natural low for the month, or something else entirely. But I'm finding myself a bit more apathetic and lazy lately. I don't care as much, I don't want to be around people as much. And yet, I'm more lonely and struggling more every day.
I'm less certain, second-guessing my philosophies, my decisions, and who I am. How I present myself to the people I care about. What I think about my own progress. I'm more scared, less satisfied, and I genuinely try to understand the positions that it seems people are frustrated with me about. But I don't have the capacity to properly empathize with many frames of mind without attributing them to something as fallacious as blind passion.

Everyone seems to be going their own way, but new paths of others don't appear to be coinciding with mine. I am losing connections, but not gaining as many. My confidence is thinning as a result of all of this along with my lack of romance.
My chest feels tight again.
My heart hurts.

I'm just... scared, you know? I'm worried. And I can't calm myself down enough to shoo away these ethereal booguns hiding in my head. Tired, breathless, helpless, slowing down, wary of my body's weaknesses, wary that I'm not as smart as I'd like to be. That my argumentation hurts people.
This guilt might be the height of first world problems. These conflicting thoughts and ideologies are destructive all the same, and I don't know quite what to do or how to feel.

Misogyny as it Relates to Misandry and a Few Thoughts on Sexism

Sparked by an ongoing debate with a friend on the notion of "isms" existing, I've come back from my impromptu hiatus to rant and spill salt over.

In this post, I'm going to delve deep into the argument at its base, followed by a thought I had afterwards that I haven't fully processed (but am interested in teasing out).

I.

So effectively, the argument comes down to the question of whether or not "isms" against the majority can exist by definition. One side says yes, one says no.

On the side for that notion, the argumentation comes down to one of pure definition and the lack of an impact that relative size/scope has on whether or not something can meet definitional standards.

On the side against that notion, the argumentation comes down to one of a necessary systemic quality to oppression as part of the definition. Without the presence of a culturally developed and sustained power, "isms" are impossible.

Before launching into substantive ideas, it's absolutely worth noting two things:

1. I am a male. All perspectives, biases, and culturally-induced messages that have been cultivated in me are based, at least partially, on that simple fact.

2. I do not personally feel that I have ever been on the receiving end of misandristic thoughts or actions (that I'm aware of).

With that said, I believe the argument has a single, fundamental crux; that the definitions being used for those particular "isms" are different for either side.
To illustrate this, Dictionary.com's definition of "racism" is listed as such:

rac·ism

noun

1.

a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

2.

a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3.

hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

And immediately, we run headlong into the problem. The definition for the noun is regarding two separate things. The first (and third) is an idea- a feeling. The second, however, is an actual structure. A system with intent, goals, methodologies, and, by definition, some level of support.

These are obviously not the same things. As such, the entire premise of the argument is silly. One side holds a position that is consistent with all available definitions, while the other side holds a position that is consistent with only a single available definition.
This does not make the argument wrong per se, but rather, it makes the argument fundamentally flawed in that its basis is in an incorrect assessment of definitions (or at least an ignorance of the complete source). The argument would have much more merit if either:

A. The definition was limited to just "a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination;" or

B. A separate word that specifically only has that definition was used.

Effectively, this argument produced a litany of unrelated arguments and analogies because of that discrepancy at its heart.
I do not see a particularly more satisfying conclusion to the argument beyond "pick a new word or else use a less deliberately narrow definition." 

This argument stretched beyond racism to include sexism and the concept of misandry vs. misogyny. 
At its base, the definition for "misogyny" is as follows:

noun

hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women.

If we are to assume that misandry is simply the counterpart of this idea with men as the subject instead of women, it would read very similarly.

In this case, while there is no mention of a systemic process of oppression, I don't discount the position that it merits distinction. However, from a purely definitional standpoint, the argument falls flat in the water. A simple hatred, while it can be amplified, modified, or carried within culture does not necessitate the existence of that culture. It merely requires an overarching and generalizing attitude towards a populace.

There's not much I can say beyond this about the argument. I simply don't think that it is definitionally possible to say one exists while the other cannot.

II.

However, this conversation got me thinking about a fairly radical position on sexism, misandry, and misogyny that I had never entertained before. One that, on its face, seems ludicrous, but from a philosophical standpoint, I'm having a hard time suggesting that it is logically implausible or unreasonable.

Bearing in mind at this point that this is a position I am still processing, and it is by no means as solid as the position I hold in part I.

I am tentatively becoming very wary of the idea that society is misogynistically inclined but not misandristically inclined. Not because I think men suffer from the same kind of oppression as women, of course. The variation between the general experiences, fears, dreams, and roadblocks of men and women is too vastly different to be able to believe that at this juncture. Rather, I'm beginning to look at society through the lens of ambivalent sexism. The idea is that you have two kinds of sexism:
Benevolent; and
Hostile.

While benevolent sexism appears nice and friendly on the outside (men holding doors open specifically for women. Men being considered more worthy of managerial positions. Women being more trustworthy), their root is in a generalization about the respective gender that isn't necessarily based on anything more than circumstantial and socially-pushed evidence.
Meanwhile, hostile sexism is the more overt and cruel differentiation of the sexes. Hostile sexism is typically far more intentional and more deliberately nasty by its nature. They both, however, further the same kinds of societal assumptions with regard to gender.

To that end, I'm wondering if it is perhaps a fatal flaw to consider society sexist towards women but not men. Instead, I think it would be more appropriate to acknowledge that society has ingrained a sense of hostile sexism weighted towards women and a sense of benevolent sexism weighted towards men. From that standpoint, we recognize:

1. That men are likely the beneficiaries of more "friendly" sexism, and are thus in a more preferential position.

2. That the system is not designed with the specific intent to hurt women and benefit men. Rather, the system appears designed to reward men and women who fall into a certain specific set of characteristics, while punishing those who don't. Societally, we have come to "value" many of the things that are designed to reward men for fitting into a stereotype more than the comparable things designed to reward women thusly. Succeeding in your career is designed to give you some sense of fulfillment as well as the ability to lead a stable and independent life. Succeeding in raising a family, however, gives you a different sense of internal joy that lacks many traditionally physiologically rewarding stimuli.

To that end, our valuation of traits, actions, and characteristics is again weighted more towards men with benevolent sexism, but that is still sexism. We're rewarded for succeeding in something we have to do to survive anyway. However, we're also punished socially, financially, and culturally when we are not meeting the correct (and arbitrary) standards of "success" in the field of, say, careers.

So, with that in mind, I would agree that systemic racism against white people does not exist (at least in large amounts), I do think that systemic sexism against men is just as rampant as it is against women. The key difference being that it's more weighted towards benevolent sexism rather than hostile sexism.

As such, I do believe that women have it harder, but not because society is more sexist against them, but rather because the type of sexism they face more often than men is more directly problematic.
Again, this is something I've just started thinking about, so I'm not set in my ways.
I'd be interested in carrying this discussion forward further...

-
Wad

Oof

My heart was sorta' caving in on itself yesterday and this morning, so my energy levels are pretty low and my discomfort is pretty high.

As a result, I've been awful about blogging this week.


Real post tomorrow; Promise.