So over on The Spearhead, the fellas are discussing pop star and self-professed feminist Lorde — no, really — and, well, I have some bad news for you all. Apparently we’re about to be taken over by Barbarian tribes. No, really — again. Blame Lorde, Lena Dunham, Lady Gaga, and of course Sex & the City. Among others.
According to a comment-cum-manifesto from The Other Jim, which won itself a couple of dozen upvotes from The Spearhead’s highly civilized readers, Lorde’s feminism
is merely symptomatic of the fact that we live in what can only be called, ‘The Fem-Centric Reality” … Where the culture of the West caters to female desires. Thus, it’s why we see movies, tv, books, music, etc. targeting women(with the govt. legally and economically empowering women eg Title IX, Lilly Ledbetter, etc.), but more importantly appealing to their innermost desires.
It’s why we’ve seen the popularity of such things like ‘Sex & the City’, ’50 Shades of Grey’, ‘Rom-Com’ movies and shows, ‘Girls’, ‘Dancing With the Stars’, ‘The Bachelor/ette’, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, ‘Grrll-Power’ Heroines like Jennifer Lawrence in the ‘Hunger Games’, ABC News, the ‘War on Women’, etc. All of it catering to the fleeting whims and desires of women. Thus, we all live in ‘Chick-World’. *
So, the ‘Fem-Centric Reality’ is the dominant cultural force in the West right now. Of course, it won’t last, nothing ever does, but the price it will exact from Western Civilization will likely help in usher in a cultural, if not civilizational collapse as the Barbarian tribes surrounding the West see the weakness the Fem-Centric Reality engenders and are patiently waiting to take over a weaker civilization.
So there’s that.
Jim ends with this, well, intriguing theory about trans women:
* It’s also why we’re seeing more MTF transsexuals in the public eye, IMO due to a form of Stockholm Syndrome whereby some men aren’t merely sympathizing with the hostage takers(women & the FemCentric Reality), they’re trying to become the hostage takers(women) and be at the center of the FemCentric Reality where the benefits are quite generous.
Fellas: just make sure to get your transition in before the barbarians take over, if you want to enjoy the lady benefits while you still can!
It’s funny that the HuffPo kid thinks the patriarchy is some big myth. Contrast that with the Christian Taliban and the Manosphere writers who know perfectly well that there’s a thing called patriarchy, and they want it back.
I for one welcome our new barbarian overlords. I’d like to point out that I’m a large man with a history of anger issues and would fit right in with the other barbarians. I’m sure I’d a great “Chief’s Man” to some chieftain somewhere.
(Too bad this whole thing is bullshit and we aren’t in any more danger of being overrun by barbarians than having monkeys fly out of our butts).
I’m reminded of Cavafy’s poem “Waiting for the Barbarians”. Except that was good, and had a point. Also, the HuffPo writer should go on living; with a bit of luck he might learn something.
“I propose to you: humanism.”
That’s a nice idea, and personally, I like basic tenets of humanism more than I dislike them. Humanism has a flaw, though, which is that under humanism, who gets treated in what way depends on who’s defined as a human. The problem is that there’s no guarantee that everybody with two arms and legs, etc., is going to be so defined (though I think we can all assume that the fetuses will be in the clear).
I get what you’re trying to say, but there are people who don’t have two arms and/or legs.
I think it’s perfectly wonderful to say “I care for all humans” but when that sentiment is not paired with “and there are some types of humans whose wellbeing have been neglected and need more focus” then that is very foolish and makes you look like you can’t stand movements that don’t include you as a beneficiary. Triage doctors care for all patients but they still need to devote more and faster care to the worst wounded.
Bingo. The idea that feminism is not a form of humanism, or that it is anti-male, is profoundly wrong. The idea that an amorphous “humanism” in which prejudice is swept under the rug is some kind of answer to feminism, is also rubbish. Feminism is that humanism which recognizes that (a) women and girls are human, and (b) as humans, they are under-served, and therefore (c) something needs to be done to make sure that (a) is recognized, and (b) is rectified.
Assuming that it was the general “you”, every time I open the site of the Council for Secular Humanism? 😉 Also, in a lot of “debates” with, ahem, non-secular non-humanists.
(Just a friendly reminder that some words have uses outside of those employed in some isolated areas.)
Also by pushing for feminism to change their name and messaging, they’re pretty well saying that its own messaging is the most important thing feminism needs to address. Those actual problems women face? Whatever, there are dudes here who are feeling slighted!
When I hear “humanism” I still tend to think of the original Humanists, people like More and Erasmus.
They were more interesting.
They also dressed better.
Awesome! Thank you for this.
Right? There was a point in history when having an Irish last name or accent would seriously impair your ability to get a decent job in north america. It hasn’t been the case for decades, but hey, feel free to trot that out when a person of colour is telling you about racist offences that are happening today. I’m sure it will make them feel much better to learn that your great-great-great grandparent would understand their pain and frustration.
“Hey! My ancestors got stomped on by the Romans! Don’t tell me about oppressive conquerors!”
@Bina, thank you. It bugs me no end that you get these people claiming “humanism” as some new, better word to replace feminism, without any sense of the history. Or proclaim humanism as some kind of colour blind ideology. Its to the point where I almost dont want to call myself a humanist anymore because people think of it only as a word that exists to deny feminism or racism, instead of its actual history as an intellectual and philosophical movement.
I shouldn’t have put “Thank you shayla. That’s nice.” in block quotes. I’m learning how to blockquote.
Ding ding ding!
We have a winner.
Here is your prize, Chie:
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/188/c/0/pink_fluffy_unicorns_dancing_on_rainbows__by_umithemusicalpony-d6cgs1k.png
Hey, I identify as a humanist. But I also identify as a feminist, because I realise that sexism and the patriarchy are problems that need a more specific focus within the broader framework of humanism. Same with racism, and homophobia, and transphobia, and classism. And I get pretty fed up of arseweasels who act like humanism is some sort of gotcha to use against people dealing with more specific problems, and don’t seem to give a shit about it otherwise.
The thing about being a humanist is that it means you are also a feminist. You cannot be a humanist and not be feminist.
I am surprise he didn’t bring up the Illuminati
No worries, Auggziliary. I agree that “humanism” without a clear grasp of the current reality is at best worthless, at worst harmful.
Incidentally, do you guys know about the formatting toolbar plugin for Firefox? It makes defeating the blockquote monster much simpler.
ralmcg, you have passed your Being Devoured By The Blockquote Monster initiation. Congratulations!
jefrir, where does one get this plugin? Is it like the formatting buttons one sees on other blogs (Feministe for example)?
(waving hand) Ah yes, that would be me. ‘Course, my ancestors did beat those bastards back a bit at Teutoburg, so there’s that. Still pisses me off no end that I still have to fight these battles against the gender equivalent of the Roman Empire, though. And against these arseweasels (great word!) abusing the term “humanism”, too. Far’s I’m concerned, the “humanist” arseweasels are the bigots’ best friends.
WHAT HAVE THE ROMANS DONE FOR US?
kittehserf, yes it’s pretty much like that, or the formatting buttons in something like word. You get a toolbar with a set of buttons just below the address bar – choose the right encoding for the website (html here and in most places, remembered between sessions), select the text, and press the button. It does quotes, links, and a variety of formatting.
To install it, go into the Firefox menu and click Add-ons -> Get Add-ons and search for “text formatting toolbar”. I believe similar toolbars are available for other browsers (possibly with the exception of Internet Explorer).
yes Bina! ready your Valkyrie steel, in the frozen feminist northlands we wait for the perfect moment to conquer the weakened ‘Murica.