I listened to the amazing former President Carter on the Diane Rehm show this morning. He has written a new book about the world’s failure to accord equality, respect and basic dignity to women. Obviously, this human phenomenon runs the gamut from everyday misogyny to the fact that one in four college age women will be raped yet an extremely low percentage ever report it to the great income disparity between the sexes and the ubiquity and blind-eye-turning to spousal abuse in our own culture to the horrors of oppression and prevalence of the barbaric and disgusting genital mutilation abroad, etc.
Aside from basic decency, fairness and the value of all human life, the treatment of women and girls is a proven indicator and facilitator of progress, enlightenment, peace, education, even economic development.
It really is an important issue that should be discussed more. Studies have shown that the main factor in controlling population growth, is education of young females. Humanities growing numbers present the biggest threat to the quality of life on the planet. More educated women leads to a better future of everyone.
We have to get beyond the male/female dichotomy…it’s as outdated as parachute pants. There are smart people and dumb people and they should be judged on those merits alone…not gender or skin color.
It’s true, and it mostly goes unreported and the rapists walk through the raindrops. Those and more ugly stats here. What Pres. Carter talked about was how young women are disinclined to report rape anyway because of all of the glorious slut-shaming and victim-blaming that goes on in this country (my words, not his) but that the colleges actually discourage victims further because they don’t want the bad publicity.
He obviously also talks about the role various religious leaders and organizations play in promoting misogyny and discrimination against women, saying how the Koran and Jesus both are reverent towards women and treat them as equals, but that (as with everything having to do with these texts) people cherry-pick only those verses that support their gross agenda. I do recommend listening to the interview on WAMU and I may pick up his book and add it to the pile.
My friend lives across the street from a fairly conservative college. I went to hang out with him and we walked his dog at the college…he told me a girl he used to date went there, and that she was tied to a bed post and raped, and then left there, and that it was a source of her trauma that she played out in their relationship. I couldn’t believe it. I even dated a girl who had PTSD from childhood and adult rape incidents. Crazy.
This video above makes for an interesting psychological/sociological litmus test…
I posted it on another forum I frequent and, like clockwork, some of the members there didn’t see any problems with the actions/vocalizations sent Roberts’ way.
Now I realize that this is not actually scientific but I can’t help but see a correlation…the individuals that didn’t see any problems with the actions of the men in that video tend to be some of the more outspoken conservative members. Many (most?) have been the ones calling for mandatory ebola quarantines as well.
There’s nothing wrong with a quick, polite “Good morning” as you pass someone on the street, especially if you happen to make eye contact. And if you’re just reading the subtitles, some of those comments do seem pretty harmless. But you have to also take into account the body language and tone of the speaker, and most of those guys weren’t interested in how good a morning she was having. And you have to take into account herdemeanor. Her mere existence isn’t an invitation to start talking to her.
AThere’s nothing wrong with someone catching your eye, there’s nothing wrong with trying chat up someone if you find them attractive (if there’s a decent window and you’re not encroaching on them), but that is some creepy shit. How the hell do you stalk alongside someone like that and somehow think that sort of thing is okay?
Everyone, male / female, gay / straight, is programmed to steal a look or two - everyone eyefucks to some degree or another - it’s a natural thing, but Christ. The compression of those hours is pretty effective and gross.
I think none of the interactions in that video (maybe 1 is arguable) could be considered innocent polite “good morning” type of exchanges.
I’m appalled at the online reaction to this video, shouldn’t be a surprise, but when I had to argue with women on twitter how this is wrong, you can’t help but get a bit depressed.
This is something that definitely sprung to mind… but I was reluctant to bring it up in other discussions of the video because I didn’t want it to get derailed anymore than such discussions always do anyway.
AYeah, when I noticed the make-up of the men and saw the disclaimer, I figured it was only a matter of time. It’s not unfair to question whether the narrative was manipulated, but it doesn’t immediately need to be an insidious editing job.
Is it possible that the intensity/frequency of catcalling is culturally based?
I don’t know the answer, but I know in Latin America the situation is horrible. I got a tour of the equivalent of “congress” in Panama, by a member of the diplomatic corps, and she was harassed while giving us the tour by co-workers at least 2-3 times. It was to the point that one guy was trying to setup a date with her that night, I had to stop the tour and ask her if she was OK, and all she told me was that she was used to it and couldn’t complain to her bosses about it.