megha_dutha

As gross as it is to read European colonizers objectify and fetishize ancient Sri Lankans, I adore the descriptions of how Ceylonese men and women dressed.

No one yearned for pale skin, there was no concept of gendered clothing and female breasts were not seen as inherently more sexual than male breasts.

Everyone wore sarongs, bare-chested (in Sri Lankan weather it only makes sense), grew their hair long, infused with coconut oil, decorated with flowers and tied into buns. It paints a breathtaking image of our ancestors.

Somehow the vagina has been lost and erased in a sex-crazed culture manipulated into a penis-pleasure culture. People with vaginas have been forgotten, and manipulated into believing that our sexual pleasure is not important enough by men who can’t locate a clit, and joke around about how the female orgasm is “non existent.” Most cis-women, don’t even know about their own anatomy, and for cis men, they simply don’t care. So we’re going to break it down for you.

The Vagina- by lexi4prez.

your first time, is not supposed to bleed. bleeding only occurs when you are not aroused enough, and your vaginal walls are not self-lubricated enough for entry or intercourse to be pleasurable. The hymen is a part of the vagina that STRETCHES, with enough lubrication it will stay stretched and pleasurable. It will only result in blood if it is “torn” hence the myth of the “cherry pop.” Personal experience: I did NOT bleed from my first intercourse. And that is completely, and should be commonly, normal! lexi4prez, someone with a vagina, confirms this.

you do not “pee out of your vagina.” The vagina/body has three holes. The anus, the vagina, and the urethra, a small opening above the vagina. We do not pee out of the same hole used during sex/periods. Please, look at a diagram. 

the clit, commonly joked around about being difficult to find, is societies ability to erase the vagina’s pleasure. Located in any diagram of the vagina out there, the clit has over 8,000 nerves (the penis only having 4,000) and exists for sexual pleasure. To have your sex partner ignore the face you have a button like organ that only exists for your pleasure, is a way for society to once again, not care about your enjoyment in sex. If you enjoy sex, make sure you’re enjoying it with someone who wants to please you.

the tightness myth- commonly used by men to shame women for having multiple sex partners. Time and time again, people have proved this theory to be wrong, but it’s still a thing. The vagina comes in many different sizes, for one. Some people with vaginas have a smaller vagina, and they are tight a lot of the time. During arousal the vagina expands in anticipation, and once penetrated, tightens around whatever is inside.If the vagina feels extremely tight, it’s because they are not aroused. This can lead to blood, pain, and an awful sex experience. No matter how many times you have sex, your vagina goes back to its normal size. IT ONLY STRETCHES WHEN YOU ARE AROUSED. Another way we have been manipulated and shamed for having sexual pleasure.

labia shaming- the labia majora is the part of a vagina that is outside of your labia minora. The minora is the part of your vagina that is slangy used as “lips” and these are almost all different. Every vagina has a different labia, some are small, some are long, some are shriveled, some are thin, they are all different. Its BASIC human anatomy and has nothing to do with your tightness/looseness.

discharge- another way for cis men who know nothing about the vagina to shame us for being “dirty.”  Vaginal discharge is a part of the vaginas self cleaning, from fluids made by glands inside the vagina that carries bacteria and dead cells. This self cleaning keeps the vagina clean and prevents infection. The amount also varies, as can odor and hue. It depends on multiple things: being sexually aroused, pregnant, menstruating, breastfeeding, etc. Do not let anyone shame you for your bodies natural cleaning.

orgasms- oh the myth about the “female” orgasm. This is one of the biggest lies and selfish manifestation of a culture who doesn’t want cis women to enjoy sex. you can orgasm from your clit, penetration, blending of both, and basically good sex. The vaginal orgasm is something that can be achieved from rubbing a vibrator on your clit for about 10-15 minuets, and should not be forgotten because your sexual partner doesn’t care. It might take a bit of time, but it is not difficult. Read up about different kinds of orgasms and better ways to achieve them, as there are too many ways to be explained here.

and finally, FGM. Something that is the result of a culture who does’t want women to enjoy sex at all costs, and needs to be discussed. Female Genital Mutilation is the removal of exterior vaginal genitalia. Its surprising how many people do not know about this. It is an official violation of human rights, and it serves no health benefits, only future problems. FGM is practiced in more than 29 countries, and over 130 million women in the world have been victims. It is commonly ignored by society, and its vile and only done to eliminate a woman’s chance at sexual pleasure. The procedure is done from any age, usually 5-15, and done by an older woman with a rusty knife. It causes extreme pain, severe bleeding, risk of infection, and difficulty in passing urine and menstruation. It can also result in problems with future pregnancies. Please do your research on this, as it is the ultimate, most severe effect of the way the vagina has been told it is a sin by cultures everywhere.

Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey.

[this was copied and pasted from my personal Twitter account. Felt like maybe other people in this site may have more to contribute so I am repeating my rambles here]

Some weeks ago, I looked back on Jane Austen’s 6 novels after I re-watched and reviewed Joe Wright’s movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

At that time, I supposed Mr. Darcy to be Austen’s best leading man. Second would be Mr. Knightley and third would be Captain Wentworth.

I based it on who had the best character development. Of course, one of Jane Austen’s strengths as a writer (at least, in my opinion) is her writing of her heroines’ character development. Who they are at the start is often very different from who they end up becoming.

With Austen’s leading men though, not all of them experience so much change (except in their affection for the protagonist and their civil status). Mr. Darcy is the one who is the most changed because his development intertwines with that of Lizzie Bennet’s.

However, upon watching Northanger Abbey (the 2007 version is the best) and upon remembering the book, I realized how unfair my criteria for “best leading man” was because in limiting it to “the most changed” I forget the merits of other great Austen leading men.

And an example of an interesting leading man is Henry Tilney. Here are reasons why (in no particular order):

1. Among Austen’s leading men, Tilney would probably be the jolliest or the one with the most sense of humour. He is sassy and is like a male version of Lizzie Bennet. This is notable because his profession isn’t something typically associated with good humor. He is a parson but he isn’t rigid and serious like Austen’s other literary parsons. Also, considering that Northanger Abbey was Austen’s reaction to popular Gothic novels at the time, Tilney’s playfulness and sass was perhaps consciously written as a sassy contrast to the usual heroes in Gothic novels who were often dark and brooding.

2. (This I have read here in Tumblr. It was from @lavellenchanted ’s reply to an anon’s ask) Tilney is the most “feminine” of Austen’s leading men. He knows women’s fashion, reads romance novels and his best friend is his sister. As is apparent in his first meetings with Catherine, he is comfortable in the company of women.

3. He delights in and even admires Catherine’s innocence, loyalty and purity of heart. Yes, he often teases her for these qualities she possesses but he never tries to change them. Actually, he is even careful not to spoil them. When he could have very much dismissed her to be gullible or stupid or told her to open her eyes about the traitors around her, he instead encouraged her to see the truth in her own way and in her own pace without trampling on her virtues (note how careful he was not to readily expose the motives and feelings of Isabella Thorpe and his own brother, Captain Tilney; not for the sake of those people but for the sake of not completely coloring Catherine’s judgment). In other words, what the Thorpes saw as weaknesses in Catherine (weaknesses they can pounce on and take advantage of), Tilney viewed as admirable and superior qualities, strengths of Catherine’s character he wished more people possessed. This is made even more interesting by the idea that Tilney is a bit of a cynic and a passive realist. How interesting that he should find optimism and romanticism to be attractive when he does not readily believe in them himself.

4. As for character development… Though Tilney was not much changed as other Austen leading men, he, the passive, cynic and submissive hero, eventually learned to act on his affections, believe in the powers of kindness and stand up against cruelty and greed.

5. Another interesting point about Austen leading men is how they influence the character development of the heroine. Like Mr. Knightley and Edmund Bertram, Mr. Tilney affected the heroine’s development by instruction. He is like a teacher to her. But, I think, unlike the other two leading men mentioned, Tilney was not very conscious of this role of his. His conversations with Catherine, though very educational, were more motivated by a desire to tease or to entertain rather than to preach (except for that one time when she entertained silly suspicions about his mother’s death). And if he ever preached to her, he did it because Catherine desired it.

6. Tilney’s initial reason for liking Catherine was her first liking him. Although it is not as romantic as is expected of a novel, it’s an honest depiction of most courtships. Good first impressions does not necessarily mean instant affection and commitment. Though Tilney and Catherine got along well quickly, they still fell in love slowly. Tilney did not think too seriously on their relationship until later in the story which, in some ways, make him a more relatable character for today’s readers. Who goes on a first date expecting declarations of love at the end of the night? (Well, maybe some but perhaps that’s not always the case).

Hello everyone! I’m relatively new to the Merlin fandom, been enjoying y’all’s posts for several months but haven’t actually contributed anything until now.

This post was inspired by @arthur-of-the-pendragons You are so appreciated!

Sanskrit names for Merlin characters (a lot of these fit really well in my head but don’t translate directly into English, so I did my best!)

Arthur: Vikram - Valour; Courage. Intensity. A word used in literature to describe the light of the sun and the valiance of kings. Prowess that is undefeated. 

Leon: Susamarth - Fully Able. Powerful. That which substantiates everything else, keeps everything in balance, and essentially holds the fort. Capable of facing and overcoming anything.

Lancelot: Kṣama - Forgiveness. While that is the most literal translation, it also means patience, forbearance, and grace. Tolerance. Understanding. 

Gwaine: Pratāp - Splendour; Strength. Inspired by the whole ‘courage, strength, magic’ scene. Word roots connote brilliance, heat, energy.

Elyan: Svadharma - One’s Own Calling. Can be loosely translated as duty or path. Clarity of purpose. A choice one makes of what is most important and what must be sacrificed

Percival: Dhrauvya - Constancy; Perseverance. Steadfastness in the face of change. Enduring. A derivative of the word dhruva, meaning North Star. 

Gwen: Kartavyā - Duty; That Which Must Be Done. In myth and legend, kartavya is used to denote one’s highest duty to the greater good, and is something which must be upheld, even at great personal cost.

Merlin: Bhakti - Devotion. Considered the highest form of love. Characterized by selflessness, sacrifice, service, friendship, and being one with the object of one’s devotion.

Gaius: Sarvadarṣī - One who Sees Everything. Often used to describe sages, teachers, poets, and healers. Connotes the wisdom and peace that radiates from an old soul.

Morgana: Jātavedas - Fire. Also used to describe the Goddess of Destruction, who rides a tiger and carries about ten different weapons to slay men who oppress others or get in her way.

Mordred: Saṅkīrṇa - Corrupted; Confused. Without clarity or direction. Neglected, not taught right from wrong. Muddled. 

Uther: Astakaruṇa - Of Dead Mercy. Yeah, I don’t think this one needs explaining.

Kilgarrah: Ākāśavāṅi - Voice of the Sky. In myth and legend, a voice would emanate from the sky during critical moments of decision, usually with prophecies or cryptic messages that went on to cause a lot of trouble. Thought this was especially apt.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of literature we can learn from. Baby books bore you, but you’re not ready for any type of novel, so what’s left?

Here are some tips 

For beginner/A1/A2 learners

Watch a YouTube video in your target language, then read the comments

you’ll already have vocabulary from watching the video, most of the comments will probably use that vocab

it’s a short enough text that you won’t get fatigued

the only downside is that sometimes people utilize abbreviations and slang terms, but even these are good to know

Read news headlines and if you find one you understand almost fully, try to read the full article

sometimes the vocabulary used is not common in everyday usage, but it’s a total win for an A1 learner to fully read and mostly understand any text

while vocab is not used everyday, it will give you the ammunition to talk about that particular topic

Watch Netflix in target language with subtitles in the same language

believe it or not, you will learn to read better, especially because you don’t have to understand written description of visuals (usually uses very niche vocab) or emotion

and now you can slow down or speed up 

I watched DARK in German before I felt like I could read a book, and I understood 85% of it. This is because I looked up some vocabulary in the first episodes and they continued to use it throughout the show so it really cemented in my head to the point where I don’t even think about it. Now, I had to rewatch some conversations the characters had, but that’s much better for understanding than switching it to English or looking up full phrases and sentences. 

For intermediate/B1/B2 learners

read fanfiction

it’s ALWAYS good to read about something you’re interested in so if you like any major movies, books, television, this is the perfect option for you

most people use relatively basic language and you can choose the length 

find a comic book or graphic novel

like watching tv, that visual aid really helps with understanding of the plot without all those tricky descriptions

read a book in your target language that you’ve read and loved in your native language

this is by far my favorite way

you don’t have to worry about trying to understanding the bigger picture because you already know what’s happening/what will happen, you really have to discover the meaning of each sentence and then you begin to picture the scene using only your target language

contains 34 textbooks including etymology, language acquisition, morphology, phonetics/phonology, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, & translation studies

dropbox containing language textbooks

contains 86 language textbooks including ASL, Arabic, (Mandarin) Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew (Modern & Ancient), Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovene, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh

dropbox containing books about language learning

includes fluent forever by gabriel wyner, how to learn any language by barry farber, polyglot by kató lomb

TWO TESTS WERE CANCELLED!

NO HOMEWORK!!

WE HAD A BREAK OF 30 MINUTES (we normally have a break of 5-10 min)

AND MY CRUSH ASKED ME TO WORK ON A PROJECT WITH HIM!!!

If you reblog this post I’ll follow you, no exceptions!