#femrant

Last week I listened to NPR’s “On Point” episode about the #MoreThanMean video that went viral on YouTube. If you haven’t watched the video, I suggest you take a few and do so, but be warned that the language is vile and offensive. To summarize, the video consists of men reading actual tweets that two female sportscasters have received. If you’re at all familiar with the world of online…

I Didn’t Agree to This

Sometimes when I think about the ideas that shape the way I think about myself and how I relate to the world the only response I can come up with is “I didn’t agree to this”. Like the concept that my worth in this world is dictated by my appearance and the size of my body. At no point in my life did anyone ever ask me if that standard was acceptable and whether or not I agreed. If asked, I…

Let’s Not Forget, Access to Abortion is Actually a Matter of Life and Death

It’s an election year so discussions about abortion and Roe v. Wade are abundant. Republican candidates promise to repeal Roe v. Wade, making abortion illegal again. Most recently, when cornered in an interview Trump said he believes women receiving abortions should be punished. He quickly backpedaled the statement after public outcry, but the damage is done. His statement shows that regardless…

The False Promises of Fitness Magazines

I used to have a problem with Fitness magazines. Whenever I walked through a checkout line I couldn’t help but grab one and toss it on the belt. I never intended to buy one, but the headlines beckoned me: “Lose 10 Pounds Before Beach Season”, “The 15 Minute Routine for Perfect Abs”, “Eat This Not This and Watch Your Waistline Disappear”. I was always enchanted by the promises on the covers. In…

Now don’t take the title too literally. I don’t mean to imply that being a feminist gives you permission to vandalize public property to crush the patriarchy or punch the next man that catcalls you on your way home from work. Let’s be reasonable here and try to keep things legal. What I do mean is the being a feminist means that you should be allowed to turn your life in to whatever you want. You…

You’re not Crazy, You Just Have Feelings

In the nineteenth century there was an “epidemic” of a condition called hysteria. The patients diagnosed with hysteria were almost exclusively female. In fact, it was largely considered a “female illness”. The symptoms included anxiety, loss of appetite, sexual frigidity or excessive sexual desire, irritability, excessive displays of emotion, and in extreme cases aphasia, the inability to speak.…

Can’t I Just be a Feminist?

Recently a news article came across my Facebook feed entitled “Does Feminism Require Vegetarianism or Veganism?” (http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/02/feminism-and-vegetarianism/). I tried to hold back my judgement while I clicked the link and explored the article. Please read it for yourself. It’s very well written and the author explores the argument from both sides in a very intelligent manner.…

Things Feminism Has Ruined for Me Part 1

One of the “bad feminist” struggles I face every day is my taste in media. When my eyes became opened to the truth of feminism a lot of things I love started to look very different. The lyrics, dialogue, and subtext I used to dismiss as relatively harmless became insidious. Shows that I used to love lost their shine and artists that I used to dig became downright offensive. Yet, I still love some…