the inconvenient truth about rape culture
Rape culture surrounds us, but we don't seem to notice.
so stoked to see a new(er) generation of males take on the meaning of #masculinity and what it means to be male in 2015: #unmasked
"WHAT DID IT MEAN TO 'BE A MAN' IN 2015?" - video at: http://therepresentationproject.org/the-movement/unmasked/
via CARE Norway - impactful, spot-on PSA about educating boys (and men) about misogyny where I feel it's needed most – down to the level of language we use on a daily basis; it's a bit long by our PSA standards, but a worthwhile watch...
This shortfilm is a pro bono job for an organisation Care.no, important message that concerns us all.
A most excellent video overview of the impact and cost (and here, cost has, of course, multiple meanings) of sexual violence for college students:
The impact of an assault is even worse than you might think. It's time to end campus rape: http://endcampusrape.com/
I have not seen the documentary The Hunting Ground, which examines the reporting of sexual assault on college campuses, but I hope to soon; it was already on my "to watch" list, but my curiosity is stronger after having seen the nice coverage and interview Jon Stewart had with directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering on The Daily Show the other day; video of the piece is available on Comedy Central:
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/cr2qt7/kirby-dick---amy-ziering
nothing at all new here – but Dr. Caroline Heldman does such a good job walking us through sexist imagery in advertising, I couldn't help giving this another viewing in preparation for a speaking engagement on gender issues this morning at West High School...
"The Sexy Lie" via TEDEx Youth San Diego, 2012:
http://www.tedxyouthsandiego.com/talks-2012/caroline-heldman/
Have to share this nice article in the Wash Post demonstrating the multiple levels on which survivors of sexual assault are affected, including one we don't often think about: how it impacts their family, especially children.
Passing the link along because I'm proud of the resiliency these survivors represent; but also because I'm proud that one of those profiled, Dawn, is a colleague of mine I had the pleasure of networking with while at WCASA....
Read the article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/12/31/i-need-to-tell-you-something-how-survivors-of-sexual-assault-tell-their-children/
There has been more I have meant to say, both in text and on video, regarding #Gamergate and the unfortunate events from a couple weeks ago; I have been distracted by other pressing life matters, which sometimes happens.
In the mean time, Ms. Sarkeesian wrote a piece in the NYTimes, and as the old saying goes, I couldn't have said it better myself...
"The time for invisible boundaries that guard the “purity” of gaming as a niche subculture is over. The violent macho power fantasy will no longer define what gaming is all about.
Those who police the borders of our hobby, the ones who try to shame and threaten women like me into silence, have already lost. The new reality is that video games are maturing, evolving and becoming more diverse.
Those of us who critique the industry are simply saying that games matter. We know games can tell different, broader stories, be quirky and emotional, and give us more ways to win and have fun."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/29/opinion/anita-sarkeesian-on-video-games-great-future.html
submitted without further comment (since they done said it so well themselves in the first place)...
First in what I hope will be a series (time permitting); an intro into the joke behind this site's name, and an example exercise about language. Via YouTube:
Workshops are considered a safe space, therefore no video exists of my more than twenty years of facilitation; these video entries will hopefully provide an idea of my presentation style; although in these examples neither you, the viewer, nor I will be able to benefit from the presence of live participants – which is an integral part of how I facilitate in the real world.
If you're curious about that, maybe we should speak by phone or Skype; or, maybe you should bring me to your school/community.
ADDENDUM - June 23, 2014: the This Week in Misogyny series now has its own page!
A classic collection of vintage ads displaying some very misogynist attitudes; very quaint – but has modern advertising really come that far forward from this? These can be great visuals to spring-board into conversation about the state of gender myths in modern pop culture - compare/contrast with stuff you gather online today or suggestions from participants – ed.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/babymantis/sexism-in-30-vintage-ads-1opu
