Category Archives: Gender and the Body

Mandolin Responds to Seelhoff: Gender Is a Constellation.

Posted on July 30, 2007 by Mandolin

In her response to Barry’s cartoon, Seelhoff writes, “To compare radical feminists to the Religious Right is propaganda, it is a smear campaign, it is disingenuous, and it is transparently and hatefully misogynist.” I disagree. In some discussions of transphobia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body, Transsexual and Transgender related issues | 86 Comments

A Few More Links About Female Genital Cutting

Posted on July 12, 2007 by Ampersand

Following up on Mandolin’s recent posts here on “Alas,” here are a few more discussions of the complexities of Female Genital Cutting (aka Female Genital Mutilation and Female Genital Surgery): Official Shrub dot com: Why I Cringe When Western Feminists … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body, International issues, Race, racism and related issues | 13 Comments

Problematizing Legal Approaches Toward Stopping FGS

Posted on July 5, 2007 by Mandolin

On Pandagon, Amanda relates what she calls some good news: Egypt has outlawed FGM. From the article: Officially the practice, which affects both Muslim and Christian women in Egypt and goes back to the time of the pharoahs, was banned … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body, International issues, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 50 Comments

Maggie Gyllenhaal Breastfeeds: Sexists Go Crazy

Posted on June 17, 2007 by Rachel S.

Some paparazzi took pictures of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal breastfeeding her child in public. Somehow I missed this, when the “scandalous” photos were taken a couple weeks ago. They are posted all over the place at entertainment blogs. I thought I … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-feminists and their pals, Breastfeeding & Lactivism, Families structures, divorce, etc, Gender and the Body, Media criticism, Popular (and unpopular) culture | 26 Comments

And we all need to lose 30 kg

Posted on May 19, 2007 by Maia

This is what happens when ‘your employer owns your body and soul’ cross-breeds with ‘nothing is more dangerous than fat.’ A treadmill desk designed by the Mayo clinic. Don’t mock because they were seriously scientific about their research: “If obese … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Fat, fat and more fat, Gender and the Body | 41 Comments

Eating disorders are about more than hating your appearance

Posted on May 14, 2007 by Maia

Hugo Schwyzer wrote a post about veganism and feminism that I found really frustrating. The point he is exploring is an interesting one – as a vegan who once had an eating disorder he is noting the similarities between the … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body | 28 Comments

Don't Say Vagina!! Apparently It's a Dirty Word

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Rachel S.

And, you can be suspended from school for it.  Here is the story from the New York Times. The three girls had been warned by teachers not to utter the word. But they chose to say it anyway — vagina — … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-feminists and their pals, Gender and the Body | 103 Comments

Too Fat, Too Dark, and Too Smart??

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Rachel S.

The national office of Delta Zeta Sorority was disappointed with its chapter at DePauw University, so they decided to come in and conduct a review, which resulted in them purging the sorority of all of the women of color and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fat, fat and more fat, Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body, Race, racism and related issues | 43 Comments

It's not anti-feminist to go on a diet, it is anti-feminist to write a diet book

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Maia

I’ve just read two very irritating articles in the guardian. Both purport to be about feminism and dieting – but both make Linda Hirschman’s version of feminism look like it belongs in ‘Notes from the First Year.’ Zoe Williams article … Continue reading →

Posted in Fat, fat and more fat, Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body | 45 Comments

Sexualized Images in Media Harm Women and Girls, Duh!!

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Rachel S.

Sometimes its hard not to laugh at these headlines because they are so obvious.  I guess it is nice to have some research to back up the obvious–hence this report from the American Psychological Association on the negative effects of media sexualization on … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body, Gender and the Economy, Media criticism, Popular (and unpopular) culture | 32 Comments