Posts Written by ERose
By ERose • 11 years ago

Our point, you prove it, dude

I get a fair amount of “unsupervised vagina at a football game”-variety shit every single year. When I saw ESPN apologized for its commentator’s expert advice during the BCS title game about how little boys should be quarterbacks so they can nail beauty queens when they grow up, I was suitably heartened. I was watching that game, and reeaaally didn’t appreciate that particular method of noting that the Alabama quarterback’s girlfriend is Miss Alabama.

And then…I looked at the comments below the article (why? why? but that’s another story). And I found the usual gems of whinging butthurt, right down to the guy who suggested the only people who would have trouble with the situation are ugly female PC Police officers. Why do they think that actually is a thing?

Then I found this from a commenter rather aptly going by “Dick.”:
“Quarterbacks and Pilots deserve and have the beautiful women. And she is beautiful!”

As Maya noted, this shit is exactly the trouble. The entire concept that suitably masculine accomplishment entitles you to one free hot girlfriend of your choice is not. OK. Because think about this one, “Dick”: what happens when a beautiful woman doesn’t especially care to be the reward for a quarterback? what happens when a woman is faced with telling a man that big that he can’t have what everyone insists he “deserves”?

On a personal note, I was irritated at being told (yet again) that I have a very specific place ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

One decision away from rape

(Trigger warning: this post contains descriptions of sexual assault and rape culture )

That decision wasn’t mine.

The person who decided whether or not I became a rape victim was a young man, attractive enough to be cocky about it, who walked me home from a party two weeks ago. I met him that night, and there was drinking and he was attractive and then there was kissing. As soon as the first bout – so to speak – ended I stepped away and told him, “Just so we’re clear, I won’t be sleeping with you. I don’t want to do that.”

He said ok. I thought that was that; that anything else that happened was happening with the understanding that it would ...

(Trigger warning: this post contains descriptions of sexual assault and rape culture )

That decision wasn’t mine.

The person who decided whether or not I became a rape victim was a young man, attractive enough to be cocky about ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

The Bookshelf Challenge

Not being in politics and stuff, I tend to like a little accountability when I take a stand. Like last week, when I went on a somewhat snarky rant about the high levels of angsty white Brooklyn dudes in modern literature on this very blog. For those who didn’t see the post, it ended with a call for a greater diversity of voices in the book world. Actually, it ended with me telling everyone that if they aren’t fixing the problem, they’re part of it.

Last night, after a very successful trip to my local library’s book sale, I decided to check up on my own habits. If I’m going to go around shaking a finger at Feministing readers and publishing ...

Not being in politics and stuff, I tend to like a little accountability when I take a stand. Like last week, when I went on a somewhat snarky rant about the high levels of angsty white Brooklyn ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

The extremely irritating dynasty of white dude angst

A question for your bookshelf – How many angsty white male Brooklynites are too many angsty white male Brooklynites?

In a great deal of respected 21st century literature, it’s as good as become an archetype. They slouch through Flatbush, playing new sports, making unlikely friendships with their bosses and feeling just a bit glum and out of touch with their sense of purpose.

Inevitably, no one understands them, especially their wife – whom they really respect and admire, but feel a little distant from. Or maybe it’s their girlfriend and they’re growing apart. If the author is a little edgy, it’ll be their boyfriend or life partner.

But my God, there’s a lot of them.

I noticed this lately, because I undertook a personal ...

A question for your bookshelf – How many angsty white male Brooklynites are too many angsty white male Brooklynites?

In a great deal of respected 21st century literature, it’s as good as become an archetype. They slouch through ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

Touchy thoughts on Romney, politics, and religion in one post

I feel compelled to start this post of by noting that ordinarily I am hesitant to the point of paralysis to criticize someone else’s religious beliefs.

Having said that, I am now going to criticize someone else’s religious beliefs – Mitt Romney’s, in fact. These criticisms are based on my experience alone, but I do think they are valid in light of the man Mitt Romney has shown himself to be.

A few years ago, I lived in eastern Idaho, home of not one, but two Mormon temples in an area that is smaller than my hometown even if you add up every single person in every single town. And there I got a crash course in some of the more extreme ...

I feel compelled to start this post of by noting that ordinarily I am hesitant to the point of paralysis to criticize someone else’s religious beliefs.

Having said that, I am now going to criticize someone else’s religious ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

Eoh, Theah Egohs

Sorry to constantly be the one who brings up sports, but this is just too good not to share.

The linked post, titled “Swing and a Miss,” from Now I Know, notes that the reason for decades of excluding women from professional baseball isn’t the one offered by then-MLB commissioner- that it’s “too strenuous” for their ladyconstitutions. The post notes that this happened very shortly after 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in a pre-season exhibition game. Which would make the whole “too strenuous” defense a euphemism for “too damaging to male egos.”

Two reactions – 1) Love (love!) hearing about Mitchell. Especially in a field with a heavy male bias like pro sports, it’s important ...

Sorry to constantly be the one who brings up sports, but this is just too good not to share.

The linked post, titled “Swing and a Miss,” from Now I Know, notes that the reason for ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

Mine: Thoughts on agency and Kate Middleton

Of all the things I consider my right as a woman – hell, as a person – one that I’ve never really questioned is the right to be the Boss of My Boobies. And that includes all aspects of showing them.

So when I read things like this article in The Guardian about the recently leaked topless photos of Kate Middleton, I have me a moment or two of helpless rage:

The editor-in-chief of Denmark’s Se og Hør magazine, which published a 16-page supplement of the photos, has implied Kate must accept some responsibility for “willingly revealing her breasts towards a public road”.

In other statements, said editor-in-chief has said she (that’s right, she) has a duty to entertain ...

Of all the things I consider my right as a woman – hell, as a person – one that I’ve never really questioned is the right to be the Boss of My Boobies. And that includes all ...
By ERose • 11 years ago

Can you just let me watch the game? Feminist edition

I have a mansplainer sighting to report.

It is no coincidence that I say this after spending last night with the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers at the only bar in town that gets the NFL Network. For the next four months, any building with a TV has a good shot at becoming the hangout for the mansplainiest mansplainers in all Mansplainia. Because all of them seem to watch football.

This one showed warning signs: the insistence on eye contact, the fascination with what I was ordering, the refusal to read disinterested body language. Sure enough, five minutes past kickoff, class was in session with Professor Bad Polo Shirt.

I have a mansplainer sighting to report.

It is no coincidence that I say this after spending last night with the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers at the only bar in town that gets the NFL ...

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