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By silver_unicorn • 13 years ago

Offensive language and the media

The UK’s media regulator Ofcom has just published research on public attitudes to swearing and offensive language, reported in the guardian . 
They basically conclude that homophobic and ableist terms are acceptable whereas swearing isn’t.

…Ofcom acknowledged [the] softening of attitudes as it published research giving detailed guidance on public tolerance of bad language: "loony", "nutter", "poof" and "queer" can be used at any time of day while the F-word remains unacceptable before the watershed [of 9pm], it concluded.

The watchdog commissioned the research to help staff who deal with complaints from the public about TV and radio content by establishing "a barometer of potentially offensive terms".

My major problem with this is the entire approach taken by this research.  Really, is what the public deems an offensive term, the basis on what derogatory terms should be allowed or disallowed?  What about the actual impact that these words have on people who are queer or have a mental illness.  What about the message that the media is sending to the public about homophobia and ableism being ok.
By silver_unicorn • 14 years ago

UK: A Woman’s Fantasies End Rape Trial

Just saw this UK news article.  It seems now that a woman’s past fantasies as well as her “sexual behaviour” are enough to get rapists (or gang rapists in this case) of the hook.

Her just “entertaining the prospect of group sex” was enough for the defendants to be found not guilty, without bothering to look at any issues to do with actual consent.

And this was the judge’s decision to find the defendants not guilty, dismissing the woman as having no credibility without bothering with that whole jury bit.

Is it any wonder that this country has such a low conviction rate for rape (around 5%) if a woman’s complaint is pretty much always dismissed if there is any evidence that ...

Just saw this UK news article.  It seems now that a woman’s past fantasies as well as her “sexual behaviour” are enough to get rapists (or gang rapists in this case) of the hook.

Her just “entertaining ...
By silver_unicorn • 14 years ago

Being Transgender is Dishonest

A recent Feministing post on transgender people having sex with cisgender people attracted many negative comments focusing on the "dishonesty" of transgender people.

First of I’d like to say that I completely agree that it is dishonest for a transgender person and a cisgender person to have sex, full-stop.  We live in a world where notions of sexual orientation and gender are defined from a cisgender persective.  Since transgender people don’t fit neatly into these cisgender definitions, we are always going to be viewed as dishonest from a cis-only perspective.

The whole notion of gender is commonly defined in terms of "biological sex".  Interestingly very few people seem to see any need to decide what "biological sex" actually is, given that ...

A recent Feministing post on transgender people having sex with cisgender people attracted many negative comments focusing on the "dishonesty" of transgender people.

First of I’d like to say that I completely agree that it is dishonest ...
By silver_unicorn • 14 years ago

Being Silenced by Stealth

I made a decision a while back to distance myself from me being transgender.  I moved to a new city where no people knew my past, and since then have largely remained silent.  The only people I told my secret to were in the LGBT community and mostly transgender people at that.  And I thought living stealth was what I wanted, but it really handicaps speaking out on any transgender issue.  Not least because of the fear of outing myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that everyone can speak out on trans issues regardless of whether they are cisgender, genderqueer, transgender, or any other identity, stealth or otherwise.  And I really think that allies and stealth trans people can make ...

I made a decision a while back to distance myself from me being transgender.  I moved to a new city where no people knew my past, and since then have largely remained silent.  The only people I ...
By silver_unicorn • 14 years ago

Inclusive Female Sexuality

Too often it seems that any discussion of female sexuality either disregards or ignores transgender women (e.g. here ).  If being female is defined by having a female gender identity and not biology, then female sexuality can’t reasonably be defined purely in terms of having a vagina either.

I accept that if transgender female and cisgender female sexuality were completely different, then they’d be a valid reason to treat them seperately, but I don’t think this is the case.  Obviously there are some physical differences in having sex for pre/non-op transgender women but that has little bearing on sexuality in general.  And there are also obvious differences in sex for straight and gay women.

But there is still a great deal ...

Too often it seems that any discussion of female sexuality either disregards or ignores transgender women (e.g. here ).  If being female is defined by having a female gender identity and not biology, then female sexuality ...