natasha

Posts Written by natasha

By natasha • 12 years ago

Turning anger into action

‘Feminists just want to be offended.’ How many times have you heard that, or some variation of it? I know I’ve heard it a lot when someone brings up the polarizing issue of sexism pertaining to something. I’ve heard it in social interactions, overheard discussions, and of course, on the internet. This type of comment is without a doubt a silencing tactic, but it also really irks me because it points out an obvious ignorance of feminism and feminists on the part of whoever may be saying it. To me, it’s an indicator that you never take feminism seriously enough to have a real conversation with a feminist, and actually listen to what they have to say.

A little perspective would be nice. I’ve always considered myself a feminist, but it was only when I really got into reading and learning about feminism three years ago that I had my true awakening. To be clear, I love feminism, and I think it has done many great things throughout its history and in my personal life. But, as many other feminists could attest, becoming a feminist usually involves becoming angry with what you see happening in the world.

It’s not about wanting to be offended, trust me, I wish it wasn’t so difficult for me to watch or read something I enjoy and then have something offensive thrown out by an author or an actor. I hate when I watch a comedy and see jokes relying ...

By natasha • 12 years ago

When is it ignorance? When is it hate?

When I first got serious about feminism a few years ago, I figured I understood the challenge for equality of all people. To me, it seemed a simple matter of education. The challenge feminists take on could be won that way. I believed, perhaps with a bit too much idealism, that if feminists could just spread the word of the inequities going on in the world, everyone would understand, and everyone would support feminism.

Most of you who might be reading this have probably heard of terms like post-feminism and post-racial. From what I know of American society, these terms imply that battles of gender and race equity have been won. It evokes the notion that discrimination doesn’t exist anymore, at ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

Hillary Clinton and my feminist journey

I had debated whether or not to write this post, seeing as there are many writings that talk about Hillary Clinton, and about the personal realization that you are a feminist. But with all of the Republican attacks on women and Planned Parenthood, and finding out that Clinton doesn’t want a second term as Secretary of State, nor does she plan to run for President again, I really wanted to write about Hillary and how she has shaped my life quite a bit for someone who doesn’t know me.

I was born in 1992. As I was a child without health care, Hillary Clinton was crusading for universal health care for all Americans. Though that plan failed I had always admired ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

New Hampshire’s horrible Bill 176

I am not a resident of New Hampshire, but finding out about this House of Representatives bill still left me upset and worried. This bill, which aims to change the definition of domicile in terms of voting, would make it illegal for out of state college students to vote in New Hampshire because neither they nor their parents lived there prior to starting college. First off, this is unconstitutional. And what possible purpose would this have to be a law? Its supporters say it prevents voter fraud and it isn’t disenfranchisement because as college students from another state, their presence is assumed to be temporary. All I see this doing is possibly preventing legal adults to vote, and since college ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

Getting Past The Media Bias to a Real Conversation about Abortion

For those of us who frequently visit this site, it’s a pretty safe assumption that most of us here are pro-choice. We may have varying personal feelings, but as Feministing is a site for feminists to get together and discuss issues, and even disagree on a lot of things, there are some feminist values many feminists will not compromise on, like abortion. It’s a good thing, in my opinion, to stick to these feminist values. But with all the talk of mama grizzlies and co-opting feminism, I’ve been thinking about how important it is to try to have a real, honest conversation about abortion to those who are anti-choice.

I definitely don’t think Sarah Palin and the mama grizzlies are feminists. ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

The Seemingly Never-Ending Pain of Abuse

The first time my biological father hit me, it was a spank on the legs. The next time he hit me, it was a slap on the face. The next time was a belt. It ended up with my biological father’s hands around my neck, choking me; what haunts me the most was the look on his face as he squeezed harder and harder, the cold, unemotional stare. He would kill me without an ounce of guilt if only he could get away with it, his eyes told me. He is a drug addict, and for many years, I was trapped by his control. I cut off all contact as soon as I could. However, that hasn’t stopped him from ...

The first time my biological father hit me, it was a spank on the legs. The next time he hit me, it was a slap on the face. The next time was a belt. It ended up ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

For My Hurting Gay Cousin

I’ve been considering writing this post for several days, and I have been hesitant. As a straight person, I haven’t known the experience of how hard it is to be LGBT in society today. I don’t know what that pain feels like, and the last thing I want to do is write from an uninformed position and possibly cause others more unnecessary pain. But in light of all the recent gay teen suicides, the It Gets Better campaign, and the fight to end Don’t Ask Don’t tell, I’ve been thinking a lot about my first cousin, and I felt the need to share some of his story as well as the love I have for him. His name will not ...

By natasha • 13 years ago

Sexual Liberation vs. Self Objectification

Despite an insistence from mainstream media that young adult women and teenage girl feminists do not exist, they do and I am lucky to take part in discussions among them. Something i have noticed here on Feministing, is the stance against slut shaming and the double standard of slut and stud, I haven’t had a chance to read Jessica Valenti’s book about this and other double standards, but I’m hoping to purchase it soon. This site which I love, always stands up for a woman’s sexual freedom. However not all feminists are of this way of thinking, with some being sex negative. Then there are self identifying feminists fighting against self objectification in women.This is not to say the fight ...