Alyssa, I take your points, but a lot of them worry me. “… it was published in a private university’s newspaper.” What is so special about a private paper (or is that private university?). All newspapers are private! The term ‘sexist’ is very loosely defined, it seems to me. Unless I am very much mistaken, [...]

Alyssa, A few questions, to help me understand the argument. Would you object to an advert for a gym (sports) club? To an advert for teeth whitening? Dentistry? A bar? Skydiving? I ask because all the above could be deemed to either be potentially dangerous or aimed at people’s insecurities. That being so, your argument [...]

“Well, gay men have this lovely fascination with trying to convert straight men, ”

I beg your pardon?

Feministing.com lets you get away with such a statement? Have you ever heard the term ‘essentialize’?

I can understand the underlying feeling, but I have doubts about the consequences. Will there be any consequences? I mean, at all? Will any anti-immigrant fervour be allayed because a few newspapers (or all) change their style sheet? Really? And further, I think the argument detracts from the main point. I suggest, humbly, that all [...]

A juvenile can be criminal. And a criminal can be juvenile. And a criminal can be a juvenile.

The richness of English!

Emfem, 1. People are bound to ask, and so it makes sense to post the information. 2. I don’t recall anyone making such a remark about George W, son of President Bush. 3. No remarks about Jeb Bush being his brother either. 4. Shall I mention the Kennedys? 5. Is it shameful to be the [...]

” to put this private decision back in the hands of a woman and her family.”

Are you sure?

I would have thought that the decison is the woman’s alone. No?

Jenny, Let me reply, and expand on my comment. Speaking as a man, I am very aware of how much physical attractiveness is important. For both sexes. Men are fully aware that being physically attractive will give them a head start in the ‘seeking a mate’ stakes. It is a tautology, of course: attractiveness is [...]

Checked it out. But I’ve never listened to a single Beyoncé song in my life!

(Didn’t she appear semi-naked on the front cover of a magazine recently? Not relevant, really, I agree.)

Cat, Well, thanks for the reading list. Will get round to it later! Interestingly, you make no comment about the orang-utangs of Borneo. Never mind. I don’t I have a beef – only comments. But back to your replies. I’ll concentrate on the condensed version. 1. Females are judged first and foremost by their physical [...]

Cat, I can understand your resentment, but I think you are choosing the wrong targets, and some of your arguments are unconvincing. I won’t go over all of them. “The more attractive the woman is, the greater her value in the sexual economy.” Well, yes. That is true of a man too. And of a [...]

What is the problem? Does anyone, anyone, claim that being greatly overweight (regardless of the scale or method used) is not, in general, at more risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, certain types of cancer, hypertension, etc.? If a physician fails to point that out to a patient he is being derelict in his duty. [...]

Katie, I did ask the question in the previous post on this point: what ARE they allowed to do? What are private groups allowed to do? What restrictions can they impose? Got no answer. You ask about their right to ban Jews. I don’t know if any group can ban Jews. But I’m pretty sure [...]

Gustave Courbet’s ‘infamous’ painting? Surely ‘famous’, no?

Zerlina, You’ve got me scratching my head here! I had to google her name; I am none too familiar with Hollywood actresses, I must admit. I found her Wikipedia entry. “See Ashley Judd is not a liberal Hollywood elite.” Err, I beg your pardon? She seems pretty liberal to me: global ambassador for YouthAIDS, an [...]

Jacqueline, Well, at least I have to agree that you are being consistent. Which is worth pointing out because so many people are prepared to find exceptions when it suits them. Semi-naked women on magazine covers? Bad, right? Well, no, if it is someone we like (:). And so on. However, I am actually not [...]

Jacqueline,

Can a mosque refuse membership to a Jew or a Christian? I presume yes.

Can it force women into segrgated areas? Yes, it does.

Can Sharia law force unequal divorce settlements. Yes (I think).

Are you prepared to enforce changes to the rules of that mosque? Yes? No?

Jackie, I was going to ask that question! Namely: what restrictions can a group impose on its membership? If a synagogue requires that its members be Jews, is that illegal? Is a feminist group allowed to asks that its members adhere to some basic principles or aims? Do the restrictions have to be ‘reasonable’? If [...]

My oh my. I never cease to be amazed at people’s capacity for taking offense. “…and not having the ideal body shape—that of a Brazilian transsexual.” I have never seen the body of a Brazilian transsexual, but that is not important. What is important is the imagery. And I guess everyone knows what Ms Moore [...]

Hmm. A little cheap, no?

Should an atheist or a Muslim or a Sikh or a Jew not take 25 December off?

Should someone who voted for the Democrats not accept a tax decrease implemented by the Republicans?

And so on.