BERNIE IS AN HONORARY WOMAN

Bernie Sanders on Women's Rights
Bernie Sanders on Women's Rights. Please Share!
Posted by Matt Orfalea on Thursday, February 25, 2016

HOW WOMEN ARE TOLD TO DRESS

NOBODY GAVE US ANYTHING, WE FAUGHT FOR IT.

We are told out own history of discrimination in the words of men.

TO BUY OR TO SELL, WHO'S TO BLAME IN PROSTITUTION?

A few years ago in an internet search frenzy (you know where you find out about a subject then must search EVERYTHING there is to know about them), I became obsessed with Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Iceland's now former prime minister. A rockin' lesbian feminist who seemed to be kicking butts and taking names, she had put in place a series of laws to penalize men who paid for sex. She wanted to shift the blame from women who were selling sex onto men who were buying, presumably because those women were already in a vulnerable and marginalized situation. It seemed that if you lessened the demand, prosecuting men and shaming them for the act, you would decrease the prevalence of sex work and sex trafficking. Through Jina Moore's article, "In Sweden Being A Prostitute Is Legal — But Paying One Isn’t", I came to find out that this is actually referred to as the "Nordic Model" and was adapted from Sweden (whatever I still love Jóhanna and that white-blonde bob and "bitch please" stare).  While I support the general focus on male motivation rather than just female victimization, especially when it comes to more severe sexually based crimes, with sex work this may not necessarily have the desired effect. 

 The article brought up a lot of realizations about the "Nordic Model" and a lot of questions about laws around sex work. Penalizing the buyer doesn't necessarily end sex traffic, it's just another hurdle for distributors to figure out how to overcome. In countries where sex work is legal, sex workers may be better off in terms of their access to health services (Germany's healthy looking sex workers on the streets of Berlin did amaze me) but abuse, drug use, and the question of free will still exist. Also, does the "happy prostitute" exist? A woman who freely elects to sell and profit of her body simply because she wants to. Are laws that ban sex work simply another way of trying to control women's bodies? Is it feminist to be anti-sex work because it's exploitative to women or is it anti-feminist to be in favor of legally restricting sex-work because shouldn't women be able to say what they do with their own bodies?

Check out Jina Moore's article on Buzzfeed:

 "In Sweden Being A Prostitute Is Legal — But Paying One Isn’t"

CIRCLE HELLS AND HIP HOP: HOW EGYPTIAN WOMEN ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Last year, Egyptian artists Mira Shihadeh and Zeft painted the mural “The Circle of Hell” just outside of Cairo's Tahrir Square.  At the centre of the mural is a lone woman surrounded by lecherous wide-eyed men with snake-like tongues.  Knives smeared with blood are aimed at the woman.  Is it her blood, or another woman’s?  Perhaps it is the blood of many women.  Whoever the blood belongs to, the woman in the mural cannot escape: the throngs of men who are holding her hostage stretch deep into the background, suggesting the violence the woman is facing will not only be unfathomable and terrifying, but will end with her dead at the roadside.

The mural of course is not just a piece of art inspired by the street harassment and sexual violence, it could very well be a picture or a video depicting the public lives of women and girls in Egypt.  In fact, on the evening of Sunday, June 8, during the inaugural celebration for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt's newly-elected president, a teenager, surrounded by men, was stripped naked, groped, and sexually attacked.  A two-minute video of the attack shows the young woman limping towards a police car; her body, wounded and bloody from the sexual beatings, was still being pawed and grabbed by several men who wanted pieces of her.

“The Circle of Hell” by  Mira Shihadeh and Zeft, Cairo, Egypt, 2013.  

Unfortunately, this attack was just one of many that took place at the national gathering.  Nine other women reported that they too were sexually harassed and assaulted.  Without a doubt, many more attacks occurred that evening—attacks that have been witnessed, but ignored, attacks that went unreported.  This, despite the issuance of a new decree declaring that sexual harassment may be punishable for up to five years in prison.  However, according to Egyptian feminist organizations, the decree only amends—not radically transforms—current laws against abuse and does not necessarily criminalize sexual harassment, referring such cases as “indecent assault.”

According to the recently released report, “Egypt: Keeping Women Out - Sexual Violence Against Women in the Public Sphere,” authored by several Egyptian women’s organization, over 250 cases ranging from sexual harassment to gang-rape in public spaces took place between November 2012 and January 2014.  None of the reported attacks have been brought to justice. 

In response to the endemic sexual violence, Egyptian women artists, activists and feminists are using all artistic mediums and political platforms to raise national and international awareness and support.  The latest to join the army of women against sexual violence is 19-year old Mayam Mahmoud, Egypt’s first veiled rapper, who gained recognition after performing on “Arabs Got Talent” last October. 

Mayam Mahmoud, Egypt's "first veiled rapper" addresses sexual
violence against women in her songs

 Aside from rapping about and against sexual violence, Mahmoud also uses hip hop to challenge the archaic and misogynistic rhetoric of victim-blaming.  In an interview with the Global Post, the rapper stated, “I see male rappers in Egypt writing songs to blame women for the sexual harassment inflicted upon them.  They say we deserve to be harassed because of the clothes or makeup that we wear.”

And despite receiving death and rape threats, Mahmoud, who raps exclusively in Arabic to better communicate with Egyptian youth, continues to perform, asserting in the interview with the Global Post, “Egyptian women experience sexual abuse on a daily basis,” she said. “It’s our story to tell, nobody else can tell it because it’s our pain.”

With young women like Mayan Mahmoud taking the helm against sexual violence, it’s a sign that the violent hell encircling women are crumbling at the edges.

IRANIAN WOMEN WITHOUT THEIR HIJAB LOOK HAPPY

In a little over a week after it's creation, #mystealthyfreedom Facebook Page has reached 143K followers. 
Now this page is not like these "let's share fake quotes about peace and inspirational feedom phrases copied from corny sites about freedom" pages.

No, this page, created by Masih Alinejad, invites iranian women to uncover their hair and take pictures of themselves doing it. An act of simple freedom that is against the iranian law.

Here are a few examples of these courageous ladies and girls taking a step against oppression on women. (because, of course men can go around in tank tops and no hats.)

You go girls, Nobody nor no law should ever tell us what to wear, nor make society shame us if we show our naked head.

I saw this sentence written on a wall, as big as you can see, and I said to myself that I was not gonna walk past it without taking a photo with this piece of art! What a skin deep perception of the words Sister, Hijab ,and Heaven.

The sentence on the wall reads: My sister, HIJAB is your entrance ticket into heaven!

This photo was taken in autumn ( in Sorkhehesar Park). My mind was busy with freedom; but my body all trembled with fear; I trembled as the autumn leaves in the wind! yes, my moments of stealthy freedom have always been full of fear. freedom is the oldest dream of all Iranian women 
I hope one day this dream comes true at last
























I found this wonderfully beautiful place in the alley next to there. I took my headscarf off without worrying at all and took a photo. Post my photos if you feel like doing it. Just please do not mention my name.Hoping for the day wind will dance with our hair in the air.

Dear Masih, I have never stopped breaking this ugly chain that impediments human-being . I have never been negligent to this matter and I have always taken action toward this compulsory hijab, I have ignored wild and blaming looks on people's faces and done what I've thought has been more appropriate and human. I'm sending these photos to your significant page as a proof (of my stealthy freedom). May the day come when we don't have to leave our home country in order to reach basic human rights that we are entitled to.

We only live once, we won't let this chance go without enjoying our freedom.
Here we are in a village called Biyazeh located in a desert.



Neither a subversive nor a dangerous person I am! Neither a whore nor necessarily against this system. Can you understand that?!
Stealth freedom in Dasht-e-Havij
It is not that it happens once every six months or once a year that I feel that I hate this scarf they have forcibly made me wear. I hate it each and every day! Every day as I put it on and get out of the house I hate myself for having it on. I feel bad for my hair, who is thirsty for dancing with the wind in the park and on the street.
One of my close friends, who is dear to me as my own brother, always says “I'm ashamed of wearing a T-Shirt in front of you girls while you have to stand all those clothes on, in such hot weather”.
Neither a subversive nor a dangerous person I am! Neither a whore nor necessarily against this system.
I just can’t stand the heat in these clothes! As simple as this! Can you understand?! In this summer heat (over 40 degrees centigrade) my brain starts to boil under this piece of cloth covering it. Mr. Policeman, Why don’t you try it yourself?! Wear a scarf on your head only for two hours and stand under the summer sun.

There's no pleasure beyond Freedom. I want my hair to be caressed by the kind hands of wind. It might be the smallest kind of freedom one could ever wish for; but I have been robbed of it. 

Fire under the ashes...burned generation(term to reffer to those who were born in Iran between 1970 and 1980) just like the way they burned us each of us too gonna burn them so that our name will become fire generation we are the fire generaion announce that everywhere we are the fire generation.

Afghanistan's Girl Skaters

Afghanistan's Girl Skaters – Kabul 2012 from Skateistan on Vimeo.

WHY "BE A MAN" IS DANGEROUS

Protecting women and redefining women's roles in society requires redefining masculinity. Brava, Miss Representation, for this:

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AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL THE BOYS AND MEN OF THE WORLD

(BY Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of UN Women.)

Dear Men and Boys of the World,

The unity and purpose of the people of the world played a major role in ushering in freedom for South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela, in whose cabinet I had the honor to serve. In Mandela, a force for good was unleashed, not just for South Africa but for all of humanity. He inspired those of us who worked with him, and countless millions around the world, to stand up for a just cause.When we fought against apartheid in South Africa, which the United Nations declared a crime against humanity, the whole world took a stand. All self-respecting people—leaders of nations, religious institutions, commerce and sports—crossed the line to be on the right side of history.

Now it is time to marshal the same conviction, energy and cooperation on behalf of the 3.6 billion women and girls in the world. You, the men of the 21st century, can make your mark by crossing the line united and joining women as a powerful force for gender equality. It is the right thing to do. In the words of Mandela, “for every moment we remain silent, we conspire against our women.”

This isn’t just a female cause. We have rising evidence that everyone, not just women, benefits from gender equality. Did you know that if women farmers had the same tools and fertilizer as men in agriculture, we would reduce hunger by up to 150 million people? Fortune 500 companies with the most women managers were found to deliver a 34 per cent higher return to shareholders. Discriminating against women comes at a cost to humanity and nations and denies women and girls their inalienable rights.

Yes, women are strong, bold, and brave, but men and boys also have a big role to play in ending gender inequality. It is both the right thing and the smart thing to do. It’s time to influence change in society. I know many of you desire a better world for women and girls and more than a few of you are actively working on bringing about positive changes. But there is much more to do. We need your action and your voices to be louder and to help us change some of the hardships women face.

More than 60 million girls worldwide are denied access to education. One in three women in the world is a victim of physical or sexual violence, the most humiliating and dehumanizing form of discrimination. Most of this violence happens at the hand of a partner or relative within her own home. Today two-thirds of the global illiterate population is women. If trends continue in this way, poor girls in Sub-Saharan Africa will not reach universal access to primary education until 2086.

These are your sisters, mothers, wives, partners, daughters, nieces, aunts, cousins and friends. They have hopes and beautiful dreams for themselves, their families, communities and the world. If many of their dreams were to come true, the world would be a much better place for all of humanity.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, I issue a call to men and boys and invite you to take action wherever you are and support the SHE Imperative, a new global initiative to bring women’s issues to the forefront and effectuate change through civil engagement, corporate commitment, and policy changes worldwide.

SHE has three key components: First, make sure SHE isSecure and Safe from gender-based violence. Second: Make sure SHE has her Human rights respected, including her reproductive rights. And third: Ensure that SHE has Economic Empowerment through Education, participation and leadership.

This sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet if we applied this imperative, the world would be a very different and far better place. SHE would enjoy equal opportunity, access to education and no longer be the face of poverty, and her gender will not decide her status and place in society.

I invite you to join me and the women and men of the world who have led many long struggles for the gender equality. In Africa, we have a saying that I want to leave with you: ‘If you go alone you go fast, but if we go together, we go far’. Let us go far together.

You can find more about the SHE initiative and ways to help at www.heforshe.org.

Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of UN Women.

via TIME Magazine.

MY VAGINA IS CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING APPLICANTS

I haven't been able to write on this blog for about a year now.

During that time I still read the posts religiously and consistently wished I could share my own two cents but every time I tried to write something it came out insincere because I refused to admit that at this point in my life I am afraid of sex.

This is a particularly hard pill for me to swallow because I was quite sexually liberated in the past and truly enjoyed all types of sexual encounters. I loved talking about sex, fantasizing about sex, indulging in sex, all of it. But something happened in the past year that I can't really explain. I didn't get raped, I wasn't physical abused, there was no particular moment I can point to that brought me to this point but I can't enjoy sex anymore. Not only can I not enjoy sex but the moment anything tries to enter me I either burst into tears or my vagina completely clamps up. Even masterbating is a struggle. I should specify that these are empty tears, it's not like I'm getting over someone and that sex reminds me of him or that I'm sad when this reaction happens, it's literally just my body's reaction to sex for the past year: tears and clammed shut vagina.

What's the most interesting part of this recent dilemma is that in every other part of my life I feel amazing. I have a great job, a beautiful family, successful side projects, honestly I feel on top of my game so what is causing all this emotional outpour and why is it mainly linked to my vagina?

Naturally I've talked to a lot of friends about my situation and even a few professionals and so far it all seems to be pointing to the fact that I've never had boyfriend sex. Well I've never had a boyfriend so that would explain that but this isn't about the whole emotional connection or support you feel with a partner. It's about the sexual respect that apparently you now only deserve if you are a man's girlfriend. When I started my sexual exploration about 10 years ago, it wasn't like this. I guess porn wasn't as popular and degrading back then so the men I was with would actually take the time to get to my know my body and please me but for the past 2-3 years I've encountered an alarming amount of guys who 'only go down on their girlfriends', and think that foreplay and cuddling are 'too serious' or think that the only way for them to reach orgasm is to pummel the girl's vagina. After countless nights of bad sex and belittling experiences I think my vagina has just thrown in the towel and refuses to be touched.

It's really sad that most of the men around me believe that good sex and mutual respect is only reserved for their 'wifey', which coincidentally they never seem to have. I'm a very respectable woman, I'm enjoyable to be around and I used to love getting to know a select few of the men around me on a sexual level without feeling like a blow up doll in a porn flick. Every time I want to get intimate my vagina reminds me of the times I was called a bitch in bed, chocked, had a guy just stuff their dick in my mouth, all of which would be fine if I felt it was out of sexual intensity rather than contempt. Oh let's not even talk about the times guys have refused to go down me, called me by the wrong name, or wouldn't even offer me a glass of water the next morning.

I know, you must be thinking 'where in the world is she finding theses guys?'. Well I'm sad to say these are regular guys. Guys I went to school with, ex-coworkers, and even guys I would've called friends. I wish I could say they were guys from a sleazy bar but no. So why don't I just try to get a boyfriend then? Because that's not the solution! I don't want a boyfriend right now and I should have the right to enjoy my singledom without it making me a lesser class citizen.

I don't how much longer my vagina is gonna be on strike but I fully understand her. Why should she open herself to such disdain. So yup right now I am afraid to have sex, I'm afraid it'll be awful like it's been, I'm afraid that even if it isn't awful my body will rejet it, and most importantly I'm afraid that the way men and women have sex in the next few years is just gonna keep on getting more sexist and degrading.

In the meantime I'm going to try to reacquaint myself with my vagina and build up her confidence again cause as I mentioned before even masterbating has been tough recently and maybe I can share those experiences with you guys since my vagina is currently not accepting applicants.

JESUS ISN'T A DICK SO KEEP HIM OUT OF OUR VAGINA

Sarah Silverman will school you on a whole bunch of important things... like US history and women's rights.
And by Women's rights, i more specifically mean the Abortion Right for women in the USA.

More info on the Lady Parts Justcice campaign here.
Thank you Sarah.