So. I get it. The world used to agree with you. You used to be able to say things like, “I really like those lady writers in this industry, especially in swimsuits!” and your fellow writers, editors, agents, and other assorted colleagues would all wink and grin and agree with you, and Asimov would go […]
Dear SFWA Writers: Let’s Chat About Censorship & Bullying Read More »
I invite you to check out this guest post I did over at A Dribble of Ink on women fighters: I’m going to tell you a story about llamas. It will be like every other story you’ve ever heard about llamas: how they are covered in fine scales; how they eat their young if not
“We Have Always Fought” Guest Post at A Dribble of Ink Read More »
NOTE: some spoilers, sexual assault triggers I went out last night to see the Incredible Burt Wonderstone, a cute little movie about a couple old-school buddy magicians dueling with Criss-Angel-stand-in Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) for fame and fortune. It was all right. I’ve lost my patience with people who hate everything. It had some funny
Burt Wonderstone and the Pitfalls of “Ironic” Misogyny Read More »
NOTE: This post was originally published on the Feminist SF blog in 2006 or so. It was pretty popular at the time, but has been difficult to find these days, so I dug up the cache and am re-posting here. Despite being tempted (the “terrorism” bit is… interesting), I have left it unedited. Almost without
LeGuin, Boys’ Own Adventure, and the Fine Art of Genderfucking Read More »
I have been meaning to write a response to this article by Ursula LeGuin for some time. Needless to say, when she says stuff like, “It’s amazing, given their different physiology and complement of hormones, how much alike men and women are in most ways,” I want to tear my hair out. This stuff comes
Boys with babies and women with knives: Rethinking gender assumptionist power structures Read More »
Note: this is a film that is about violence against women. Triggers ahoy. Long-time readers know that I get really pissed off with creative work that employs random violence against women as some kind of lazy shorthand. Creators do this for all types of reasons. You don’t have to work too hard at characterizing your
“You’re No Different Than That Thing in the Cellar”: Thoughts on “The Woman” Read More »
When I rant about biases and stereotypes and authors’ blindspots, I get the impression that some people think I’m some perfect person without any biases. I’ve talked a lot about my awareness of my own misogyny and racism, but there’s other stuff that creeps up on you too, sometimes when you least expect it. Bias
What is this Fat Woman Doing on TV? Read More »
May 17, 2012 During times of great social upheaval, it can often seem safer to say nothing. You get noticed less. You piss off fewer people. You go around making sure the trains run on time. You make your dollars and go home and stuff them in the mattress and keep your head down and
They’ll Come for You… Whether You Speak up or Not Read More »
I had somebody complain about my post on The Cabin in the Woods, saying that, yanno, not EVERY book or film needs to be some great feminist manifesto. Not every book is ABOUT feminism, they said. Which kinda made me wonder if they knew what “feminism” meant. Cause this is all it is, folks: feminism
Why Every Book is Not a Great F-Word Manifesto (But Should Be) Read More »
Note: Spoilers ahoy When I walked in to watch The Cabin in the Woods, I expected a total subversion of the genre. I was giddy at the idea of taking all the old horror movie tropes and fucking with them. I looked forward to the blonde who wasn’t stupid, the virgin who totally had a
Why your gun-toting chick isn’t feminist, redux: Thoughts on The Cabin in the Woods Read More »