(no subject)

[oyceter]

ginmar's last few posts in general make me feel very queasy and very angry that I am female. I hate that I have to think about this, that I worry about walking outside when it's dark and I'm alone but my boyfriend doesn't. I hate that people I knew at college laughed at the Take Back the Night marches and thought they were unnecessary and quoted the same kinds of statistics on male rape or females lying about being raped (ala Disclosure, stupid ass book). I hate that I feel nidgy and frightened whenever a strange man talks to me, even if he's just being friendly. I hate that I feel almost physically threatened when men invade my personal space. I also hate that my mom tells stories of people being raped to make sure I am more careful, that my sister sometimes blames unwelcome attention from guys on herself being "too friendly." I hate that when she does that, my mom substantiates it and says my sister should be more careful who she smiles to, because people could get the wrong impression.

I hate that this fear has power over my life just because I am female.

Comments

Re: My story

[oyceter]

*nods* Definitely.

Totally off the subject, but is Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom very different from Our Bodies, Our Selves? I've been eyeing the first one at the bookstore, but I've heard the most about the second. I think the similar titles just confuse me.

Re: My story

[bhadrasvapna.livejournal.com]

I think they are pretty different. Our Bodies, Ourselves, for its time (1969) was an incredible book. It finally gave women medical information about their bodies. It was an important step. It's a step, not the finish line. Problem was many think it is the finish line. They accept the patriarchal medical model that Western medicine is founded on.

Dr. Northrup does one better. The stuff in is pretty much common knowledge today. They did an update, but it doesn't celebrate women like Women's bodies, Women's Wisdom (whose title probably comes from the classic). Our Bodies didn't really address the mind-body connection like Dr. Northrup does.

The body stuff the Patriarchal model gives is important, but the mind cannot be dismissed. I like Women's Bodies better.

Re: My story

[oyceter]

Thanks for the info ^_^. I'll remember that next time I'm in the bookstore.