May 25, 2012

Ovaries Before Brovaries

by bugbrennan

– From the Archives –

The last thing Females want to be called is “Feminist” – because that
might mean “Man Hating.” That’s bad for Straight Ladies, because then
someone might think them Lesbian.  Even though Lesbians don’t want to
couple with Males, Lesbians are “supposed” to be socially available to
them and not “Man Haters.” (I know I‘ve been called “Man Hater
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misandry> ” before!) So heaven forfend
if you’re Feminist!

Patriarchy socializes Females to distrust other Females. And we do.
Females fall into other Identity Communities – away from – and often
at odds with – each other. Goddess forbid Females actually used
Feminism to advance rights for Females. What about the Males?

Because of our socialization, Females resist coming together, or even
identifying, as a class.  Accordingly, Females are the most dissolved,
invisible ingredient in the Great American Melting Pot. We hear of
White, Gay, Black, or Poor People
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty> .  When discussing Poor People,
nobody asks whether they are Male or Females (even though – as a class
– the Poor are Female and the Rich are Male). Only when discussing
Females do concern trolls come calling to ensure you discuss Poor
Females, Brown Females, Vegan
<http://www.feminisms.org/4141/should-feminists-be-vegetarian/>
Females, Gay Females, (Fill In The Blank) Females. That’s no
coincidence. Patriarchy places these filters in front of Females to
prevent us from perceiving each other as members of the same oppressed
class.  These obstacles destroy the need for further derails by
Patriarchy because Females don’t talk to each other as members of the
same class.  It divides Females.

Baltimore has no “Women’s Community.” We have the Choice Community,
Domestic Violence Community, White Lesbian Community, Black Lesbian
Community, and Peace Community, to name a few – but Females inhabiting
these worlds don’t generally mix.  What would happen if Females talked
to each other about what connects us – our Female-ness.

As a Lesbian, here’s a truth anathema to the Gay Community
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_community> and one that does not
reflect “the law.” Sexual orientation
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation> discrimination
doesn’t exist. That’s right. Sexual orientation doesn’t exist anymore
than “gender identity
<http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/k2-fetch-latest/ladybugs-political-sm...>
” discrimination exists. When I am treated badly because I “look
Butch,” that’s sex discrimination. Heterosexual women lose promotions
to less-qualified men because of sex discrimination.

Sex discrimination impacts Females.  All Females.  We might suffer in
degrees, but the root is the same.  The root is our sex, and how
society used and grooms Females.

Call it sexism or misogyny – sex discrimination is the air we breathe
and the water we drink. It is so pervasive that Females (and Males)
don’t see it. When we do see it, when all the filters are lifted, you
might feel crazy. Your 20/20 vision will earn you contempt from the
majority of Females (and Males) who ignore how much “being  Female”
hurts.

Think about EVERY way in which “society” disadvantages Females. Laws
dictate what we can do with our bodies.  We are sold a bill of goods
on Femininity <http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/k2-fetch-latest/ladybugs-political-sm...>
 that makes us hate ourselves.  We must be Porn Sexy
<http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/k2-fetch-latest/ladybugs-political-sm...>
and Slutty <http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/k2-fetch-latest/ladybugs-political-sm...>
. “Traditionally” Female occupations are low wage
<http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/k2-fetch-latest/ladybugs-political-sm...>
.

Once you’ve taken inventory, know, Females, that I love you. I don’t
like to get mushy with you, but I feel like you need to know. Focus on
Females. Yes, other forms of oppression exist. No doubt.

But what would happen if Females started to organize based on our
Female-ness?  What if we organized around those agenda items that
benefit Females?

We’d need to identify our agenda. Before we did that, we’d have to let
go of whatever Identity to which we cling, as these Identities are
obstacles to organizing as Females.  After that work, ask “what do
Females need”?  Females have concerns related to pregnancy, childbirth
and abortion because of biology.  Controlling our bodies is a key
element of Female Liberation.  Females that have control over
fertility have greater education, employment and political
participation than Females who lack that control
<http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/04/20/in-the-maghreb-women-need-...>
. Females must dictate our sexuality because sexuality has dire
consequences for us. Remember the Cotton Ceiling
<http://factcheckme.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/moron-the-cotton-ceiling/>
? Yeah, the Cotton Ceiling is about Female autonomy – it is that
fucking important.

I understand why Females do Identity Politics
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics> . It’s “easier” to
localize the “problem” in a smaller Identity Group (wherein I might
become a White Butch Dyke
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_and_femme> ). But it does nothing
for Females. Your little Identity Group might be safe for you, but
it’s not enough.

Females need each other. Females should prioritize the good of
Females. Feminism provides a new lens through which to analyze What
Females Need.  What would happen if all Females were Feminist?

Maybe we could end rape and sexual abuse
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/us/native-americans-struggle-with-h...>
, or maybe we could at least get the New York Times to say “males rape
females <http://bugbrennan.com/2012/04/06/name-the-problem/> .”  Maybe
we’d have an Equal Rights Amendment
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Rights_Amendment> – “Equality of
rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States <http://www.history.com/topics/states>  or by any state on
account of sex.” The Equal Rights Amendment still hasn’t been adopted.
The U.S. Constitution <http://www.history.com/topics/constitution>
does not explicitly protect and extend rights equally without regard
to sex (except the Right to Vote).  Really.

Females, we could do this
<http://radicalhub.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/solidarity-of-identity-sol...>
.  What if we got together in 2012 and realized how much Power we
have?

Females – we’re worth it.

--

A version of this post was previously published on bugbrennan’s
<http://bugbrennan.com/2012/01/05/females-first/> blog.

Posted on May 25, 2012 at 1:54 pm in blogging

http://radicalhub.com/2012/05/25/ovaries-before-brovaries/