Comments for Brute Reason

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by Sarah Maddox (@sarahezoo)

Sarah Maddox (@sarahezoo) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:28:15 +0000

As far as analogies go, I think you picked a great one. Climate change and patriarchy/kyriarchy are both phenomena that effect all species and genders respectively, but in radically different and importantly different ways that should be studied and analyzed. Both of these systems/trends are furthered by small steps and everyday actions, as well as big landmark events.

Both phenomena challenge us to perceive patterns on a bigger scale while simultaneously never forgetting the huge importance of little deeds and words. Many of us utterly fail at the challenge, often seeing (as a for-instance) sexism or racism only as a word or an act against a person when it’s really also a whole system.

Sometimes our perspective-failure is the straw-manning of climate change into this overarching trend that we have no control over and that will kill everything (ZOMG APOCALYPSE), when really it’s a trend pushed by everyday actions and inactions, affecting each species differently, and some more than others.

IMHO, the fact that my understanding of ecology (narrower fields of biology coming together to make a “big picture”), played parallel to my understanding of privilege/class/race/sexism (kyriarchy) is a testament to the quality of your choice of analogy. None are perfect, as you say, but these issues challenge our perspective in pretty similar ways.

Comment on Assorted Thoughts on Women in Secularism 2 by Women in Secularism 2: Breaking News: Even at WiS, we have to defend the purpose of WiS! | Dissent of a Woman

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:48:49 +0000

[...] Professional Fun-Ruiner brings Assorted Thoughts on Women in Secularism 2, making a point to mention all the greatness at this conference and not just the trash Lindsay [...]

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by daniellavine

daniellavine — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:40:10 +0000

Given previous responses to your street harassment post I thought you might be able to make some use of the following FAQ (if you don’t already have it linked):

http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/faq-female-privilege/

I haven’t read the whole thing but maybe it can streamline responses to questions about “female privilege”.

Sorry to be somewhat OT.

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by daniellavine

daniellavine — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:37:43 +0000

There are no perfect analogies. By definition of the word “analogy.”

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by NateHevens, resident SOOPER-GENIUS... apparently...

NateHevens, resident SOOPER-GENIUS... apparently... — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:52:09 +0000

You wrote this comment because you saw Miri’s disclaimer and wanted to be snarky, right?

Right?

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner

Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:32:47 +0000

Yes, there are limitations to any analogy, but sometimes they are necessary to get people to break out of their preestablished thought patterns. Hence my disclaimer that the analogy is imperfect.

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by nkrishna

nkrishna — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:15:30 +0000

Last night I was out walking at around 9:30 to go meet some friends at a bar. I ended up on the sidewalk a few blocks from my house behind a woman who was I guess about my age who I didn’t know. I was running a little late so I was walking kind of fast when I suddenly notice her throwing these nervous looks over her shoulder.

Suddenly I was Schrodinger’s rapist. It’s a concept I understand on an abstract level–it makes sense, but experiencing it in person is a very different feeling. In a second I go from knowing the concept as an abstraction to knowing it experientially (albeit from the male perspective).

Anyway, since it was a narrow sidewalk, I stepped out into the street for a little bit to give her some space as I walked by, story over.

Well, it was over for me, anyway, and I could go back to viewing it as an abstraction. But I bet that’s not the case for that woman on the sidewalk, or many other women out for a walk after dark. As as guy out for a walk, I can view the concept of Schrodinger’s rapist as nothing more than an unfortunate thought experiment most of the time. Not so for a woman in the same situation.

Yeah, it’s about gender.

Comment on “It’s not about gender.” by Commander of All

Commander of All — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:03:37 +0000

Climate change? Bad example. There are huge costs involved with the climate change debate; it’s not solely a matter of ethics or psychology. But asking people to take women’s problems seriously isn’t costly or really all that political.

Comment on Assorted Thoughts on Women in Secularism 2 by maidao-horton

maidao-horton — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:46:36 +0000

Radi, I’m so sorry I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to you, we must have crossed paths on the way to the restaurant, because you had left by the time I arrived. Missed giving you a big giant hug! You were awesome to hang with.

Comment on Assorted Thoughts on Women in Secularism 2 by maidao-horton

maidao-horton — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:39:51 +0000

Great write up Miri, this sums it up in great part for me too – I am still basking in the warmth of meeting you and all the other lovely people I came in contact with!

To your final comment – you may be tickled by this.

Just got back from my orthopedist. He’s been keeping up with what’s been going on, and when we discussed what Ronald did, he said “Well, I guess he proved to everyone why WiS needs to exist – so they better have one next year, because I’ll be going too!”