Never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but perhaps Chinese foot-binding's not so bad. The real killer in this linked article is the third-to-last paragraph.
I saw this story, wrote half a post about it, and deleted it. I couldn't think of anything intelligent to say. Women regulating each others sexuality, the way the burden for sex is located entirely in women's bodies, the suffering that is created because of that -- all these things time and time again.
Worse though, is that part of me reads that and goes "see, it's not just muslims!" I clearly have been spending far too much time reading RWDB dickishness.
I immediately thought of the 1920's when breasts were bandaged tightly to get a boyish look for the Paris fashions of the day. Now it's silicone enhancements a la Hollywood. Kate is right, women regulating each others sexuality.
I think women have probably regulated each others' sexuality since the dawn of time. ('You're not going out wearing that!) I'm resigned to it. In fact in the case of mothers I think it is often a Good Thing. What utterly, utterly freaks me out about this story is the reason they are doing it.
I re-read the article and came back to my not so coherent comment. It's become a tradition, like cutting out the clitoris because of men's wants or behaviour. It's going to take brave women or the girls themselves to make a stand to not do these things and destroy this tradition (don't know whether this is the right word,incoherent again). I've been trying to think of an equivalent in modern western society but I don't think burning our bras measures up to this barbarity. I also don't think making the girls look undeveloped would deter men from rape either. I probably should stop commenting until the two halves of my brain connect up again.
7 comments:
Farrking hell.
I so wish that was made up.
I saw this story, wrote half a post about it, and deleted it. I couldn't think of anything intelligent to say. Women regulating each others sexuality, the way the burden for sex is located entirely in women's bodies, the suffering that is created because of that -- all these things time and time again.
Worse though, is that part of me reads that and goes "see, it's not just muslims!" I clearly have been spending far too much time reading RWDB dickishness.
I'm with you Kate - I couldn't think of anything to say. Just awful.
Why am I thinking of corsets?
I immediately thought of the 1920's when breasts were bandaged tightly to get a boyish look for the Paris fashions of the day. Now it's silicone enhancements a la Hollywood. Kate is right, women regulating each others sexuality.
I think women have probably regulated each others' sexuality since the dawn of time. ('You're not going out wearing that!) I'm resigned to it. In fact in the case of mothers I think it is often a Good Thing. What utterly, utterly freaks me out about this story is the reason they are doing it.
I re-read the article and came back to my not so coherent comment. It's become a tradition, like cutting out the clitoris because of men's wants or behaviour. It's going to take brave women or the girls themselves to make a stand to not do these things and destroy this tradition (don't know whether this is the right word,incoherent again). I've been trying to think of an equivalent in modern western society but I don't think burning our bras measures up to this barbarity. I also don't think making the girls look undeveloped would deter men from rape either.
I probably should stop commenting until the two halves of my brain connect up again.
I would have thought girls looking underdeveloped would be more at risk of rape.
Not that I'm implying there's any rhyme or reason to it.
Post a Comment