A Crash Course in Feminism Mk. II (or, why everyone should be a feminist)

[Kirsten]

Organized religion (of all types) is the bane of modern existence.

amen

Yup. I just don't get it.

Sure, if you know, for a fact, that the woman has been forced to wear any given garment by more than general soceital expectations, raise a fuss. But to pretend it's a choice uniformaly foisted upon unwilling women is just bigotry masquerading as social concern.

Has it ever occured to these people that Muslim women might just be more than happy to wear the full shebang, because they hold their religion dear?

honestly I find it a difficult subject. on the one hand people should be free to wear, or even not wear, whatever they want. on the other hand, it is very difficult in my opinion to know just how much pressure people are under to wear burkas etc. I do of course lean toward trusting their judgement on it, but then religious pressure can be like misogyny and can be very much invisible. plus of course there is a very strong argument for the fact that the various coverings are not actually required by the religion at all, but are enforced social norms, which makes it even trickier. I am not going to join the right wing 'ban the burka' campaign or anything like that, but I don't think it is as simple as just saying 'if they want to wear it let them.' I do have issues with it in more practical situations, it is ridiculous that things like hats and hoods are banned in some places, but religious apparel, can't possibly legislate against that, because religion. religion already gets way too many free passes around the world and is held above any sort of criticism in far too many situations.

[40kGamer]

I do of course lean toward trusting their judgement on it, but then religious pressure can be like misogyny and can be very much invisible.

Very insightful. We just never know what people do as a result of free choice vs institutional/societal pressure(s). I would like to see 'choice' structured like a buffet... providing individuals with a myriad of views of life with no pressure to conform.... and while I'm dreaming I may as well wish for a billion dollars too!

[Mr Mystery]

Is Religious pressure/expectation worse than general societal pressure/expectation?

Not looking to score points, just asking.

[40kGamer]

Hmmm... Both are undeniably present but I would argue religious pressure exceeds societal pressure. I'm drawing this conclusion from the fact that religious pressure arises from a subset of society where individual beliefs lean in the same direction while society as a whole is composed of many groups playing at different games... maybe my American melting pot mentality coloring my opinion though... I would assume in homogeneous populations the two may be one and the same.

[Mr Mystery]

[url]http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dapper-laughs-tells-audience-member-4602725[/url]

ITV see sense for once, and decline 'Dapper Laughs' (probably pronouned laurfs, because he claims to be a geezer, and thus is likely from Essex, or somewhere else famous for acting hard and having a cockernee accent) a second series.

[Mr Mystery]

[url]https://www.change.org/p/uk-home-office-deny-julien-blanc-a-uk-visa?utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification&utm_ campaign=new_petition_recruit[/url]

Get it signed. Creep charges $3,000 to teach you how to rape and sexually assault.

[CoffeeGrunt]

[URL="http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-types-compliment-that-arent-actually-complimentary/"]http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-types-compliment-that-arent-actually-complimentary/[/URL]

The comments on this from people missing the point are simultaneously amusing and sad.

[Mr Mystery]

The Ladies of BoLs are very quiet today.

[Morgrim]

I'm an organic chemistry with an interest in toxicology and access to several very interesting australian plants. Entities like that rapist 'pick up' pile of excrement tend to result in me having to take deep breaths and remind myself of all the downsides of attempting to go super villain in the real world.

It makes for poor posts.

[Mr Mystery]

I'm an organic chemistry with an interest in toxicology and access to several very interesting australian plants. Entities like that rapist 'pick up' pile of excrement tend to result in me having to take deep breaths and remind myself of all the downsides of attempting to go super villain in the real world.

It makes for poor composts.

How he has avoided prison I don't know.