dagblog - Comments for "Living in a Post-Whatever World"

I actual don't think the term

Orlando — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:12:12 +0000

In reply to By the way, welcome to Dag,

I actual don't think the term "post", when applied as a modifier, is particularly useful in most cases. Take postmodern, for example. I know it's a specific term used to describe an art movement, but when it's used to describe the world we live in, it's sort of dumb, isn't it? I mean, modern isn't static. It evolves as we evolve. So, post-sexist or post-feminist doesn't have much meaning to me, especially when it refers to the evolution of thought on the subject of women's advocacy and women's rights.

I find the gender and ethicnicity qualifiers really irritating, not for what they describe, but for what they leave out. Why should the assumption be that we're talking about a white man, unless we throw in a "female" or a "Latino". Those are important descriptive words. But my point is that when those words are not there, we all assume the speaker is referring to a white man--or a white woman even--in most cases, "female suicide bomber notwithstanding.

I'd like to see journalists and pundits and all of us start to use white and male when we're describing anyone who is actually white and/or male, and not just reserve the description for perps.

By the way, welcome to Dag,

Deadman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:25:12 +0000

In reply to Ah, G, with the orange,

By the way, welcome to Dag, orlando! good first post. But do you mind if for a second I play the role of the obstinate troll (a male term, right?) I saw mentioned in one of your comments in my piece?

what would a post-sexist world even mean? unlike with races, where despite some controversial claims to the contrary the only proven difference has to do with pigmentation, man and woman are not the same creature. There are some things women can do better and some things men can. There are some physical things you can do that we can't do at all (have a baby) and vice versa (sprint as fast).

the fact that journalists feel the need to add female to the term suicide bomber is a good thing, not a failure of society, and says a lot about the gentler nature of your sex. there's a reason why few (if any) serial killers have been female.

I know I'm mostly being semantic - I'm not suggesting that women should get less pay for equal work, and you're not suggesting that there aren't any differences between men and women, right? but i just had to start a little something to prove you're just one of the boys ...

Ah, G, with the orange,

Deadman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:18:37 +0000

In reply to That won't be necessary. We

Ah, G, with the orange, wide-lapeled shirt, you have to take a low shot at me, do you?? I may not be as hairy as you, G, but I am all scary, manly man.

Though actually, Tartman was actually my second name choice.

I'd say yes on both counts.

Orlando — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:13:01 +0000

In reply to Paige referred to "classic

I'd say yes on both counts. Classic feminism was all about demanding a voice and demanding to be taken seriously as equals. Women now have that voice, but the sexism has taken a more underground approach now. It's no longer acceptable to fire pregnant women or push women into clerical jobs. But we do still make less on the dollar and we are still underrepresented in a lot of fields. And the first question we're asked when we go car shopping is almost invariably, "What color do you want?"

Paige referred to "classic

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:05:42 +0000

In reply to The way I see it, feminism is

Paige referred to "classic feminisim," which was an interesting choice of words. Do you think the nature of feminism has changed or needs to change? Or the flip side, has the nature of sexism (or racism) changed?

That won't be necessary. We

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:01:32 +0000

In reply to Thanks, G. I'm glad to be

That won't be necessary. We already have deadman.

The way I see it, feminism is

Orlando — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:39:30 +0000

In reply to I think there's a difference

The way I see it, feminism is needed as long as sexism exists. Feminism is simply the theory that women and men are equal. Sexism is counter to that theory. Without feminism, the advancement of women stops.

Thanks, G. I'm glad to be

Orlando — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:33:09 +0000

In reply to Welcome to the dag, O. Thanks

Thanks, G. I'm glad to be here. Hopefully, I can tart up the place a little bit.

I think there's a difference

CaliforniaPaige — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:55:51 +0000

In reply to Living in a Post-Whatever World

I think there's a difference between a post-feminist world and a post-sexism world. Gender inequality is certainly out there, though from some vantage points it's difficult to find. (I'm lucky enough to have been oblivious to it my life, but I'm aware -- intellectually, anyway -- that would never had been possible without sacrifices from previous generations.) So I think that classic feminism is becoming irrelevant in some segments of our society, but it's still very important in others. On the shoulders of giants, as they say.

And we certainly haven't moved beyond racism. Egads. Though, again, I wonder if we're moving toward a post-racial world more rapidly than toward a post-racism world.

Welcome to the dag, O. Thanks

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:46:29 +0000

In reply to Living in a Post-Whatever World

Welcome to the dag, O. Thanks for the sober reminder as well as the breath of fresh estrogen wafting though the blog.

PS For those who like their racism and violence against women wrapped neatly in a single tragedy: Woman slain as she tried to leave KKK rite

PPS I fixed your paragraph breaks. Sometimes the software makes you do a little editing after pasting.