Today on the radio show, Kate and I discussed multiple reasons why we cannot support Sarah Palin's run for Vice-President, despite the fact that she has a vagina. We talked about this for a while, and then went to a song. During the song, we had two people call in. This is what the second person [a male, sounded to be older, perhaps middle-aged] said to me:
"You girls sound so cute going back and forth about Sarah Palin."
Yes. Some man called in during a feminist radio show to tell two feminists that we sounded "cute" when we were discussing some real issues that are important to know for the election that is coming up in November.
The word "cute" in this situation was especially bothersome because the way he said it seemed to belittle our concerns about Palin and the arguments we made against her. Being "cute" is for five-year-olds. We are college students, trying to inform people about Sarah Palin's anti-woman record. We deserve to be taken seriously and should not have to deal with creepy-sounding guys calling in and making inappropriate comments.
I wish I had thought to say that to him while he was on the phone, but I really just wanted to get off the line as soon as possible.
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16 comments:
It is cute, you two girls paying attention to politics, pretending to have opinions on stuff besides makeup and boys. Adorable.
You guys are far too oversensitive. You need to take up boxing because there seems to be alot of built up aggression that you need to release...
The caller was probably the great american. That or he was trolling the same way as TGA to get a rise out of you. It seems to have worked. :-/
haha. Of course, TGA, you would have no problem with that kind of language. Of course you would find us "too oversensitive." Your male privilege means that you probably haven't had to deal with anyone talking down to you when you discuss politics...because, you know, that is men's domain. You also probably don't have to deal with other people feeling as if they have the right to comment on your appearance (or how they perceive you to appear, as with the male caller mentioned in the post) on a daily basis. When was the last time some random person on the street yelled at you, "You look so beautiful!" like they had every right to comment on your appearance? For me, it was yesterday.
Good use of a trolling tactic, also, TGA. Pointing out that we are merely "oversenitive" is a great way to try to stop discussion! Especially discussion that you cannot see the merit of because of your privilege.
Oh yes, I have been SOOOOO privileged in my life. I grew up with very little money, a pastors kid constantly under the microscope, and overwiegt since I was 10. I would love for random people to comment on how good I look, unfortunately people have commented on how I look for years, but in a way that has scarred me in a way that I can remember specific comments made about me from ten years ago. Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Condi Rice, Rachel Maddow, Ann Coulter, Barabra Boxer are just a small example of women who are in or discuss politics. I have had people talk down to me when I discuss politics, in fact, a woman at my work makes condescending remarks on almost a daily basis. Huh, imagine that! So before you make assumptions about what I do or do not have to deal with, you need to check your facts. Not all men are the same, just as not all women are the same.
I'm not trying to stop dicussion, I am making an observation.
@TGA: You obviously don't understand the concept of privilege. Perhaps I made it sound like it only deals with looks/whatever but that is not the case, and if you believed so, then it only illustrates your lack of understanding about your own position in society. You have male privilege, and you obviously won't own it. Fine. But I know that it colors your view, and will judge your words accordingly.
Also, just because a handful of women involved in politics or discuss it doesn't make my point any less valid. I am not a politician/mainstream media commentator, and when I discussed politics on the radio today, I got a condescending comment from a male.
Also, just because you know a woman who talks down to you...well, what point does that make exactly?
@Michael: Sorry! Just got your commented moderated. But I was going to say that I really don't think that the caller meant to be a troll. I honestly think he was just ignorant about what he was really saying and what it implied. Still bothers me, but I guess that's better than someone calling in and being hurtful on purpose?
I hope he reads this and kind of sees the problem with what he said, whoever he was.
Please Amelia, enlighten me about the many privileges thrown my way because i'm a man...go ahead.
cute?? *sigh*
simply put, that was a slap in the face!!
@TGA: See, that comment just reeks of yet more privelege on your part. It isn't the job of feminists to enlighten you. It's not our job to teach you, persuade you, or coax you into realizing that yes, we do know what we're talking about; and just because you haven't lived a particular experience and thus can't conceieve of it doesn't make it untrue or invalid. It's not our job- there are plenty of places on the internet to read about male privelege (and white privelege, and ablebodied privelege, etc). And for you to say "enlighten me" is a very priveleged viewpoint.
And by the way, it's not very clever of you to come on a feminist blog and start telling feminists what they "need to do" or "should do". Oh and that they're "oversenstive" because they're experiencing something that you never will because you aren't a woman!
If you really want enlightenment, go seek some.
You see this is the problem. I don't appreciate being lumped in with all males just as feminists don't appreciate being lumped in with all females based on genitalia. For me to claim that all females are like Amelia, or like my mom, or like Hillary Clinton, or Sarah Palin would be a wrong assumption. Am I correct? It works both ways, you assume that I've lived a life a privilege based solely on the fact that I'm a male. And you make that assumption without knowing my personal experiences that I've gone through. Have males been the beneficiaries of male privilege. No doubt. But to assume that every male is so lucky is a very glib view. First of all, privilege is relative much the same that wealth is relative. You can only judge ones privlege based on each individual situation. Not as a whole.
@TGA: Your comments demonstrate your continued refusal to acknowledge your privilege and your complete lack of understanding of what we mean by "male privilege."
You need to do some reading, I would suggest.
No one else bother with him for now. Thanks!
Typical liberal gameplan. You can't own up to your own hypocrisy and narrow-mindedness so you turn tail and run.
Like I've said, you seem to think that I'm privileged and I don't. All I want is for you to tell me how I've been privileged...is it really that hard?
See Sabertooth's suggestion about seeking some enlightenment yourself.
Exactly, you have no idea what you are talking about...
"All I want is for you to tell me how I've been privileged...is it really that hard?"
Why the hell is it their job to take care of you? They aren't your mommies. Google "male privilege". Look it up on Wikipedia. Whatever. It isn't hard to find info on, and (I assume) you aren't a helpless child, unable to navigate the Great Big Interweb on your own.
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