Trainwreck by Sady Doyle

I've been listening to #Trainwreck by @sadydoyle all afternoon & my husband is asking me why I keep shouting "Down with the patriarchy!"

— Allison (@TheBookWheel) October 29, 2016

All I can really say is - buy this book & read it. It lays bare all the mechanisms beneath the surface, is painful and horrible and yes, makes you want to shout 'Down with the patriarchy!' A lot. Even as we see it unfolding all around us... It's a horribly prescient book, as Sady herself reflects in her latest post:

The Trainwreck Files: Hillary Clinton

And here she is, 10 months ago, writing about Hillary's 'likeability' and the impossible doublestandards any woman has to adhere to: Likable

It's not that anyone around here is blind to how the world works. But this book delves deeper than any other I've read. I literally can't recommend it enough.


Finally, thoughts on 'the patriarchy' by the way of quotes from books... I hope you can see what I'm trying to highlight.

( Read more... )

About those safety pins...

I saw the posts, of course (wear a safety pin so minority groups know you are an ally), and remember the same thing going round after Brexit.

But this post struck me:

Dear White People, Your Safety Pins Are Embarrassing

Highlights:

"We don’t get to make ourselves feel better by putting on safety pins and self-designating ourselves as allies. And make no mistake, that’s what the safety pins are for. Making White people feel better. They’ll do little or nothing to reassure the marginalized populations they are allegedly there to reassure"

"Also, you know who is going to be out wearing safety pins like crazy? Trump voters." <- this has already come true

Read the whole thing, it's good and unflinching and sobering and necessary. I was ambivalent about sharing it, because it *isn't* up to white people to decide in what way other groups need (or don't need) help. But since the game is already up, I thought people might like to read it.

This is how he ends it:

"I recommend carrying a big sign. You can make your own, it’s easy. On the sign you should write, in big bold letters, “BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

And hey, if you want you can use your safety pin to fix it to your shirt"

Link roundup

I'm gathering these too quickly to make proper posts, so I'm gonna throw a bunch at you.

Things to sign/sign up to/do:

Petition: Appoint Garland Now (Senate Has Waived Its Rights)
The Senate has waived its constitutional right to advise and consent; Obama should exercise his independent constitutional right to appoint. The Supreme Court vacancy opened during Obama's administration, it is Obama's responsibility and right to nominate and appoint a replacement. The Senate has a concurrent right to advise and consent, but its complete failure to schedule an up-or-down vote means it has waived that right. Obama can and should act now.

Our 100
An open letter to Our Nation from 100 women of color leaders

WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON- JANUARY 21st, 2017
OFFICIAL STATEMENT, National Organizers



To read:

Why Did Some White Obama Voters Go for Trump?
Trump gave them a choice between multiracial democracy and white primacy. (Excellent, must-read)

Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco

What Normalization Means by The New Yorker

The Self-Induced Socioeconomic Anxiety of White Male Privilege (lengthy rant by Propane Jane, mostly in tweets. All written before the election. :(

Are You Fucking Kidding Me by Hillary Clinton [parody]
Just goes to show: In this country, if you want something, and you work your goddamn ass off for it, you can get really close and then smile stoically while they give it to some rich guy’s son.


And finally...

Check Out These Prankster Joe Biden Memes And Smile Through Your Tears