Wellesley Underground

itsnotovertonight:

A slide from anthropology class that I found quite powerful.

(via ceasesilence)

some-disgraced-cosmonaut:

thedailywhat:

On Abuse of the Day: Many different thoughts were shared in the notes of the post about Rihanna’s attempt to reconnect with Chris Brown despite their troubled — and troubling — history.

Victims of abuse came forward to share their stories and talk about what it means to get past the pain and the trauma of an experience that often requires a complete rebuilding of one’s life.

People with entrenched opinions on the matter expressed emotions that ran the gamut of every shade on the grayscale.

Responding to each remark individually would be an impossible task, and an unnecessary one. However, there was one recurring theme that does deserve addressing: The idea that the post was in any way an attempt to blame Rihanna for what happened.

Anyone who has read The Daily What for any length of time knows precisely where the site stands on issues of sexism, bullying, and victim blaming. It has taken vehement, unequivocal stands in the past against slut shaming, fat shaming, misogyny, and other social ills that do harm to women.

That a post published on the site is being perceived as insinuating that the victim of abuse is in any way at fault for that abuse is extremely upsetting. However, there is no doubt many did perceive it as such, and for that an apology is most certainly due.

In denouncing disagreeable language, however, it is important not to lose sight of what is being said: Something indescribably horrible took place that night, and the person who did that horrible thing has shown not one shred of unrehearsed remorse.

And why should he? He is being welcomed back into fame and fortune by his fans, and his famous friends, and yes — even the victim of that horrible thing.

However Rihanna chooses to deal with her abuse is her choice and hers alone. But looking back at the comments made by many in objection to the post, it’s hard to overlook another recurring theme: Rihanna is over it, so we should all get over it as well.

That, at the end, is the message: Chris Brown beats a woman to within an inch of her life, does nothing to apologize for it, tells critics of his Grammy appearance to “f*ck off,” and gets a free pass for all of it because the woman he beat up forgives him.

But does that mean the rest of us must? Does that mean nothing can ever be said or written about the terrible lesson being taught to impressionable young fans — that all abusers should ultimately be forgiven, even if they show no contrition whatsoever?

I will absolutely apologize to anyone who felt the tone of the post was disrespectful to the victim, or in any way reminiscent of victim-blaming, but I will not apologize for hating Chris Brown, for hating domestic abuse, and for hating forgiveness that has not been earned.

(P.S. As I was writing this, the Chris Brown remix of Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” leaked. In it, Brown croons “Girl I wanna f*ck you right now. Been a long time, I’ve been missing your body.”

You tell me: Is it all right to hate this?)

This is what should have been written the first time.

Santorum’s Face Made Out of Gay Porn

(Source: theconjecturer, via inothernews)

motherjones:

As Madonna’s publicist explains, “She’s focusing on Malawi. South Africa is Oprah’s territory.”

Click through for an interactive version of the celebrity recolonization of Africa map:

I mean  I just love X (insert George Clooney, Angelina, blah blah blah), she/he is like SAVING africa. I might go there for study abroad…

knowhomo:

LGBTQ* History Through Photos

Stonewall Inn Riots

(via feministhistorian)

thedailywhat:

This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day: Between allegedly inviting him to her birthday party, and probably collaborating with him on a “Birthday Cake” remix, and irrefutably thanking him for wishing her a happy birthday, I think it may be high time Rihanna re-read the police report from the night Chris Brown beat her half to death. 

Particularly this part:

Brown did not know what she did with the [car] key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.’s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her.

You nearly died that night, Rihanna. You nearly died that night. 

“I’m going to beat the sh*t out of you when we get home,” he promised. You attempted to call for help and that just made him angrier. “Now I’m really going to kill you,” he vowed.

Any of this ringing a bell? Because I’ll never forget that night. I’ll never forget the horrific photos. I’ll never forget reading the terrifying police report.

And I’ll never forgive you for forgiving him.

[@rihanna.]

Uh Oh. Not you too @DailyWhat. Victim Blaming is never news worthy.

It seems that as the rest of the world continues to progress for women’s rights, the United States is falling behind, and worse, conservative Christian legislators are forcing us to regress. Whether its voting against the Violence Against Women Act, spreading the message that rape in the military is to be expected, or preventing health care access for low income women, this country is about to join the ranks with the rest of the so called haters of women. Before we put a blaming finger on countries like Pakistan, we need to point the finger inwards and stop the pervasive disintegration of womens rights legislation and court decisions of the United States. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

Senate in Pakistan unanimously passes Domestic Violence Bill

Pakistan’s Senate on Monday passed a bill that makes violence against women and children an offence carrying jail terms and fines, state media said.

 The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill was introduced by Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar and passed unanimously by the upper house of the federal parliament, Pakistan Television reported. The law was already passed unanimously in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, in August 2009. It will come into effect after President Asif Ali Zardari signs it into legislation.

Those found guilty of beating women or children will face a minimum six months behind bars and a fine of at least 100,000 rupees ($1,100). Besides children and women, the bill also provides protection to the adopted, employed and domestic associates in a household.

The law classifies domestic violence as acts of physical, sexual or mental assault, force, criminal intimidation, harassment, hurt, confinement and deprivation of economic or financial resources.

 (continued)

(via thusfarwest)