The question is, how on earth do we get people to *wake up* to this fact?

Well, blogging is my outreach/education method of choice.

Cat: Thanks for the link!

Keep on feministing!

I particularly appreciate the truth being told about how Western civilization is no better than non-Western civilization in its oppression of women via adherance to traditions. It’s time that people realize that Western culture disappears women’s dignity faster than you can say “jackrabbit.” Some Muslim women have commented that the dignity of Western women is severely undermined by the strip-club-and-pornoculture that we have, and they’re absolutely right!! The question is, how on earth do we get people to *wake up* to this fact?

Fire Fly: You’re exactly right. Thanks for the article; I’ve only skimmed it so far but it looks like it’s right on.

01d55:

I’ve never in my life known of any decent thing being successfully defended by an appeal to tradition.

Well, I would say that the general idea of solidarity with/respect for the past can be tied to tradition. In this sense, I think you could use “tradition” when talking about the history of feminism, for example. So tradition doesn’t have to be inherently damaging. But I do agree that the concept is extremely vulnerable to misuse.

Luke:

I’ve heard this especially when it comes to criticizing sexist media. “It’s just a TV show/movie/advertisement..there are people starving and dying from AIDS out there and you’re complaining about this?!”

Oh, right, that “defense.” I’m glad tekanji put together the great rebuttal that saves me the time from having to write one myself.

Also, great examples about other “fine American traditions” that deserve debunking.

>I’ve heard this especially when it comes to criticizing sexist media. “It’s just a TV show/movie/advertisement..there are people starving and dying from AIDS out there and you’re complaining about this?!”

“We have our own insidious ways of perpetuating gender bias, from the tradition of making women take their husband’s last name to the idealization of the private sphere, which sets up the nuclear family as the domain of the head of the household (read: men). The latter tradition directly influences the practice of gendered violence, as it has historically been one of the biggest obstacles to feminist attempts to raise awareness and resistance to domestic violence.”

>And also that for certain “American” religions where divorce is seen as a sin…women often in position where they’re maligned either way. I don’t remember where I read it, but there was a famous survey a while back of Clergy, priests or whatever and an overwhelming majority said that DV wouldn’t be grounds for divorce and that the abused women should “pray for strength to endure it.” Also been reading Lundy Bancroft’s Why Does He Do That and there is some really interesting stuff in there that talks about dynamics of abusive men, women and children in that the family domain is pretty much set up to demonize and blame abused women while pitting the children against their mothers and consequently creating this deceptive sympathy for the abusive men.